“I can’t do this,” Zwaantie said.
“Wait,” he said, grabbing for her hand. “I know this isn’t ideal, but I don’t see any other options.”
“No other options? How about you marry me, you idiot!”
“I’ve already told you I won’t do that.”
“How am I supposed to fall in love with Leo if all I can think about is you?”
Ari started to argue, but Sage interrupted him. “Zwaantie’s right. Maybe you should go away for a while. You know, stay at The Black City or something until after Zwaantie and Leo are married. I can make an excuse for you at the wedding. Then after they’ve been married and the threat is gone, you can come back, and you and Zwaantie can figure out what you’re going to do.”
Sure, deflect the hard decisions until later. “Sounds good to me,” Zwaantie said. She needed Ari away. As it was, she wasn’t sure how she was going to muster up feelings for the man she was supposed to love. Though she was fairly certain if Ari left and she fell in love with Leo, she’d never be able to love Ari again.
“No,” Ari said and crossed his arms.
Sage stalked over to him. “Then marry her.”
“No.”
“You’re impossible,” Sage said. “If Zwaantie doesn’t fall in love with Leo, everyone in Stella dies. Is that what you want?”
Ari ran his hand through his hair. “No, that’s not what I want. There has to be a way to make everything work out.”
The door flew open and a servant rushed in. “Prince Ari, you must come at once. The king demands it.”
“I’m a little busy here.”
“It’s urgent.”
Ari sighed and stood up. “This conversation is not over. I’ll be back soon. Don’t go anywhere. We’ll figure this out, and I will be with you, Zwaantie.”
She resisted the urge to scream “Then marry me” behind his back. Sol, he made her mad.
Chapter 21
The Consequence
Sage sank back into the couch. “What were you thinking?”
“I wasn’t. That’s the problem. I had nowhere else to go. If my door hadn’t been locked, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
“Yeah, right. I saw the way he was looking at you. Ari has his eyes set on a prize, and that prize is you. We may not be having this conversation today, but it would have come eventually.” Sage crossed her legs and gave Zwaantie a look she probably only used on those she was interrogating. For a second, Zwaantie understood how Sage did her job.
Zwaantie let out a breath. “I gave him an option to have me, and he refused.”
“This isn’t going to end well, trust me. Why don’t you let me handle Ari, and you take care of Leo.”
“I can’t stop thinking about him.”
“I know, and I’m fairly certain he feels the same way. Leo needs to come back for good and not let you out of his sight. Maybe I’ll suggest he take you out for a romantic weekend or something. That way you two can give love a shot.”
“Sure, that sounds nice.” No, it didn’t. Not really. But she had to try, or she’d be condemning a lot of people to death. Curse her feelings.
It was time to change the subject.
“Why are you still out looking for assassins? I thought you gave them necklaces.”
“We did. Now I’m trying to figure out how to stop the Voice from being in Stella altogether.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “I think I need to go to Sol.”
“What? Why?”
“Because I’m missing a big piece of the puzzle, and I won’t figure it out from here.”
“I’m not sure that’s safe.”
“I’m not the one the Voice wants dead. We need to do this for you.”
“I don’t see how going to Sol will fix that.”
“Because I can talk to people there that I can’t here. I want to find the source of the Voice.”
“You’ll get killed.”
“Nah. I’m resourceful.” Sage stood and fluffed her skirt. “I’m hungry. Let’s go get ready for breakfast.” She had dark circles under her eyes, and her normal smile had settled into a frown. She was carrying too much weight on her shoulders. Sage rarely talked about her own problems, but between trying to find Zwaantie’s assassins and keeping Ari away from her, Sage had more than enough going on.
They showered, changed, and made their way to the king’s empty dining room. Were they early? No. If anything, they were late. Maybe they missed breakfast.
Sage stopped a servant. “Where is the king?”
The servant pointed to a closed bedroom door.
“What’s he doing in there? It’s time for breakfast.”
The servant shrugged and hurried out of the room.
