Curse of Stolen Flame (Firebird, #1)

CHAPTER 43

The day of the ball was spent being fussed over with until every bit of her was perfect. The process this time was even more intense and ridiculous than when she was being readied to be presented to the king and queen.

The primping and preparing took hours. Kindra still didn’t know the purpose of half the creams and serums they slathered on her skin, her hair, her nail beds. She could admit she saw a difference though—when she gave herself a final once-over in the mirror, she couldn’t help but smile. Her skin was glowing, gold dusted onto her cheeks and over her collarbones. Her hair had been swept upwards into an elegant stack of curls and braids, every single strand shiny and soft and positioned just so, held in place by bejeweled pins. Her eyes were lined, her lashes painted, her lips a soft pink. Gold-set diamonds dangled from her ears, around her throat. And for the finishing touch…

The diadem was small, but it might as well have weighed a thousand pounds for how heavy it felt atop her head. It was little more than a gold band, save for the large ruby at the center.

When Sala had first presented it to her, Kindra had said no. She’d argued that she wasn’t even a princess yet, but the Healer had shaken her head and told her the request had come directly from the king himself. So that was that.

A knock at the door pulled her away from the mirror, and she made her way out of the dressing room to find Jasper and her mother entering. They both looked stunning; her mother was breathtaking in her silver gown, her hair and cosmetics done similarly to Kindra’s, and Jasper …

Clearly, his tailor had worked closely with hers while designing his outfit. The midnight blue of his pants, tucked into shining black boots, and the light blue of his jacket matched the colors of her gown exactly. And the gold detailing on his jacket collar and sleeves swirled and sparkled just as Kindra’s bodice did.

He, too, wore a golden crown, but his smile faltered slightly as his eyes fell on the diadem.

“Your father requested I wear it,” she explained flatly.

Jasper’s mouth opened, then closed. He opted for a curt nod instead. “All right.” His voice was strained, but he recovered quickly, his smile broadening again as he looked her up and down. “You look beautiful.”

She decided to press him about his strange reaction to the diadem later and came over to press a gentle kiss to his lips. “And you look very handsome,” she replied before turning to her mother. “You look like a queen, mama.”

Sera shook her head. “I doubt I’ll hold a candle to Her Majesty. You, on the other hand…” She blinked rapidly, her smile turning wobbly.

“Mama,” Kindra laughed, “you have to stop crying all the time.”

“Happy tears, my dear, happy tears,” her mother replied as she took a deep breath and calmed herself.

Jasper held out his arms to them. Kindra and Sera, on either side, looped their arms through his, and he laughed. “I can’t believe I’ve got the honor of escorting the two prettiest women in the castle tonight.” At their answering blushes, he laughed again. “Well, my ladies, shall we?” Kindra nodded.

With the two people she cared about most, Kindra began the walk down to her very first ball.

The throne room had been transformed.

The usually dark and ominous space was now adorned with banners and flowers, the curtains pulled back on every window so the setting sun could cast its warm pink glow across those in attendance. Long buffet tables marked the edges of the room, piled high with a bounty of food. Kindra spotted one table covered in a dazzling assortment of desserts—no doubt the creations of Emeline’s father. Her stomach grumbled at the sight. Throughout the grand room, there were tables bedecked in white cloth and flower arrangements where guests could relax when they grew tired from the revelry.

The center of the room had been cleared for dancing, an octet of musicians positioned off to the side. Already, they were playing, though nobody was dancing yet.

Noone had announced Kindra and her companions when they arrived, thank the gods. Her appearance drew enough attention as it was—particularly the diadem. Luckily, mentioning that the king had requested she wear it shut down any questioning, but she couldn’t help but wonder what was so special about it. What about it made people’s eyes widen and faces grow pale when they saw it on her head?

She had a feeling she wouldn’t like the answer, so she didn’t ask.

