“You look sick.”
“I'm fine. You’re the one who needs help.” Raaf’s voice was gruff and mean. She’d never heard him talk to her like that.
Zwaantie looked from him to Mother, who averted her eyes.
“Why?” she asked, not wanting to hear his response, but needing to.
“Let’s see.” He put his fork down. “Well, you are dressed like a slut, and you just spent the last two days alone on an island with man who has a reputation for sleeping with anything that moves. I’d say you are the one who needs help. Not me.”
Zwaantie drew herself up to her full height. His argument was weak. True, but weak, so she’d be able to talk her way out of this.
“Ari’s my friend, and he took me out on the boat so that I could see the stars. You know how obsessed I was with them before I left home. That’s all.”
Mother released a huge breath, but Raaf didn’t look convinced. Neither did the king.
“Why didn’t Sage go with you two?” asked King Ajax with a furrowed brow.
“She had an investigation that needed her attention.”
“Hmm,” said the king. “Yes, I’d forgotten about that. I wonder if she made any progress.”
Before Mother or Raaf could ask the king to elaborate, Sage opened the door.
“Hi, Daddy,” she said and planted a kiss on his cheek. She then sat down next to Zwaantie.
Sage smiled at Mother and then attacked the food in front of her. Mother looked down her nose at Sage. If Sage had been entertaining them for the last twenty-four hours, Mother probably had a lot of opinions about her. Zwaantie was sure she’d hear about them when they were alone.
The subject of Ari didn’t come up again, and Mother and Ajax resumed speaking about the affairs of the kingdoms.
After they ate, Zwaantie stood. “Mother, would you like to see my rooms? We can discuss the goings-on at home.”
“Oh, yes. Of course. Raaf?”
He nodded and both followed her down the hall. Two guards trailed behind them.
Mother brushed her fingers along the edge of Zwaantie’s shirt. “Did you really have to adapt their style?”
“Aren’t you stifling, Mother? It’s so hot.”
“You have a point. But you’re wearing so few clothes.”
“I’m much more comfortable.” Zwaantie pushed open the door and watched her mother’s reaction to the room. A slow smile crawled across her face.
“It’s almost like being at home again. They did this for you?”
“Leo did. Go touch one of the cows.”
She did, and it mooed. Mother chuckled.
Raaf sank down on the couch and looked around with a bored expression.
“What have you been up to, besides running around with the king’s playboy son?” Raaf asked.
“Learning about the magic of Stella. It’s incredible. I wonder if it would be possible to bring some of it home.”
Raaf screwed up his face. “No. That would be awful. Do you see what they have here? No way.”
Mother sat across from them. “Those monsters last night. I thought I was going to have a heart attack.”
“I know. As long as we are in before midnight, we’re safe.”
Raaf leaned forward and touched her necklace. “Yours looks different than ours. Can I see it?”
Zwaantie gripped the necklace. “No. I never take it off.”
“Why not?”
“Because it protects me from danger. I’ve had too many close calls to risk it.”
“I don’t blame you,” Mother said. “Without the Voice, I bet the dangers are prevalent.”
Zwaantie nodded. She wasn’t about to tell Mother that the real danger came from Sol. From the king himself.
The conversation turned to lighter things. Seeing them here, Zwaantie never wanted to step foot on Solite soil again. She didn’t miss it. Perhaps the food and definitely the sun, but nothing else. Sol was far more dangerous than Stella ever was.
Chapter 32
The Scorned
After a half hour, Leo came into the room followed by Ari. Leo seemed pacified. Which was good. And bad.
What if Ari hadn’t told him the truth?
Leo swept down and lifted Zwaantie up out of the chair in an embrace. Oh no. Ari stood behind Leo and mouthed the word, “Sorry.”
Oh stars. How was she supposed to keep this charade up?
Leo let go and kissed her full on the lips. She kissed him back, mostly because if she didn’t, he’d know something was up. It was nice, but it didn’t hold a candle to Ari’s kisses. Plus, she felt dirty kissing another man in front of her husband. Though this was his fault. Maybe she should pretend a little harder with Leo and make Ari jealous.
Leo pulled away, all smiles. She couldn’t do this.
“I missed you so much. I'm never leaving you alone again. I know you haven’t seen your mother in a couple of months, but I would really like some time with you. Especially after how we left things in The Black City. Will you go for a walk with me?”
Zwaantie shot Ari a look, and he shrugged.
“Okay,” she agreed reluctantly. Leo took her hand and led her out into the hallway. She gave Ari one last fleeting look and trailed after Leo.
He chattered all the way out of the castle. She was so angry with Ari that she didn’t even realize where they were heading. He had put her in an impossible situation. She should tell Leo. She worried that she’d do the wrong thing though. So much of Stella relied on the Ticker and reputations.
“I felt so bad after you left. I totally ignored you, and you were trying so hard. I am so sorry. After we get married, I’d like you to come on my investigations with me if you want. Are you excited for the wedding?”
Zwaantie nodded, words completely lost on her.
