The Starling slowly stood, shoulders tense. Isla knew her friend wasn’t nervous, at least not for herowndemonstration. She walked carefully to the front, hair shimmering below the chandelier flames. Celeste raised a finger to the air.
And the room exploded.
Fireworks burst from every corner, silvery sparks showering down like miniature shooting stars. They screeched and roared, flying through the room, before shattering against the walls into silvery specks.
The crowd cooed, some reaching up to touch the stardust that fell like confetti, draping the tables in glitter. Some of it landed in Isla’s hair.
It was beautiful.
Isla’s stomach lurched, waiting for her name to be called. She needed a plan ... a way out—
“My turn, I suppose,” Azul said, smiling good-naturedly.
The Skyling stood with grace, his cape curling behind him in a self-created breeze. He spun his wrist toward the ceiling, and the air began to ripple. Three clouds like spun sugar appeared, growing wider and wider, until their corners touched. They darkened, then lit with flashes of light—storm clouds. Thunder echoed through the room, before the clouds calmed and became white as parchment. The audience looked up in wonder as they floated down toward their heads. Their fingers went right through them. When the clouds reached their table, even Isla reached a gloved hand up, trying hard to smile while dread boiled in her stomach.
She needed to think ... she needed help ...
Azul took a deep breath and blew with so much force that everyone’s hair flew back, their capes cracking behind their chairs. And the clouds were no more.
The Skyling turned toward her and grinned.
Now there was no doubt.
Isla’s heart was a drum in her chest as Azul spoke her name.
Powerless, powerless, powerless—the word was a chant, a taunt, so loud in her head, she wondered how no one else could hear it.
Compared to all the other rulers’ demonstrations, she felt as useless and unremarkable as a piece of coal among diamonds. But she still had to pretend for a few more weeks—long enough to find the bondbreaker.
Celeste couldn’t help her. Her guardians couldn’t help her. Grim couldn’t help her.
She had to find her strength.
Isla stood, feeling eyes on her like stage lights. Nobles whispered, disgust and fear clear on their well-powdered faces. She pressed her lips together, her plan a roughly made puzzle still forming in her head, then smiled, trying to look confident, though her knees trembled beneath her dress.
“King? Would you assist me in my demonstration?”
Oro blinked at her. Now, in his nearly always lifeless eyes, she read many things. Curiosity. Irritation. Perhaps even worry. All of it gone in an instant. He was expressionless by the time he stood, towering over her, offering his hand.
It was foolish garnering his attention after their duel, after he had looked so suspicious of her actions. But being bold was the only way she was going to get through this demonstration without having everyone question her and her abilities.
She led the king to the front of the table, her grip too tight on his hand, a sign of her nerves. “Stand there,” she ordered. Then, trying not to look at the faces that showed their outrage at her audacity at commanding the king, that were as hungry for her to fail as they werefor the red meat on their plates, she walked to the opposite side of the room.
Slowly, willing her fingers not to shake, she shed her many rings, placing them on the nearest table, before a Sunling who gasped at the wealth piled in front of him. She took her gloves off and kept one clenched in her hand. With the other hand, she pulled a pin from her hair.
Not any ordinary pin. A throwing star, disguised to look like an accessory.
The room was silent, so Cleo’s voice carried as she said, “I didn’t realize you came to dinnersarmed,Wildling.”
Isla lifted her chin slightly, taking the cool metal into her palm. “I’m always armed,” she said.
She could have sworn she heard someone near her gulp.
Oro did not make a move, standing still before her, yards away. She did not break his gaze as she took the throwing star between her teeth. And tied her remaining glove over her eyes.
The crowd gasped, but she couldn’t see their expressions anymore. She couldn’t see anything behind the dark-red fabric.
She took the star from between her lips and put it between her fingers, its deadly sharp points digging into her skin.
