Page 62 of Heavenly Bodies

Elara skimmed over the rest, her knuckles turning white with fury. When she saw a stamped gloambat—Lukas’s family sigil—she angrily tore the paper in two.

‘It seems, princess, that someone has usurped your throne.’

Enzo still hadn’t uttered a word, though she felt a wave of heat caress her.

‘My betrothed,’ she got out. Her fury was about to spill out of her. ‘All of this time, Lukas—’

‘This is a clear ploy by Ariete.’ Idris interrupted her thoughts. ‘To open Asteria for the first time in decades, to allow all royal families and their courts in, to get to you. I would bet my kingdom on it.’

Idris’s hands gripped the throne arms, his knuckles bulging. ‘And he extends this invitation to me in ridicule. Knowing that my kingdom is the enemy of yours. He mocks me.’

Elara could barely listen. Who gave a fuck if Idris’s pride was hurt? Lukas—her Lukas—hadn’t summoned Ariete that day in some brave, if stupid, attempt to defend her honour.He had seen it as the perfect opportunity to put himself upon her throne.

Lady Fate had intervened again. A masked ball. Courts from all over Celestia in attendance. Elara’s mind began to turn.

‘Of course, we shall not attend. Nor you,’ Idris said pointedly to Elara. ‘Your potential value is too great.’

She bristled. ‘My best friend—the only real family I have left—is beingtorturedin that palace.’

Idris tutted. ‘You don’t know that.’

‘I—’ Elara bit her tongue. It would do no good to reveal to Idris how shedidknow, categorically, that Sofia was being hurt.

‘And you are not going to run headfirst into enemy arms before you are ready,’ Idris continued. ‘My son has been informing me of your progress. And just how painfully slow it has been.’

Elara locked away the anger, the hurt, the worry. Smoothed her face.

Idris smiled in satisfaction. ‘This serves as a reminder, Elara, if nothing else. Perhaps having your former lover on your throne will incentivize you to try harder.’

Elara nodded. ‘As you will it, King Idris.’

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

‘Merissa, I need your help.’

Elara had found Merissa in the kitchens, immediately led her outside, and not said a word to her until they were in the quiet east gardens, the indigo crickets’ chirps filling the air. She looked at Merissa imploringly.

‘Stars, Elara,’ she murmured. ‘Are you all right?’

‘I’m leaving tomorrow. I’m returning to Asteria, and I need your help.’

Merissa’s eyes widened. ‘Elara, you can’t—’

‘Lukas has usurped my throne.MyLukas. And his coronation is tomorrow. He is hosting Ariete, I’m sure of it—Sofia…’ She took a deep breath. ‘This is my chance to save her.’

‘And what about Ariete?’ Merissa whispered. ‘You’re not strong enough to face him.’

‘Then I’ll find a way around him. Which is precisely why I need you.’

The next day, the plan was going smoothly, up until the point where Elara found herself glaring in frustration at her reflection in the mirror, wondering where Merissa had disappeared to after assuring her she’d be right back.

The makeup Merissa had painted her face with was lovely, her lips iridescent, shimmering dust sparkling around her eyes. Her hair rippled in inky waves down one shoulder. For once, Merissa hadn’t glamoured her. The invitation was for a masked ball, and with a mask disguising her, she would blend right in with the court of Asteria as she was.

Time was not on her side. It would take a few hours’ carriage ride to get to the city of Phantome, and although Elara’s plan was to bypass the coronation altogether, arriving quietly while the ball was in full swing, she was still cutting it fine.

One of the only things that stood between Elara and her departure was the corset currently in disarray in her hands.

She had it pressed to her front with one hand and tried once again to reach behind and pull the loose lacing together with the other. It was impossible. With a grunt of exasperation, she let the strings go, the corset falling to the floor. There was a knock at the door, and Elara, attempting to quell her temper, flew to it.

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