She wanted to ask who the gods of the gods were, who the Court Above answers to, but her blood rushed against her ears.
“All of those questions,” Kwan said, swirling his fingers in the space between them. “They have answers, Lunelle, but those answers may be hard to digest. The Lunar Court has more secrets than you realize.”
“The Lunar Court?” she asked, unable to bite it back.
Kwan gave her a soft smile. She certainly was not the first regent to bristle at the notion that everything they knew was wrong.
“We have reason to believe that Solan and Leona were not enemies, Lunelle. We suspect they were trying to broker a treaty, and that the Court Above put an end to it. Theythrivewhen the Inner and Outer Courts feud.”
Lunelle’s heart stuttered. Sitting higher against the desk, her fingers curled around the paper in her hands.
“What do you mean—how would… how would that be?”
Kwan lowered his gaze, softening under her panic.
“You’ve been kept in a bubble for over thirty years, Lunelle. Ask yourselfwhy—what does your mother stand to gain by keeping you from forging your own alliances, your own relationships?”
Lunelle shook her head. Her mother was overprotective, she always had been—losing her own sister to the Solar king’s wrath had shattered any illusions that her daughters’ might alone could prevent them from succumbing to the Solar Court. Lunelle had always been understanding of her mother’s tight grip in response.
“What evidence do you have?” she barked.
“It’s in the book, Lunelle. Detailed accounts by fellow rebels from across the courts, even your own. Selenia was spotted in Solaris just before The Flare—there has to be a reason. The gods only benefit from sowing division, and that’s as true as it is between Pluto and Venus as it is between Sun and Moon.”
Lunelle’s teeth held tightly to her tongue, her confusion battling for an outlet, a place to run.
“Take a few nights. Read. Ask yourself some hard questions. But when you resurface, and when the kind heart we’ve heard so much about swells with the injustices your courtiers have borne the burden of, I will be here. The Novas will be here.”
Lunelle sank, her shoulders crashing into the wooden back of the chair.
“Thank you,” she said, hardly above a whisper. “I appreciate you seeking me out.”
“Be careful in the city, Princess. The gods have gods, but they also have demons.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“I’m happy to provide an escort service.”
“No,” she said, gathering the text and her cloak. “I can manage. We’ll speak soon, Kwan.”
“Take your time,” he said quietly, rising as she made to leave. “But do not take theirs,” he sighed, waving toward the city outside. His implication settled over her shoulders like a heavy Summer rain, thick with a darkness she could not shake.
Should not shake, she corrected herself as she descended the stairs, pulling her hood over her delicate features and tucking her evening reading assignment under her arm.
“How was it?” Lura barked as she skipped over herself to keep up with Lunelle’s trot down the quiet street.
“Very interesting,” Lunelle returned, flashing the manuscript beneath her cloak. “We have some homework to do, Lura. Nothing is what I thought it was, but we mustn’t let Mother catch wind of any of this. Do you understand?”
Her maiden nodded, falling behind just a step, tugging the neckline of her gown.
ChapterTen
Atight grip around her wrist yanked Lunelle from a fitful sleep.
She yelped as two sapphire eyes peered back at her, the haze of her dream still brushing against her back as she tried to understand where she was.
“Sorry,” Yallara chirped, pulling her upright. “We’re going to be late!”
“Late for what?” Lunelle asked tiredly, batting Yallara away as if she were a moth lost in the dark.
