“Where is Lunelle?” Nayson asked, interrupting Oestera.
“I would like to tell her privately,” Astra said. She pursed her lips, the one thing she hadn’t been able to solve for was how she was to leave the sister she’d only just gotten back to.
“Of course,” Oestera said. “Our girls are very close.”
“I’ve gathered I come second to Lunelle,” Mirquios said. “I hope to earn her trust and affections, as well.”
“You say that now,” Nayson sighed. “Wait until they have their silent conversations about you at the dinner table.”
“Father!” Astra protested.
“I’ll adjust,” the king replied.
Nayson nodded, reaching for the bottle of moonshine as Ameera reappeared at the end of the table.
He poured heavy.
“Come in!”
Lunelle sat behind her reading desk, the very portrait of a Lunar queen as Astra took in her ethereal sister from the doorway.
“I was just looking over a report from Ellume—it seemed to put Mother on edge earlier.” She moved to hand her sister a stack of parchment but paused when her eyes caught Astra’s. “Oh gods, what’s happened?”
“Well,” she said, sounding rather stupid as she edged into the room. She’d thought about how to tell Lunelle all afternoon, but the words just never seemed to capture the exact weight of her feelings.
Lunelle knew her sister far too well to belabor it. “Just tell me, whatever it is. Has that king of yours proposed?” She laughed as she tucked her stationary into a drawer, sitting back in her chair. “Oh,” she sighed, catching Astra’s solemn stare as she sank into the chair across the desk.
From birth, Astra knew their girlhood would end this way. That was the job description—they’d never grow old together. She’d always imagined Oestera would drag her kicking and screaming down the aisle to marry some distant cousin as a last resort, and they could both blame their mother for their inevitable separation.
She’d never thought she’d be the one holding the knife.
“Lu,” her voice trembled. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry!” Lunelle pushed away from her desk, rising. “Do not be sorry, Astra.” She rounded the desk, perching on the smooth surface beside her sister. Her eyes dropped to Astra’s left hand, a lovely cluster of aventurine and diamonds settled on her skin.
“We Tethered,” she lied. “Otherwise I wouldn’t have agreed so suddenly?—”
“Yes, you’re known for your careful, deliberate planning,” Lunelle chuckled. “Mother above, As. This is wonderful,” she mumbled, tears welling at the back of her throat.
“I genuinely believed it would never happen for someone like me, but... but it did.”
“A Tether,” Lunelle sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “Who could fight that?” Her eyes hardened as she grazed her sister’s face, pushing the rush of emotions into a neatly contained ball.
The way a queen would.
“I think he and I could do good together, Lu. We see the world the same way. We want the same things. He’s funny enough, smart.”
“And handsome.”
“A noted perk.”
“Mercury is far away,” Lunelle whispered.
“The Rift makes it a quick trip,” Astra insisted. “Mother can’t ban me if I’m no longer her loyal subject.”
“You forget that come Winter I’ll be on the throne. Your ban would be lifted either way.”
“He’s a good man,” Astra repeated. “I feel it in my bones, Lu.”