Sage didn’t bother to knock and barged in. The king sat shaking on the couch, his face in his hands. Ari had his arm around his shoulders.
“Daddy, what’s wrong?” Sage sunk down on the other side of the king. Zwaantie stayed by the door. Something serious had happened, and she wasn’t sure if she should be involved. She was still an outsider in this family. “What’s going on? Talk to me.”
Lyra entered the room. She took a seat across from the king. Zwaantie sat next to her, feeling awkward standing there.
Lyra looked down her nose at Sage. “Three days ago, the queen went to visit her sister in The Black City. No one is quite sure what happened, but the vipers killed her in the middle of the night. The whole household is dead.”
Sage gasped. The king let out a sob. Zwaantie’s heart froze. She glanced at Ari, who had his head buried in his father’s shoulder. Zwaantie wanted to go over and comfort him, but she couldn’t under the watchful eye of Lyra. Not to mention this was because of her.
Guilt settled in Zwaantie’s stomach. She’d been considering loving Ari instead. Now his mother was dead. Zwaantie really had liked her, and her heart broke for Ari. He was so close to Astrid.
Lyra swept from the room, and the king resumed his silent sobbing. Zwaantie sat helpless, not sure what she could do.
***
Zwaantie spent the next couple of days in the library and the gardens and avoided Ari. Queen Astrid would still be alive if Zwaantie had tried harder to love Leo. Anytime she saw Ari, he wouldn’t even look at her. Maybe he was feeling some guilt as well, or maybe he blamed her. Either way, she wasn’t about to add to his misery by trying to talk to him.
The morning of the third day, the king held the funeral. Zwaantie dressed in a long black dress Sage picked out for her. The bodice was tight and the skirt loose. Zwaantie felt like she should be going to a ball instead of a funeral. Sage looped her arm through Zwaantie’s and laid her head on Zwaantie’s shoulder.
“How are you feeling?” Zwaantie asked.
“I’m fine. I didn’t get along with the queen, but Ari is stricken. It’s been hard watching him.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I thought about talking to him, but didn’t know if it would be appropriate.”
Sage rubbed her forehead. “Yeah, probably not.”
Zwaantie was surprised when Sage led her out of the castle and flagged down a carriage.
“Isn’t the funeral here?” The castle made the most sense for a funeral. At least in Sol that was where it would’ve been held.
“No. The beach. We burn our bodies, and we can’t do that inside. Plus, like it or not, the funeral feeds the Ticker. It’s a huge social affair.”
Zwaantie felt sick to her stomach. How could people use a funeral for gossip? Funerals should be respectful and small, quiet affairs for only close friends and family. Even royal funerals.
They arrived at the beach. People were everywhere. Thousands of chairs had been set up. Zwaantie trailed after Sage. She didn’t feel right sitting with the royal family, but she didn’t know where else she would sit. Sage slid in next to Ari. His head hung, and Sage gripped his hand. Zwaantie wanted to reach out and comfort him, but she knew it would be the wrong thing to do. Instead, she sat behind him. Ari’s shoulders wer
e tense.
On the stage, next to the queen’s body, sat the king. With bloodshot eyes, he stared out over the crowd. His face was impassive. The only indication he was feeling any stress at all was his hands clenched into fists on his lap. He had no one to comfort him.
Discs fluttered around, taking pictures. Zwaantie nearly plucked one out of the air that flashed next to Sage and Ari. This was a time to mourn, not to plaster pictures all over the Ticker.
Lyra settled next to her and pursed her lips. Zwaantie didn’t say anything because she knew whatever she said, it would be the wrong thing.
“The vipers are getting worse,” Lyra finally said.
“I know.” Zwaantie began to sweat. Could Lyra possibly know about Ari? “Has Leo found anything in The Black City?”
“This was the first attack outside of Deep Sky. He’s baffled. Have you talked to him?”
“I’ve tried. He’s very busy. I know he’s talking to you because you are a part of the investigation, but he’s not confiding in me.” Not that she’d tried very hard. She had called a few times, but she wasn’t persistent.
