Stella and Sol Box Set

by Kimberly Loth

  Sage didn’t say anything for a long moment. Zwaantie hadn’t really planned on telling her she knew, but she didn’t see how things would change if she didn’t. Besides, she needed to tell someone about what had happened with Phoenix, and if Sage was really her guard, then she was the best one to talk to.

  Sage let out a long breath. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. Leo didn’t want me to. He thought if you knew I was your guard, you wouldn’t trust me.”

  “He might’ve been right. But you’re my friend now, so it doesn’t really matter.”

  Sage reached over and gripped Zwaantie’s hand. “Thanks. I’m glad you’re not mad.”

  Zwaantie shook her head. “I don’t know how anyone could be mad at you. Why do I need a guard anyway? It’s not like Stella is unsafe.”

  “It can be. Especially with the Ticker and everything. Leo just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  She’d never felt unsafe in Sol before, so the idea of needing a guard to protect her was a little new. Though, near the end, she wasn’t so sure Sol was the safest place for even her.

  “Do you know about the Voice in Sol?”

  “Yeah, I do. I’ve actually been to Sol.”

  “You what?”

  “I go over with the traders sometimes. I met you before you even came here.”

  “I don’t remember you.”

  “I was heavily disguised, but you tried to buy the dome from me.”

  Zwaantie thought back to that day. The female mage was the one who shoved those necklaces into her pocket.

  “You were selling those necklaces.”

  “You bet I was.”

  “Why?” When Sage had hidden them, Zwaantie had desperately wanted to know what they were. Now she might have some answers. That day seemed so long ago. She’d actually thought Stella was going to invade.

  “I can’t tell you. I’m sorry. Maybe I’ll be able to tell you eventually, but for now, I’m bound to secrecy.”

  Those necklaces turned off the Voice. If enough of them got into Sol, the Voice would be useless, meaning Sol could easily be overtaken by Stella.

  “Are you going to invade Sol?”

  “No, nothing like that. I still can’t tell you though.”

  “Well, you should know the Voice followed me here. Every time I take off my necklace, I hear it.”

  Sage’s mouth dropped open. “What’s it saying?”

  “It’s telling to me go home.” She chewed on her lip, not sure if she should press forward. “Sage, I think it wants me dead.”

  “Why?”

  “It encouraged me to go to Phoenix. There were a few things that happened in Sol too that make me suspicious.”

  “Like what?”

  “After it found out I didn’t want to be queen, it tried to get me to walk into the wall. Oh, and a guard tried to kill me just before midnight, but as soon as the bells rang, he stopped and ran off.”

  “I have to tell Leo.”

  “No. Please don’t. I don’t want anyone else knowing.” She didn’t want anyone else thinking she was crazy or that something was wrong with her. Sage would be bad enough.

  Nysa walked in with another woman, cutting off their conversation. She stood on the far side of the tub with a towel. “Out you go.”

  Zwaantie stepped out, not self-conscious in the least. Something about the treatments she’d been receiving made her bolder, more carefree. She didn’t care anymore. Nysa patted her down and gave her a fluffy robe and slippers. After Zwaantie secured the knot, Sage looped her arm through Zwaantie’s.

  “I’m glad you’ll be my sister.”

  Zwaantie let out a sigh. “Me too.”

  This room was purple instead of pink and had two chairs sitting in the middle. Sage settled in one and Zwaantie in the other. Nysa lowered the head of the chair and started rubbing some sort of salt on Zwaantie’s face.

  Zwaantie wasn’t sure if she’d made the right decision in telling Sage, but she hoped so. It did feel good to get it off her chest, but their conversation left her uneasy. Why had Sage been in Sol selling those necklaces? Sage obviously knew more than she was letting on. Zwaantie was about to be queen of Sol. She needed answers.

  Chapter 25

  The Death

  After the spa, Zwaantie felt incredibly relaxed, but at the same time she felt anxious about the future. She still had no answers, but Sage knew her secret.

  A guard met them at the doors to the castle.