He stopped and kissed her again. His kisses were filled with longing, and suddenly she pitied him. He had no idea what was going on. How could she lead him on like this? How was it that Ari didn’t deal with it? Oh, she was so angry. The second she got Ari alone, she was going to let him have it. How could he put her in this position?
She hated faking it, but she had no choice at the moment. Leo smiled at her, and she tried to smile back as they went on an incredibly awkward walk. She didn’t see Ari again that day. She went to his room, but he never came home. Either he was avoiding her, or something else was going one. The next morning she searched the entire castle for him, but he was nowhere to be found. Sage didn’t seem concerned and instead kept Zwaantie busy with flowers, food, and her family so she didn’t have to spend much time with Leo. She had no plan for escaping this. Tomorrow was her wedding, and she was already a married woman. So far the marriage mage hadn’t said anything, but if she tried to marry Leo tomorrow, surely she would say something.
Stars. Where was Ari?
Chapter 33
The Betrayal
That evening they had a huge dinner with the entire family. Little Raaf was getting big. Zwaantie had hoped Raaf would’ve been pleased she’d named the baby after him, but he didn’t seem all that impressed. Discs flashed everywhere.
Ari came in right before dinner started and sat clear across the table. He didn’t even look her way.
Candace kept up a running commentary on all the gossip, which distracted Zwaantie from trying to catch Ari’s eye. Candace followed her eyeline.
“He looks a little miserable, huh. Maybe he finally fell in love and can’t have her. Serves him right.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
Candace frowned. “Excuse me? He’s slept with half the kingdom, and he left a string of broken hearts. Of course he deserves it.”
Zwaantie couldn’t stand it anymore. The pretending. The fakeness. But she couldn’t defend her husband without revealing her secret. She had to get out of there.
“I’ll be back.” Zwaantie shoved the chair out and rushed toward the door hoping no one would notice. She went for the one place she knew she could hide. The entire royal fa
mily was upstairs having dinner. No one would think to look for her here.
She didn’t even take glow before she pushed the door open and found the tree. She curled up under the golden leaves and let herself cry. It wasn’t until arms were around her that she realized someone else was there.
“I’m so sorry. I caused this,” Ari said in a strained voice.
He curled up behind Zwaantie and kissed her neck.
“Where have you been?”
“Trying to find a solution.”
“By hiding from me? How could you let this continue?” she asked, her anger building. “It’s not fair of you to put me in this position. I’m going back upstairs, and I’m going tell him everything.” It was time. The consequences would not be pleasant, but this had to come out. She was sick of pretending.
“I’ll go with you. We’ll tell everyone and let the chips fall where they may.”
Zwaantie rolled over to face him. “Thank you.”
Ari kissed Zwaantie, and their hands were all over each other, and before she knew it, their clothes were off.
Twenty minutes later they lay under the tree appreciating the beauty of the colors and the afterglow of their lovemaking. So much for staying angry with him. They were both procrastinating over what needed to be done.
“Come on,” she muttered. “We have some people to tell.”
Ari reached a hand over and pulled her close to him. “One more time and then we’ll go upstairs.”
She giggled and kissed him. Another thirty minutes wouldn’t make any difference. At least that’s what she told herself. Maybe they’d stay in the gardens forever and never face reality. Every time she was with Ari, everything around her disappeared.
Footsteps crunched on the fake leaves that had fallen to the ground.
Ari’s eyes widened, and they both scrambled for their clothes.
Leo’s head appeared under the tree. “What the hell is going on?”
Of all the people who could find them in the garden, he was the worst. Zwaantie would’ve rather seen her mother or Candace or even Lyra. She had managed to get most of her dress back on, but Ari was still searching for his pants, and he clambered up to talk to Leo.
Zwaantie stood a few feet from Ari. She didn’t know what to say.
“I can explain,” Ari said.
“No,” Leo roared. His face was red, and he gripped his hair. “You knew how I felt about her, and you had to have her anyway.”
Ari took two steps closer to him. “It wasn’t like that. I swear. Neither one of us expected this to happen.”
Leo stared past Ari to Zwaantie, and his eyes were so sad. She didn’t mean to hurt him.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I fell in love. I didn’t mean to. I intended to marry you, and I figured eventually I would love you. But then I fell in love. I couldn’t deny it, and neither could he.” She didn’t know what else to say. This wasn’t okay.
“And what,” he snarled, “do you expect him to do? Marry you? He won’t. You’ll be a mistress your whole life. I can give you a marriage. He can’t.”
“Actually, I already did,” Ari said.
“What? Screw her? I know that.”
Zwaantie winced at the crude words.
“No, I married her. A few days ago. On the boat.”
“You what?” The blood drained from Leo’s face. He flicked his eyes between the both of them, and when neither responded, he stormed from the room.
“I should follow him,” Ari said.
Zwaantie nodded, knowing Leo wouldn’t want to see her. He probably wouldn't want to see Ari either, but at least they might be able to reconcile.
“I’ll go to Sage’s room. If you need me, send someone.”
Ari gave her a quick kiss and raced from the garden.
Zwaantie took her time. She didn’t want to deal with what lay on the other side of the door.
Sage was already in her room reading something on her disc.