“The next time you talk to him, see what you can do to cheer him up. Don’t mention the vipers or anything else. He’s under an extraordinary amount of stress. The king blames him for not finding a solution fast enough.”
“That must be awful for Leo.” Zwaantie knew a thing or two about unrealistic pressures. Perhaps Leo felt the same guilt she did, that this was somehow his fault. The only difference was that this really was her fault. Leo’s guilt was unfounded.
“It is. He’s handling it well, but I can tell he’s struggling. Maybe we should send you to The Black City to keep him company.”
Zwaantie thought for a moment. The last time she’d visited Leo, things had been a little bizarre, but she wasn’t about to mention that to Lyra. “That’s a good idea. I’ll suggest it the next time I talk to him and see if he’ll let me.”
Lyra snorted. “Let you? Honey, you have a lot to learn about handling men. You tell him you’re coming.”
Zwaantie wrung her hands. Going to see Leo would get her away from Ari and make it easier to forget him.
The king stood and a hush fell over the crowd. Zwaantie had never seen him so sad. His normal regal stature drooped. Zwaantie was going to stop the deaths. She would learn to love Leo if it was the last thing she did.
Chapter 22
The Lull
Zwaantie arrived in The Black City that afternoon. She proceeded alone to Leo’s room to meet him, her palms sweating. She wasn’t sure how she would approach him.
She knocked on the door, and he opened it, his hair a mess and his clothes wrinkled. He stared at her. She stood there and waited for him to say something.
“Zwaantie?” Leo asked with a frown.
“Hi,” Zwaantie said. “I, um, thought I’d come for a visit.”
He bit his bottom lip. “Of course. I’m sorry, come in.”
She entered the room, surprised at how much it looked like his room at home, full of gray and sharp lines. He gave her an awkward grin. Zwaantie let out a breath of relief.
She tried not to think about what Ari was doing, even though he’d been on her mind during the entire ride over. She also tried to forget about the danger Sage was in. She could get killed in Sol.
Zwaantie came here for one purpose and one purpose only. To get closer to Leo and fall in love. Though she’d tried quite a bit, and so far nothing had worked.
“What are you doing here?” Leo asked.
She should kiss him, but she couldn’t bring herself to.
“I wanted to see you.”
“Right.” He sank down on the couch. Zwaantie sat as close as she dared and grasped his hand in hers.
“I really did.”
She put her finger on his chin and turned his face so he was looking right at her. His eyes were full of pain and stress. She longed to take it away from him and would do whatever it took.
She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. She focused on how to make Leo’s kiss mean something to her. His lips were soft, gentle, and sweet.
His hands pushed her away.
“I can’t do this right now. You shouldn’t be here.” He ran a hand through his hair and exhaled.
Zwaantie’s face flushed with embarrassment. “I wanted to spend time with you. We’re going to be married in ten days, right?”
He laid his head back and closed his eyes. “Yes. We’re going to be married, but I have bigger things to think about at the moment.”
She gripped his hand. “Tell me. Let me shoulder some of this burden with you.”
“I don’t know if you can. My people are dying. You can’t even imagine. Everyone goes to bed in a panic, thinking they might not wake up in the morning, and we’re no closer to understanding why.”
Zwaantie knew it was because she decided to give her heart to Ari. How could she tell Leo she was responsible? She couldn’t. He’d never forgive her if he knew she could’ve ended the vipers long ago.
She was here now, ready to make this work and end the deaths. The problem was that she felt no different about him than when she arrived in Stella.
“Maybe you can use me a sounding board. I can help you sort out your thoughts. I’m a good listener.”
He frowned. “I don’t think so. You should go home. I have work to do.”
“I’ll wait here.” He wasn’t kicking her out. Not now. “Sage is doing some business here. I’ll go home with her in a few days. Don’t worry about me. I’ll stay out of your way.” She didn’t want to lie to him, but she was already concerned about Sage in Sol. She didn’t want Leo to be as well.