  “Your father needs to see you,” he said to Sage.

  She nodded. “I’ll see you at dinner. Please try to not get yourself killed.” She had her hands on her hips like an exasperated mother.

  “No promises.” Zwaantie gave her a half grin, but Sage still glowered at her.

  Zwaantie made her way to Sage’s room, collapsed on the couch, and pulled out her disc. If she called Leo, it would make him think she was interested, which was absolutely the right thing to do. She didn’t want to, though. A cat jumped on her lap, but she pushed it off, stood up, and stretched. She wanted to see the stars. The tower would be safe. No murdering boys.

  Zwaantie blinked her eyes open, wondering how long she’d slept. The stars spread out in every direction, a sight she’d love to wake up to every morning. High above her was Leo’s constellation. She searched for Ari’s but couldn’t find it. Her eyes drifted shut again, but she forced them open and groggily made her way down the stairs and pushed the elevator button to the sixth floor.

  She slogged down the hall toward her room, turned the corner, and met the very angry eyes of Sage.

  “Where in the depths have you been?”

  “I was up in the tower. I fell asleep. Sorry.”

  “We looked everywhere for you, and you were nowhere to be found. We were so worried.” She crossed her arms and shot daggers at Zwaantie.

  “Why?” Zwaantie asked. Though that was a stupid question.

  Sage grabbed Zwaantie by the wrist and dragged her to Ari’s room.

  “She’s fine,” Sage said.

  “Thank the stars,” said Ari. He gathered her up in a hug. “We thought someone had finally gotten to you.”

  “What are you talking about?” She hadn’t meant to scare them, and she hoped nothing happened.

  He let go of her and collapsed on his couch, running a hand through his hair.

  “Someone attacked Sage while she was getting ready for dinner. We assumed they’d gotten to you.”

  “Are you okay?” Zwaantie asked. She looked Sage over carefully. She didn’t seem to have a bruise or scratch on her. Zwaantie sighed in relief.

  “I’m fine. I know how to defend myself.”

  “Who was it?”

  “He wore a mask, but as soon as he got a look at my face, he said, ‘You’re not Zwaantie,’ and he ran away. You were his target. Who else wants you dead?”

  Zwaantie let out a long breath.

  “I don’t know. Someone wanted to kill me in Sol too.”

  She sat next to Ari and told them the whole story. “I thought it was the Voice that was trying to kill me because I didn’t want to be queen. Maybe he’s still trying to kill me.”

  The screen across from Ari’s couch flashed on, and Leo appeared. Nope. She certainly wasn’t telling Leo the truth, especially with that look on his face. He looked like he’d seen a ghost. Maybe he overheard their conversation.

  “Leo,” Ari said. “Is everything okay?”

  “No. Candace’s nephew is dead.”

  Zwaantie felt the blood drain out of her face. “How?” she asked.

  “The vipers. Somehow they got into the bedroom last night.”

  “Was he still sleeping with his parents?” Zwaantie asked.

  “In the same room? Yes. But the baby is the only one who was taken. They don’t even know how they got in. The vipers are the only explanation. It’s just like all the rest of the deaths.”

  “There could be some other explanation, couldn’t there?” Ari asked.

  “M
aybe, but there have been reports of three other deaths. All on the eve of their first birthday.”

  Zwaantie’s heart went cold. “It sounds like the prophecy.”

  Leo ran his hand through his hair. “Exactly. It’s scary that suddenly one-year-olds are dying.”

  “But we’re getting married, so how could this have anything to do with the prophecy?”

  “Maybe it doesn’t. I’m just trying to piece together what’s happening.”

  Sage scrolled through something on her disc. “Leo, it’s all over the Ticker. No one knows what to make of it, but people are panicking.”

  “I know. I’ve already talked to Viggo. He’s going to try to calm the public. But if more babies die tomorrow, we’re going to have a crisis on our hands.”

  “Are you coming back?” Zwaantie asked.

  “No. This is where everything started. I need to stay here and figure out how to stop this. I’ll be back for the lock-in. I swear. Sage, can you make sure she gets a dress.”

