But if not, I would still live my life looking forward.
Beauty from ash.
“Live your life in the dirt,” Stephan snarled. “Even if you come on your knees begging, I’ll never take you back.”
He turned away, and in a rush, Astra caught his arm.
“Marry me, my lord,” she pleaded.
He shook her off with force, never glancing back.
A hush fell over the party, all eyes focused on us. Father smoothed things over the best anyone could, and then we took our leave, allowing everyone else to gossip without concern. Even Callista seemed eager to go, probably to escape the flood of questions her fiancé would have.
We were all silent on the walk home, faces turned against the wind, steps crunching loudly in the snow.
But even in the cold, I felt warm.
Upon arriving home, Father pulled Astra into private conversation, his expression as bleak as the storm outside. For once, I pitied my eldest sister.
As Callista and I readied for bed, she grabbed my hand once more. She didn’t speak. Then I hugged her, and we just held each other.
I’d planned to leave in the morning, but in that moment, I couldn’t. A few more days couldn’t hurt. Another week, perhaps. However long this feeling could stay alive.
But the next morning changed it all.
Chapter
18
Ihelped Callista with breakfast, both of us smiling and joking as we hadn’t done in years. Rob was helping Father, so I cooked the bread myself, watching carefully that it didn’t burn.
“Perhaps tomorrow we can buy a real loaf from the baker,” Callista suggested. “To celebrate.”
I didn’t know what exactly we were celebrating, but I liked the idea. She stirred the porridge, and I finished the bread and delivered it to the table. Then I reached for my ring.
Only it wasn’t there.
Everything warm in the world chilled.
“Beauty, what’s wrong?”
I overturned every object on the counter. Had I somehow knocked it to the floor and not noticed? I dropped to my hands and knees.
“Beauty!” Callista craned her neck to look at me as I scampered around the floor.
“My ring! Where is it?”
She looked away, but the flush betrayed her.
“Callista, where is it?”
“I saw Astra take it.” She sighed. “With everything that happened yesterday ... I didn’t want to see you two fight again. And anyway, you don’t care for jewelry and fancy things. Let Astra have it.”
My heart twisted.
“Astra!” I shouted, dragging myself to my feet. “Astra, don’t!”
I ran toward the bedroom, but it would be too late. Three turns was easy. Three turns and she’d vanish in a blink with no one watching.