He pinched his nose and squeezed his eyes shut. “You shouldn’t be here. It’s dangerous.”
“It’s dangerous in the City of Stars as well. I belong here, by your side.” She put a hand on his shoulder. It didn’t mean anything to her, but maybe it would to him.
“Why the sudden interest in me?”
“Our wedding is in ten days. We belong together. I don’t want to marry a stranger.”
His face softened, and he drew her into his side and kissed the top of her head. “I know. I’m sorry. I’m very stressed. I have to go back out. I don’t know how much I’ll even see you.”
“It’s okay. I’ll take what I can get.” She snuggled close into him and felt guilty for not enjoying it.
***
A few days later, Sage swooped into the room. “Where’s Leo?”
Zwaantie shrugged. She’d only seen him a few times, and he’d been cordial but distant. At least she was here, and that was what mattered. She spent a lot of time reading and exploring the castle and figured as long as she wasn’t actively avoiding Ari, life was easier.
“What’d you find in Sol?”
“Not much. We have a few spies planted there. Sorry, but they haven’t heard any word of the Voice crossing the wall. It alarmed them, quite frankly.”
Everything was at a standstill. Leo’s investigation. Sage’s. Zwaantie’s love. The world was holding its breath, just waiting to exhale and allow everything to fall down. The future was grimmer than ever.
The three days passed quickly, and she barely saw Leo. Just before she headed out to her boat, Leo managed to find time for her. He kissed her quickly. “I’m sorry we didn’t get to see much of each other.”
She let out a breath. “Come back, please. Let someone else handle this. We’re going to be married in days, and we barely know each other. Don’t you think this is just as important?”
“I can’t. This is my responsibility. I’ll be home the day before the wedding. We’ll just have to make the best of it.”
Zwaantie trudged down to the boat alone. What was she doing? She felt so lost. Her wedding would not be a happy occasion. It would be full of honor and duty, but it would be missing love.
This was her life now.
Chapter 23
The Father
When Zwaantie arrive
d to the castle, she went straight to her rooms. She didn’t want to accidentally see Ari. As long as she avoided him, she might be able to pull this off, but then again, maybe not. Things with Leo didn’t exactly go well.
A knock sounded on her door not more than fifteen minutes later. Luna stood there with a couple of bottles and glasses.
“I’ve been missing you. How are you doing?” Luna asked, pushing past her.
“I’m okay.” Zwaantie followed Luna to the sitting area, where she unstopped both bottles, pouring wine into one glass and orange juice into the other one.
“I can’t drink wine, but I figured you might want some. You just got back from Leo’s, right? How’d it go?”
Zwaantie sat across from her and picked up her glass. She swirled the liquid around. She’d missed Luna, but she was surprised to see her here.
“It was okay. He was busy. It’s going to be a sham of a marriage, but I’m doing my best.”
“Phoenix seems to be doing better.”
“Do you see him often?”
“Sometimes. He’s made a lot of new friends.”
“I’m happy for him.” She should tell Luna about Ari, but didn’t want to rehash the Ari argument with anyone again.
“Are you happy?” Luna asked.
Zwaantie snorted. “No, not by a long shot.” She lifted the glass to her lips. Luna lunged for her and grabbed the glass out of her hand. Wine sloshed all over Zwaantie’s face, and she wiped at her eyes. Luna gripped the glass tight and swallowed it in one gulp.
She dropped the glass, and it shattered at Zwaantie’s feet. Tears flowed down Luna’s face, and she embraced Zwaantie in a tight hug. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered in Zwaantie’s ear.
Zwaantie wiggled out of her grip. Panic settled in Zwaantie’s stomach. Something was definitely not right. “What are you talking about?”
Luna took shallow breaths. “I don’t know how long it will take before the poison takes effect, but the Voice. He was too strong. I love you, Zwaantie. I’m so sorry.”
Stella and Sol Box Set Page 45