  “Of course. Leo you have to come though. This is Zwaantie’s big entrance. She can’t do it without you.”

  “I know. I will. Maybe it will even distract people from what’s going on. Make her dress shopping a big event.”

  “That’s a good idea. I’ll get Viggo to come with us.”

  “How’s Candace?” Zwaantie asked. She didn’t want to talk about herself anymore.

  “Scared and sad. She came to the same conclusion we did about the prophecy. She thinks maybe we’re not doing something right.”

  Zwaantie thought about that for a moment. She was marrying Leo, there was no question of that. What else could go wrong?

  Viggo and a handful of photographers followed her and Sage around the dress shop. Zwaantie supposed she should be happy and excited, but she just couldn’t muster it. She smiled for the camera though.

  She tried on dress after dress. Showing them off for Sage and Viggo. She played her part well, giggling and oohing and ahhing, but inside she felt dead.

  Finally after what felt like hours, she found the dress. It was dark green, smelled like a forest, and fell in layers to her ankles. The straps were wide and soft, and while it plunged low, Zwaantie didn’t feel like she was revealing too much.

  Sage gasped when she stepped out.

  “That’s the one sister. Leo’s going to love it.”

  She hoped so. She felt as if she were botching everything with Stella, but she could at least do what she could to make Leo happy.

  One of them should be.

  Chapter 26

  The Guilt

  Over the next week, Zwaantie rarely left Sage’s room. She didn’t want to face anyone. Somehow she felt as if this was her fault, though she couldn’t figure out why. Guilt plagued her, and so she stayed in Sage’s room, and Sage made sure no one came to visit her. She even helped her turn off her disc.

  Zwaantie even ate there. She’d taken to the cats and shared her food with Andromeda. Late in the afternoon, Ari entered the room. She hadn’t seen him since the babies started dying. Every day there was another one or two.

  He sat in a chair across from her. Usually he sat near her, but the cats covered the couch, including the two on her lap.

  “You’re hiding.” He raised his eyebrows at her.

  Zwaantie scratched Andromeda behind her ears. “I don’t like the attention. Besides, I’m scared.”

  “You can’t hide forever. People keep trying to come talk to you, but Sage blocked everyone from coming in.”

  Zwaantie gave a small smile. “She’s a good friend.”

  “Yes, she is. But it’s time for you to face the stars. Come on, I want to take you for a walk.”

  “What if I don’t want to?”

  “Too bad. I’m not leaving here without you, even if I have to carry you.”

  Zwaantie narrowed her eyes. “Fine.” She shifted, but as she tried to stand up, Andromeda dug her claws in. “I have to get up,” she said to the kitten, gently removing it from her lap.

  Ari chuckled.

  “What?” she asked.

  “You’re covered in cat fur.”

  She shrugged. She didn’t care what she looked like.

  He waited for a moment. “Do you want to change?”

  “No.”

  He gave a slow nod. “Okay then. Let’s go.”

  He held her hand and led her out of the room. There wasn’t anyone else in the hallways, which Zwaantie was grateful for.

  He pulled her into the elevator and pushed a button.

  “Where are we going?” Zwaantie asked.

  “Tower. I thought we could watch the stars as we talked.”

  “Thanks, I like it there.” Maybe she should’ve gone up there this week. It would’ve gotten her out of the room.

  His lips formed a tight line, but he didn’t say anything. After they got out of the elevator, they climbed the dizzying stairs once again and sat on the platform where Zwaantie could see the thousands of tiny stars in the sky. Ari sat so close to her their legs were pressed up against one another.

  “Tell me what’s wrong,” he said.

  “How about everything?”

  “Yes, but what is bothering you the most?”

  “Candace’s nephew. I feel like it’s my fault.”

  “How could it be your fault?”

  “I don’t know. If I don’t marry Leo, little Raaf will die as well. I hate having so much pressure on my shoulders. What if I do something wrong? What if I’ve already done something wrong and those babies are dying because of it.”