“What even is half of this?” she whispered in Jasper’s ear as they heaped their plates high with food. One of the nobility, an older woman with a harsh, shrewd face, gave her a disapproving look. Kindra met her stare and willed her eyes to burn more than they already did. The woman’s face flushed and she turned away, hurrying back to her seat. Kindra smirked, satisfied.

Jasper cleared his throat, and she returned her attention to the food. A good section of her plate was dedicated to the desserts: little finger cakes and truffles, miniature sticky buns and chocolate-covered strawberries. “Are you done striking fear in the hearts of your enemies?” Jasper murmured, amused.

“Depends.” Kindra popped a chunk of roasted beef into her mouth, sighing as its flavor burst across her tongue. “Are they done being annoying?”

He chuckled. “Maybe you’ll finally be the one who gets them to shut up for good.” He took her plate from her hands, nodding to the table across the room where they’d been told to sit. “Let’s sit.”

Their table was at the front of the room, off to the side of the dais. The two thrones sat empty. King Leofric and Queen Cordilya had yet to arrive. Kindra hoped they wouldn’t for quite some time.

Their table mates were going to be tough enough to deal with.

Antone and Celeste were already eating when Kindra and Jasper joined them. Antone gave them both a sharp nod in greeting. Kindra tried not to grimace as she nodded back. “Good evening,” Jasper said, setting Kindra’s plate down in front of her.

“You didn’t have a server handle that for you?” was Antone’s reply, eyebrows raised. His own plate was far less loaded than either of theirs—probably the acceptable amount of food.

“We have hands, don’t we?” Kindra shot back, struggling to control her temper. She and Antone had come to an understanding in the War Chamber—a sort of begrudging tolerance of one another. Outside of that room there was a completely different story. Kindra still hadn’t forgiven him for shutting her out of the meeting the first time, and Antone still hadn’t forgiven her for trying to get in.

“I would have assumed my brother would’ve taught you the proper way of behaving at one of these occasions by now,” Antone said. His voice was light and casual, but his eyes betrayed his malice. “I have to say, the whole uneducated-poor-girl-from-the-woods bit has gotten old.”

Gods, he was such a fucking asshole.

Kindra was about to open her mouth and snap back when she felt fabric brush against her. A second later, her mother sat down in the empty chair next to her and dipped her head in acknowledgment to Antone and Celeste. “Why, that is such a lovely gown, Your Highness,” she purred to Celeste, as motherly and doting as could be. But her eyes were sharp. Missing nothing, and ready to defend her daughter if necessary.

“Thank you, Lady Bedelyn,” Celeste replied, who indeed looked beautiful in a white and gold gown. Her use of Sera’s new title was surprising, but as Kindra studied the woman, she noted the tightness of her shoulders, and the wariness with which she watched her husband. “You also look lovely tonight. I’m sure this is all very exciting for you.”

Trying to keep the peace , she thought.

“It is,” Sera replied. “Quite a lot of change, to be sure, but yes, very exciting.”

“Where are Sebastian and Myala?” Jasper asked.

“Not coming,” Antone replied, not trying to hide his bitterness about it at all. “Myala has been put on bedrest. She’s due in less than two months, now. So of course, Sebastian has to stay by her side the whole time.”

Celeste’s mouth twitched in the slightest of frowns, but she said nothing.

“I hope everything is all right,” Kindra said sincerely. She and Sebastian were at least cordial to one another now, and she couldn’t help respecting the prince for being so attentive to his wife when she was about to bear his child. It was something that Antone, clearly, had no history of doing. But she’d long since gathered that his marriage to Celeste had little to do with actual love.

“It will be,” Antone replied. “This isn’t the first time this has happened.” Myala was pregnant with their second child. Their eldest, Eva, was a bubbly toddler no older than three.

Celeste and Antone had two children of their own, though they were nowhere to be seen tonight. Kindra had only seen them a handful of times, and only from a distance—the crown prince and princess opted to keep them out of castle affairs.

The moment of temporary peace was shattered as Antone looked over Kindra’s shoulder, mouth tightening. “Oh great,” he sighed. “More delightful company.” He took a long drink of his wine.

