Elowen pushed her lips to the side as she thought. “That’s hard to choose. Whatever you think would suit me.” She smiled.
Ayla grinned and finished, then moved on to Viola. I kept my distance from Erabella—still feeling awkward around her. It was clear she didn’t exactly love my presence, either.
“What of you, Princess? What do you make of all this?”
I was surprised by Ayla’s kindness, and it appeared Erabella was too. She flushed and tucked a piece of her short blonde hair behind her ear. “The mountain is lovely.”
Ayla chuckled. “Not the mountain, dear. The journey you’re embarking on.”
“Oh.” She clasped her hands together. “I…I am not sure. But if my husband believes it to be the right thing, I will follow him.”
Husband.
I clenched my fists tightly, my nails digging into my palms. I had no right to be upset at her, but I was.
“What doyouthink the right thing is?“ Ayla asked as she finished up with Vi.
Erabella let out a soft laugh. “Honestly? No one has ever asked me what I thought of anything before.” She brushed her hands down her dress. “I’ve never loved violence. Hatred. But it is the world I grew up in. It is all I’ve ever known.” She looked around at all of us with her brown, almond eyes. “I had never met a Mage before in my life.”
“As far as you know.”
“Yes, yes, as far as I know.” She took a deep breath. “But I am glad that I have now. And I’m sorry for what my people have done to you. I am sorry the world has made us believe you to be monsters.”
I blinked. Honestly, we all did. “What is your name again, my dear?”
“Erabella. My friends call me Era.”
Ayla smiled. “Well, Era, I am glad to have met you, too.”
I crossed my arms and leaned against the counters in the room. I wanted to hate Erabella. I wanted to hate her for being married to the man I loved, for having the life I never could. But as it turns out, she was a decent person. I suppose I could see why Silas loved her.
I began to feel my eyes sting.
Do not cry.
“And you, Supreme, how are you holding up?” Ayla was now working on Erabella’s measurements.
I clenched my jaw. “As well as anyone in my position could, I suppose.”
“That’s fair.” She paused mid-measurement, her blue eyes sparkling as she looked at me. “How long did you live in Otacia before?”
Erabella’s brows furrowed as she turned to me. “You lived in Otacia?”
I nodded, hoping to the Gods Ayla wasn’t about to spill my secret right now. “Six years. The longest I’ve ever lived in one place.” I looked at the ground.
“That’s even longer than I’ve lived there,” Erabella murmured. “Did you like it?”
I looked up at her, surprised she was initiating conversation with me. “I did. We lived in the Outer Ring. I’m not sure how it is there now, but I didn’t mind it. It felt like home.”
“If you liked it then, you would love it now.” She cringed. “Minus the obvious.”
I nodded, and she continued, Ayla finishing up her measurements. “Silas has invested a lot in the Outer Ring. Infrastructure, small businesses. Those of the Outer Ring can even come up to the Inner as they please. Hell, there’s even warm water down there now.”
My heart skipped a beat, and when I felt tears welling in my eyes, I looked to the ground again, unable to hide the small smile on my face.
He really did what he promised.
Chapter Fifty