She looked up when Zwaantie shut the door, and a blush crept across her cheeks.
“Leo’s pissed,” Zwaantie said. At least she was on Zwaantie’s side. No one else would be.
“I know. Ari’s talking to him, right?”
“How do you know?” Zwaantie asked.
“They locked themselves in Ari’s room. Wouldn’t let me come in. I figured Ari finally found the balls to tell him.”
“Not exactly.”
Sage raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Leo walked in on me and Ari in the gardens.”
Sage giggled. “What were you doing in the gardens?”
Zwaantie threw a pillow at her. “You know what we were doing. Should I try to go talk to them?”
“No, they’ll figure it out.”
Zwaantie took a shower and put her pajamas on. She should’ve gone and attended to her mother, but she couldn't deal with the judgment after what happened with Ari and Leo. Her mother didn’t know about Ari yet, but she was sure to harp on something about either Zwaantie or Stella.
Zwaantie was grateful she didn’t have to worry about a wedding the next day. Though she did feel a little guilty when she saw a wistful Sage standing next to the wedding dress.
“What do you think is going to happen?” Zwaantie asked.
Sage shrugged and locked her door.
They curled up in her bed and waited for the lights to go out. When they did, Zwaantie felt her eyes slowly close. For a mere second though, she registered there was no sound on the other side of the door. The vipers were gone.
Chapter 34
The Wedding: Part 2
The next morning Ari woke to Sage glaring at him.
“Get up. The both of you,” Sage said.
Leo was sound asleep on the couch across from him. They stayed up most of the night talking. In the end, Leo hadn’t punched him, but he should’ve.
“Sage,” Leo grumbled. “Get out.”
“Nope. We have a wedding to plan.”
“Stars, Sage. Everyone knows,” Ari said.
“Nope. No one knows except us and Zwaantie. Father might. He seems suspicious. Did you notice how quiet it was last night?”
“What are you talking about?”
“No vipers. That’s what everyone is talking about.”
“You mean it worked?”
“What I can’t figure out is why it took so long. You guys have been married three days.”
“They’re like gone, gone?”
“I doubt anyone will risk going out for a few nights, but it’s all over the Ticker. Not a single person heard the vipers last night.”
Leo sank into the couch. “Thank the stars. At least that’s over.”
Sage shuffled her feet. “Now. Wedding. I say we leave it. Except switch the groom and not tell a soul. The public will eat it up. The Ticker will be buzzing for weeks about this, maybe even months. What do you say?”
“Only if we change the location.”
“What? No.”
“Please. The beach will be better.”
“The point is to not give anyone a reason to be suspicious.”
Ari sighed. He’d been trying to avoid a wedding at the castle. The vision from the funhouse still haunted him. It was why he married Zwaantie out on the boat. It ensured that what he saw couldn’t possibly come true. If he argued too much more, Sage would start asking questions.
“Only if Leo is okay with it.” Ari said.
“If it will make thing easier in the long run, sure. But then I’m leaving for a while. I do not want to see you and Zwaantie suck face.” His face was stony, but at least he was attempting to make it light.
“Can do, brother. Sage, go get our bride ready.”
Most of the guests were already there when Ari and Leo arrived. They posed for pictures. Leo put on a good face. Everyone kept asking him if he were ready to get married. He just smiled and nodded. This wasn’t fair to him, but he went along with it anyway. Maybe he deserved Zwaantie more than Ari did.
The room was incredible. The ceiling glittered with stars, and flowers floated around the room. People stood along the path in the middle where Zwaantie would walk down. Ari and Leo took their places at the front of the aisle, next to the marriage mage.
This would be the story of the century. Though the vipers might override it. Ari wondered like Sage why it had taken three days. Was something different now than before? Ari couldn’t possible see what.
Music began, and the entire crowd stood. Sage made her way up the walkway in a very pretty pink dress. He wondered when she’d settle down. He hoped soon. He chuckled to himself. That was a thought he would’ve never had a few weeks ago. Now, he wanted everyone to be as in love as he was.
Zwaantie appeared at the end of the aisle, her face beaming. Her blonde hair hung in ringlets around her face. She practically glowed in her white dress, though he barely took his eyes off her smile. She stared directly at him. His chest swelled. She was his. Forever. Discs flashed all over the room.
She had to climb three stairs to get to him. She took the first step, and her eyes sparkled. Out of the corner of his eye, Zwaantie’s brother stepped around his mother. In his hands he held, oh stars, no. A backsnipe pointed at Zwaantie.
Ari didn’t hesitate.
“No,” he shouted as he lunged for Zwaantie. He shoved her out of the way as a bolt shot straight for her.
Chapter 35
The Soul Mate
Zwaantie’s ankle twisted, and her dress tangled around her legs. Leo leaped over her. Her head cracked against the stairs as she was forced to the ground. Zwaantie scrambled to get up, but Ari lay on top of her. She blinked and shook her head. She forced herself into a sitting position, which was difficult because Ari was lying across her legs. She gripped at his torso.
She saw but didn’t believe the short arrow that stuck out of his chest. The blood that bloomed around it.
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