Kindra didn’t need to turn around to know Helena and Emeline were approaching, but she did anyway, if only to have a break from Antone’s face.

The couple looked divine. Emeline was in a striking white gown, breathtaking on her against her brown skin and black hair. A thing of silken beauty, the gown clung to Emeline’s every curve, pooling at her feet. Her shoulders and chest were wrapped in silver jewels that trailed down the back of the dress like a sparkling cape. It was a stunning piece and captured the attention of everyone in the room.

Helena was in a mesmerizing ball gown of deep blue. Every inch of the gauzy fabric shimmered under the light. Her hair was gathered atop her head in an extravagant, curling updo, decorated with a sparkling crown. The princess hadn’t shown anybody the gown before tonight, wanting it to be a surprise instead.

She looked like a queen.

Kindra smiled at her friends. “I see now why you wanted it to be a surprise,” she told Helena.

“Worth the wait, don’t you think?” Helena replied with a wink, sitting down beside Sera, Emeline taking the place next to her. Kindra turned back around in time to see Antone roll his eyes. Celeste gave him an exasperated look, as if to say, You can’t be civil for one night?

“You look beautiful, Hel,” Jasper said, pointedly ignoring his older brother, who glowered. Emeline glared daggers at the eldest Annalindis, visibly leashing her temper before turning her attention elsewhere. It seemed they’d all come to an unspoken agreement, even Celeste: Antone was not going to succeed in ruining their evening.

They chatted as they ate, talking over Antone every time he made a snide comment. Celeste, however, was sociable, practically downright friendly. It surprised Kindra, but the others were unfazed, gladly welcoming her into their conversation. Perhaps she’d misjudged the woman. She was, after all, married to a nasty, mean-spirited man. And though Jasper swore none of his family ever behaved violently against their spouses—that even his father, for all his cruelty, would not allow it—she doubted Celeste’s marriage was a peaceful partnership. It certainly wasn’t an affectionate one.

As Kindra watched the princess laugh with Helena about something, scooting her chair further from her husband and closer to their side of the table, she realized that it was probably a very lonely marriage as well. Maybe Celeste’s aloofness regarding Jasper and her before hadn’t been out of cruelty but of self-preservation, to keep Antone’s malicious attention elsewhere.

Throughout the conversation, Kindra noticed several glances at the diadem she wore. She didn’t miss the alarm in their eyes. Even Antone paled slightly as he observed it.

What the fuck had the king had her wear?

Finally, their plates were cleared, and their glasses were filled for the third time. People started trickling into the center of the room. The musicians began to play a lilting waltz, and Kindra watched as couples moved as one, their skirts and coats swirling around them as they danced.

Antone stood, rather abruptly, and held his hand out to his wife. An innocent enough gesture, but there was anger burning in his eyes. “Dance with me,” he practically snarled, and everyone at the table went deathly still, their laughter dying instantly.

Celeste rose slowly, no fear on her face as she took her husband’s hand. “Of course, dear,” she said, her attempt at a sweet smile looking more like a grimace. The pair locked eyes, having some sort of silent argument, judging by the way Antone’s eyes flashed and Celeste’s jaw clenched. But then Antone relaxed, rolling his shoulders back, an easy-going grin playing on his lips. Celeste, too, donned a cheerful expression. A mask for the people. She looked over her shoulder at the rest of them, dipping her head. “Thank you for the lovely conversation.” There was true gratitude there. Yes, the princess was lonely.

“Anytime, Celeste,” Helena replied softly, eyes gentle. “You’re welcome anytime.” Celeste managed to nod in reply before Antone tugged at her hand again and pulled her out onto the dance floor.

They all loosed a breath of relief as the tension dissipated. “Well,” her mother murmured, “he is certainly—”

“The worst,” Jasper finished for her, taking a long drink of wine. “He is the absolute worst.”

“At least Sebastian has been mellowed out by Myala,” Emeline mused. “It’s made him a bit more tolerable.”

