“Astra and Luxuros have uncovered many details that point to the Plutonians being right about Selenia’s involvement in The Flare,” Lunelle confessed. Lura’s shoulders flexed uncomfortably as they spoke.
“Ameera showed me the Shadow Bargaining manual,” Lura shared.
“I can’t explain it,” Lunelle said quietly. “It all seems so wrong, but I can feel in my bones that we’re onto something.”
Lura glanced at Lunelle with her amethyst gaze, an uncertainty churning within her eyes.
“Your mother has not seemed herself these last few months either, Lunelle.”
“How do you mean?”
“Her maidens have been worried about her. She seems… distraught. She and your father have not been sleeping well since Astra’s return. They’re restless.”
Lunelle’s head tilted. “I just mentioned to Astra this morning that something seems off. I can’t place it. Perhaps something to do with Solan?”
“Perhaps,” Lura muttered, leaning back to examine her markings. “All right, you’re free to remove them.”
“They look gorgeous,” Lunelle said. “It’s odd, though. They still don’t feel likemine.”
“It will all feel real soon, Lunelle.”
The princess nodded, feeling Lura’s words bounce off her chest and land somewhere on the floor.
“Psst,”Mirquios whispered as Lunelle and Lura walked by the Andromeda wing on their way to bed for the evening.
“I’ll see you when you return,” Lura said, winking at Lunelle.
She twisted on her heels, glancing over her shoulder before darting into the king’s chambers.
Mirquios pulled the door shut behind her and pressed her against it, wasting no time tangling himself up in her. He tasted like tea and honey as her lips parted for him.
“Gods above,” the king whispered as her hands snaked up his shirt, her mouth leaving a hot trail across his neck.
“Mirquios!” Lux’s panicked voice boomed on the other side of the door, followed by three harsh raps. “Mirq!”
The king hung his head back, pushing Lunelle gently to the side. He cracked open the door, his mouth open to beg his leave, but Lux pushed past him, a wild storm in his eyes.
“He took her,” Luxuros gasped.
“Who?” Lunelle asked, her lips swollen and face flushed.
Luxuros paid their indiscretion no mind.
“We were… we were in a dream, and a voice called to her. I do not understand it exactly, but he reached for her, and he took her. She is not in her room!”
“Astra?” Lunelle breathed.
Ameera appeared moments later, her face ashen.
“Commander—”
Lux paced back and forth as he repeated the details of what happened beneath his breath.
“How could someone take her from a dream?” Lunelle asked, her voice rising as panic set in.
“Not someone,” Lux said, his eyes widening. “It has to be a deity, yes? Someone much more powerful… we could send for Ehlaria,” he said, mostly to Ameera. “She has much more knowledge on the subject?—”
“We should tell the queen,” Mirquios said.