  The guilt ate away at her insides. She knew it shouldn’t. She planned on marrying Leo and not allowing little Raaf to die, but death of Candace’s nephew weighed on her.

  “I don’t see how it could be your fault.”

  “Neither do I. But the guilt sits right in the pit of my stomach. If we were in Sol, I’d be begging the chancellor to encourage the Voice to remove it.”

  “Really? It can take away your guilt?”

  “Yeah. Most of the time the Voice is all about lecturing and telling us what to do, but when you do something wrong, it can remove the guilt and bad feelings associated with it. Life was easier then.”

  Air nudged her. “But not as fun.”

  In spite of herself she gave a small laugh. “No, not nearly as much fun.”

  “Is it possible you’re feeling guilty about something else?”

  She let out a breath. “Like what?”

  “Maybe it’s time for you to come clean with Leo and tell him about Phoenix.”

  “Maybe you’re right. He’s going to be so angry though.”

  “Probably. But it’s the right thing to do.”

  Zwaantie knew this. She didn’t want to know this, but she did.

  “Fine, but if I’m going to do the right thing, then so are you.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “When I return to Sol, I’ll become queen. You’ll be king of Stella. You need a queen.”

  “Have we not been over this?”

  “Yep. The way I see it, you need to find your true love. Then you won’t want to sleep around.”

  “Your making sacrifices for the sake of the kingdom, I suppose I could too. You first though.”

  “Fair enough. Let’s go call Leo and get this over with.”

  Chapter 27

  The Truth

  They found Sage in her room, deep in her closet tossing clothes around.

  “What’s up?” Zwaantie asked.

  “Lots of people are coming in for the lock-in. Appearances must be kept. Leo should be back early tomorrow morning.”

  Neither Ari nor Zwaantie replied. Sage spun around and stared at both of them.

  “What’s going on?” Sage asked.

  “I’m going to tell Leo everything about Phoenix.”

  Sage frowned. “Why?”

  “Because I need to.”

  Sage turned around and pulled out a dress.

  “Yeah,
that’s probably a good idea. You wanna do it here?”

  “Yes. Will you two stay with me?”

  Sage laughed. “Oh no way. You are on your own, sister. We’ll make sure you can get him on the wall though. Oh and we have an appointment this afternoon.”

  “With who?” Zwaantie asked.

  “It’s about the Voice and stuff. I have news.”

  “Good news?” Zwaantie asked, hopeful.

  “You’ll just have to wait and see. Let’s get this call over with first.”

  Zwaantie sank down on the couch, took out her disc, and said, “Call Leo.”

  Nothing happened.

  “That’s odd. He never turns his disc off,” Ari said. They waited another twenty minutes and tried again. He still didn’t answer.

  “Try Candace,” Sage said.

  Ari pulled out his own disc. “Call Candace.”

  Her face appeared on the screen. It looked as if they’d woken her up. “What do you want?” she asked groggily.

  “We need Leo.”

  “He left. He should be on his way home.”

  Zwaantie’s disc buzzed, and Leo’s face floated above her disc. “Sorry about that, I was busy.”

  “I’m going back to sleep,” Candace said, and her face disappeared from the wall. Leo’s replaced it.

  “We’ll be in my rooms if you need us,” Ari said.

  Zwaantie nodded. “Okay. Thanks.”

  Leo smiled at her. “How are you doing?”

  Zwaantie let out a breath. “I’m fine, just struggling with all this death.”

  He ran a hand through his hair. “Me too.”

  “Are you coming back?” Zwaantie asked.

  “Yeah, I’m just trying to finish some things up here.”

  She needed to forge on, or she was going to lose her courage. “I have something to tell you.”

  Leo interrupted. “I already know you aren’t in love with me.”

  “There is more to it.”

  “What?” he asked, frowning.

  She wrung her hands and hesitated. She opened her mouth to speak and closed it again. This would not be easy. She had to tell him the truth. “I’m in love with someone else.”

  He looked as if she’d slapped him.

  “I don’t understand.”