“I feel bad for her,” Kindra said, watching the crown prince whisk his wife across the dance floor: the picture of an elegant, perfect couple. “She’s clearly very lonely.”

“She is,” Helena agreed. “She’s been married to Antone for nearly a decade now. I don’t think there’s ever been a spark of true feeling between the two of them. Not for lack of trying, at least on her part. She wanted the marriage to be a loving one. During her first few years here, she tried. But Antone is…”

“Not capable of loving anybody,” Jasper grumbled.

“I think he loves his children,” Helena replied, “as much as he can. They’re his blood, after all. But,” she sighed, “neither of them have magic. And apparently, their attempt to conceive another is not going well.”

In fact, their youngest was nearly four. They were running out of time, if Kindra remembered the marriage contract correctly. They were obligated to have a child at least every four years. “What happens if they can’t conceive?” she asked.

“She’ll be evaluated by the Head Healer, although I’m sure she’s already been to see her, if they’ve been struggling for this long. In fact, that may be why she’s suddenly… reaching out, more. Actually talking to us. She may already know she won’t be able to conceive another child. And with the He ad Healer’s signed agreement, she’s spared any sort of punishment. Her duty is fulfilled.”

“She no longer has to share his bed,” Emeline said, chuckling. “So she’s done putting up with his bullshit.”

“Yes, if that is indeed what’s happened.” Helena stood. “I suppose we’ll only know for sure if she tells us, or if little Amie turns four and Celeste doesn’t get her head cut off.” Blunt, brutal words from the princess.

Her mother blanched. “Would they—would they do that?”

“Oh, yes.” She offered a hand to her wife, bringing the Wavebreaker to her feet. “Our great-aunt was executed when she’d failed to fall pregnant after four years. She went to the Head Healer, swearing she was barren after the dangerous delivery of her first-born. But the Healer found she was still fertile. So she was executed.” Helena sighed. “Never mind that conceiving can be quite hard, even for the most fertile of couples.” The princess plastered a smile on her face. “Enough doom and gloom. This is a ball! Let’s dance.” And with that, she and Emeline strode out to the dance floor, the people parting to make room for them.

“Do you want to dance?” Jasper asked her.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Kindra stammered. “I don’t really know how, and besides, my mother—”

“Do not use me as an excuse, Kindra,” her mother chided. “Go dance.”

“I’ll show you the steps,” Jasper said, grasping her hands. “You just have to follow me.”

She had no choice but to allow him to lead her out into the crowd, wrapping an arm around her waist, keeping his other hand clasped in hers. She placed her free hand on his shoulder; she knew that much, at least. “Feel the beat,” he murmured in her ear, lips brushing against her skin. Lightning zipped down her spine, but she managed to focus on the music, indeed feeling the beat in her body like a second pulse. Gently, Jasper began to guide her through the steps, and though she stumbled a few times, even stepping on his toes once, she had a handle on it by the end of the piece.

“See?” Jasper smiled at her, and for a moment, it felt like it was just the two of them in that giant room. “Not so hard, is it?”

Kindra opened her mouth to reply, but before she could speak, the doors to the throne room opened, and a hush fell.

“Presenting Their Royal Majesties, King and Queen Annalindis,” a voice boomed.

Every person in the room dipped into low bows as Leofric and Cordilya walked into the room. Leofric wore his usual black and gold formal attire, but Cordilya was dressed in a glimmering blue gown, looking so much like her daughter that Kindra had to fight the urge to twist her head and find Helena to see her reaction.

Slowly, they processed towards the dais. Nobody dared rise before the king gave permission. So Kindra remained bowing, her eyes fixed on the floor.

Until a pair of shoes, polished black, came into view.

“Rise, cursebreaker,” King Leofric ordered.

She fought the wave of nausea as she did so, not daring to look him in the eye. His gaze fell on the diadem, sparking with approval.

His next words shocked her.

“A dance, Lady Kindra,” the king requested, holding out his hand to her. “If you please.”