“Tomorrow,” she said aloud. “Tomorrow, you’ll speak with Archera and tell her everything you know. But please instruct her not to alert my mother until we have something to show for it.”
Ameera nodded, chewing on her nail. “Whatever you say, Fire Queen.”
Chapter
Eight
“Good morning, future Queen of Mercury!”
A white blur bounced up and down at the foot of Astra’s bed, much too enthusiastic for the early hour.
“What time is it?” Astra groaned.
“I brought you breakfast,” Lunelle chirped, flopping a tray piled high with pastries near her feet. “Figured you’d rather fight a dragon than deal with last night’s regrets by the hundreds in the dining hall.”
“Goddess bless you,” Astra mumbled, smoothing her hair. She was thrilled to avoid the heavy hangovers of the nobles—wait. “What did you call me?”
Lunelle giggled, tossing her sister a knowing glance. “Like you didn’t spend nearly all of last night on the arm of that king, or tucked away in your study with him.”
“That doesn’t signify?—”
Lunelle’s amused gaze flashed. “Please. Since when are you so modest with me? He looked at you like you were the Mother herself. You can pretend all you want, As, I know what I saw.”
Astra didn’t respond as Lunelle fussed with a croissant, pushing a cup of coffee in her direction. She’d much rather her sister assume she had feelings for the king than poke at the fear coiling in her chest. She sipped the hot liquid slowly, letting it soothe the ache in her uncertain bones. Her sister watched her with playful eyes, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
She took three long, measured sips before setting the mug down, Lunelle’s eyes still watching her. Oh, fine. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to plant seeds in case she did have to go with the plan swirling around her mind. “He was not terrible,” she admitted.
“Oh, I knew it!” Lunelle sprang up, spinning in a circle. “The mighty, infallible Fire Queen has a crush on a king, of all people!”
“It doesn’t matter,” Astra muttered into her coffee cup. “I have much more important matters to worry about. I have to figure out how to get Mother to release me back to Celene.”
Lunelle pulled one of Astra’s hands into hers. “Mother is not keeping you here to punish you. Things are getting more tense by the minute across the courts. We need you here.”
Astra dismissed her, choosing instead to focus on the buttery pastry and berry jam before her. “Tell me how your night went.”
“You know me, I prefer to observe,” Lunelle said. “Not nearly as exciting as your night.”
“You could do with some excitement,” Astra mumbled around a bite of pastry.
Lunelle glared as she plucked a strawberry from the tray. “I have plenty of excitement coming my way in Winter. I’ve been in training misery for my coronation trial. Last month, I caught Mother lining up portraits of eligible nobles to nominate as champions.”
Astra frowned. It may be frustrating that her mother was actively trying to auction her off, but at least she didn’t have to endure a coronation trial.
“Anyone interesting?”
Lunelle shook her head, her lips falling into a pale line. “How should I know? I’ve been locked in Lunaria for thirty-two years. You’re my only friend,” she laughed, squeezing Astra’s hand. “Allow me to use this week as a distraction and live vicariously through you.”
“While you’re observing, can you keep an eye out for anything strange?” She made every effort to keep her voice even as if asking about the weather or tomorrow’s dinner menu, but her chest broke into a cherry-red alarm.
“Did something happen?”
“No,” she answered much too quickly. “I just have a feeling, Lu. Something is off.”
Lunelle nodded, never one to second guess her sister’s premonitions. “I should go. I have meetings all day with these courtiers. Whoever scheduled Mars and Venus back to back should be hanged.”
Astra laughed. “Perhaps your meeting with Venus will go long and run into the Martian prince’s nap time.”
Lunelle’s lips curled into a smile, a soft giggle flowing over her shoulders as she left. “I’ll see you at the beach this evening?”
