Twenty-one days after I arrived in Astarobane, the Bloodstone people gather in the same square they executed the five Kyanites in. A lively atmosphere fills the space where death fell only a short while ago.
Instead of their usual black or gray, the women don colorful surcoats. Thankfully, Kassandra warned me in advance. The day before the Mona Festival, she handed me a scarlet surcoat, and she admitted she had made it for me.
As I walk through the celebration, I admire the way the material feels against my skin. The way it hugs my curves, then flares around my legs.
Gabriel keeps me next to him as he greets people and shakes hands. At every smile and forced word, emptiness follows me. I perform for him, my destiny, and for myself, yet it stings that he only needs me near when he wants to prove something.
Every morning I wake, believing it will happen. Gabriel will see all my efforts and his attitude toward me will change. It never happens. He wants me as much as he wants a wart on his finger.
Leaves skirt across the sandstone streets as Luc joins us with a young girl, who looks no older than six summers. He introduces her to me as his daughter, Adelaide. The young girl with her curly blonde hair and green eyes flashes a bright smile at me. I can’t help but respond. At home, I always had a group of children visit me at the apothecary. They were mostly orphans, and they would stop by to talk about their day. I always made sure they left with full bellies.
Gabriel stops at one of the merchant’s booths and buys stick candy for Adelaide. Between eating the sweet, she grins at him and rattles on about the pony her father promised to buy her.
Over the throng of people, I glimpse Kassandra walking toward us, and some of the tension eases. Her friendship has meant everything. The way she helps with my garden, brings me bread, and gives me such fine clothing. Without question or judgment, she welcomed me into her life and home. The rest of the Bloodstone people haven’t been as friendly. Few smile at me. Even fewer speak to me.
Her sister, Everly, trails her but cuts away to talk to Cenric. From the distance between us, I cannot hear their conversation, nor can I see his eyes—those cold, lifeless eyes that had no hesitation in killing those four Malachites.
For a second time, my attention lowers to the surcoat Kassandra sewed for me. I have never owned anything this elegant or soft. Lightly, I run my fingers over a sleeve, admiring her ability to sew neat stitches.
She admitted that sewing is how she earns a living, and that she crafted my surcoat from leftover materials from one of her wealthier clients.
Luc turns to Gabriel. “Keep an eye on Adelaide. I need to talk to Kassandra.”
Gabriel’s brow rises as he takes the young girl’s hand. “About?”
A tic forms in Luc’s jaw as he shakes his head. Maybe because he doesn’t wish to speak, or he doesn’t want to, knowing I’m standing here.
Emotions flicker across Gabriel’s tight features, emotions I find impossible to read. “Luc...”
The edges near Luc’s mouth soften as he slaps his hand against Gabriel’s back. “Cheer up.” He leans closer and drops his voice a fraction. “What I do, I do for all Bloodstone.”
“I wouldn’t a—”
“—you don’t need to.” Again, Luc smacks Gabriel’s back, offers a quick smile, and disappears into the crowd of people.
I look between Gabriel and the little girl now clinging to his hand. “What does Luc want from Kassandra?”
Kassandra has become dear to me in ways I never imagined a Bloodstone would.
“He didn’t say,” Gabriel says as he continues walking through the rows and rows of booths.
“But you understood him.”
“It’s no concern of yours.” Gabriel turns us down a path filled with food merchants.
“Kassandra is my friend,” I say tersely.
Clouds darken Gabriel’s eyes as he speaks. “Then you’ll rest easy, knowing Luc will do nothing more than what yourfriendalready wants.”
“You know?”
A taut smile pulls at Gabriel’s mouth as he nods. “I may be just a warrior to you, but I’m not blind.”
“I have never thought you werejusta warrior.”
Adelaide tugs at Gabriel’s hand. “I want to see the animals.”
“And you shall,” he says, his tone gentle as he speaks to the young girl.
