Page 11 of War of Her Heart

“I’m sorry, can you slow down? I’m having a hard time keeping your pace,” I said as I came to a stop.

She turned to face me, placed a fist on her chest, and moved it in a circular motion.

“Sorry,” I said as I watched her hand movement, “you know how to sign.”

Her eyes widened when she realized I could communicate with her. When Astrid taught me how to read and write, she also taught me how to sign. I never understood why until this moment.

No matter how many books I read about the different faeries and creatures among the realms, I had never read of one who couldn’t hear which was what I always associated with sign language. It was something messengers that visited human kingdoms learned how to do in case they came across a deaf person. But I never thought about someone who couldn’tspeak.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

She began to sign a series of letters.

“Y a r a. Yara. It’s nice to meet you, Yara. I’m Violet.”

She nodded and began to glide down the hall again, but slower. Yara stopped once we reached the large double doors of a room and motioned for me to go inside. I wasn’t sure if she was not allowed into certain places or if she simply didn’t want to be seen by others.

I could hear the music and the sound of conversation coming from inside the room. I let out a sigh. I was so nervous at the thought of what I could be walking into. They had parties and events at the Mountain Realm castle, but Celine never let me attend. She was worried about others finding out about mine and Calum’s relationship.

I looked at Yara and told her goodbye before I turned the handle on the door. I entered a ballroom with high ceilings made of glass so you could see the stars above. Large windows lined the room, so it felt like you were inside a snow globe. I wasn’t sure if it was meant for the fae inside to feel like they were outside or for the creatures outside to be able to see inside.

On one end, there was a band in full swing with several fae dancing, and on the other end sat a large, empty throne. It was made of black iron and sat up a little higher than the rest of the room. It was made for a king. The shadow king.

But he wasn’t there. A chill went down my spine when I thought of him. Even with everyone being nice so far, well besides Adar, his absence made the fear I had of him worse. Was everyone putting on a show since they had guests? Was he hiding to ensure his sister’s marriage went through? I had so many questions, but I didn’t want to find out the answers. I just needed to get through this and get the hell out of here with Calum.

“Violet!”

I glanced over to see Bronwen running over to me and dragging Adar with her.

“Do you like the party?” she asked as she came to a halt in front of me.

“Uh yeah . . . You did a great job,” I said, looking around at all of the fae that seemed to be deeply enjoying themselves between dancing and drinks.

Adar scoffed. If looks could kill, Adar would be dead from the look Bronwen gave him.

I glanced back over at the throne. I couldn’t stop thinking about who the mysterious shadow king was. “Does your Sovereign not attend the parties you throw?” I said as I looked back at Bronwen.

“He does, but with his sister arriving, and the spectacle she likes to make of herself, he thought it would be best to let her have her moment, I guess you could say,” Bronwen said with a bit of apprehension in her voice. It seemed like she wasn’t telling the entire truth.

“He doesn’t want to see her? I’m sure he misses his sister since she has been gone on holiday,” I pried.

Adar started to choke on his drink when I said that. Bronwen acted like she was ignoring him but I’m sure she was mentally giving him hell.

“Well, let’s say their relationship is . . . complicated.” Bronwen was picking her words carefully. I knew I was already pushing my luck with the questions, and I didn’t want her to take my interest the wrong way. I just liked to know things.

“Oh. I don’t have any siblings, but I just assumed siblings were close,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.

“Oh, some are. Some are so close that they are inside your head and don’t give you a moment’s peace,” Adar snarked.

Bronwen opened her mouth to say something, but it seemed like she was at a loss for words. She just stared at Adar.

“Wait, are you two siblings?” I said as I looked at both of them confused.

“Yeah, you couldn’t tell by our looks?” Adar looked at me, completely serious.

Bronwen was tan with red hair and emerald-green eyes while Adar looked exactly like the rest of the Night Realm fae at this party. Just like their personalities, Bronwen and Adar’s looks were completely opposite.

“I—” I tried to say something, but I just didn’t understand what I had just learned.

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