The door to the dining room opened behind her and shut. Elon bit back a grin. “Did you see their— “Was that really necessary, Elon?” He blinked, wiping the grin from his face. “The foot play? Absolutely.” “Well, I’m glad you were amused by it.” Elon leaned back against the door, his arms folded. “I…

The Next Day Elon tugged on her corset laces. “Still too loose?” Carissa nodded, keeping her hands planted on the vanity’s edge. “Just a bit tighter. You could have the lady-in-waiting do this, you know.” He tied her laces. “I don’t see why I should delegate the task to her when I’m just as capable.”…

Carissa glanced over at Elon, waiting for him to tell the man ‘no.’ But Elon only glanced at her, a smile softening his lips. Was he amused? Did he want her to dance with the man? Carissa glanced back at the man. His caramel-colored hair was smoothed back in a pompadour, his smile stiff with…

“Announcing the arrival of King Elon and… his lovely bride and queen, Carissa.” Elon straightened, pride swelling within him at the announcement. He remembered the day he’d left the palace, how he’d stared towards the City of Zonah, his heart throbbing painfully in his chest, his palms clammy. The journey had officially been to reinforce…

“How can I help?” Carissa’s newly appointed lady-in-waiting froze, her slender hands still holding a lock of Carissa’s hair, and stared at Elon with rounded eyes. “Your–Your Majesty?” Elon strode towards Carissa, seated before the vanity. He rested his hands on her shoulders, left bare by the cut of her dress. “What can I do…

Carissa jolted awake and scrubbed her eyes. It seemed the carriage had bumped over a rock in the road. If only she’d slept the rest of the trip. Even in the carriage, the mountain air nipped at her ears no matter how high she pulled her hood over her head. She rolled her shoulders, feeling…

Elon shut the door behind them. Rain shushed the storm outside, while their clothes steadily dripped with water. He turned to face her. “Hmm. It seems you still got wet, despite the cloak.” She ducked her head to conceal her a pleased smile. She’d had to nudge the cloak back to allow rainwater to soak…

Carissa blinked, something stirring her from her sleep. The sky was a charcoal gray, darkened by clouds and the coming night. The ground was cold and hard beneath her, and the chill air numbed her skin. The field was littered with rounded stones, some unmarked, some etched with a name and date. The graveyard. She…

“Cursed?” Carissa’s voice squeaked, as if the hinges of her tongue were rusty. “Yes, my dear.” Her eyes fixed on Carissa. “As are you.” Carissa leaned back to better see the woman before her, who knew more than she’d first appeared to. “This, I know. But how do you know?” The woman’s lips met in…