Page 145 of Fearless

“Not at all.” Kitt waves at them to join. “There is plenty of food. Please help us eat it.”

My gaze flicks to Paedyn, now patting the empty seat beside her. “Mira. Come sit.”

She does, despite the disinterested look she wears. Calum then takes a seat at the table’s end before lifting his glass into the air. “Let us thank the Plague for this royal union to come.”

Kitt’s eyes are fixed on the Mind Reader as he raises his own drink. “Thank the Plague.”

The mumbled phrase carries its way around the table until every glass is raised. But it is Paedyn alone who does not thank the Plague. Instead, she tips her head, turning back to Calum expectantly.

A smile touches my lips.

She will not thank what has stolen everything from her.

I’m still staring at my queen when Calum declares, “To saving Ilya.”

CHAPTER 54Paedyn

It is my last day of freedom.

Though, I haven’t had much of that as of late.

I wake. Dress. Ellie helps, because of course I am incapable of doing that alone. Eat. But I must not fill my own plate. Walk the halls—Lenny is at my side. Seek council from Calum about helping rule a kingdom. Eat again, but do not touch the serving spoons. Walk the gardens. Silently dread my wedding. Search for Kai wherever I go but force myself to turn away when I find him. Soak in a bath. Eat in bed—I am to be queen, after all.

I am to be queen.

Ellie cleans up my dishes—I tell her not to.

I am to be queen.

Further dread my wedding.

I am to be queen.

“Would you like to wear a dress tonight?”

I blink, startled from my thoughts. Ellie stands at the end of my bed, staring expectantly. “Hmm?”

“To meet the king.” Her smile is only slightly concerned. “Do you want to wear a dress?”

“Oh. Right.” I slip out from beneath the covers to plant my feet on the cushioned floor. “Yes, that’s fine.”

With a nod, Ellie hurries over to the armoire in search of a gown. “Sorry,” I direct distantly at her back. “Today has been such a blur. I feel like I’m sleepwalking.”

“It’s likely just all of the excitement,” she reassures me. “Tomorrow is a very big day.”

“It certainly is,” I murmur.

“The castle is buzzing.” Ellie pulls a navy dress from the depths of my armoire. “We rarely get to plan such fun events. They want everything to be perfect for the royal wedding.”

“At least the castle is happy about it.” I sigh, stretching my stiff limbs. “I doubt the rest of the kingdom is.”

As she ushers me behind the dressing screen, Ellie’s soft voice spews comforting words. “You don’t know that. After your third Trial, and the speech at court, the people may be thinking differently.”

“Time will tell, I suppose.” I step into the flowing blue dress before pulling the thick straps over my shoulders. It’s not quite formal attire with its linen fabric, but the striking cut of it ensures I won’t be overlooked.

I duck my head, offering a sad smile to the floor. Perhaps I did learn a thing or two about fabrics over the years. I only know what it is I’m wearing because Adena trained me to steal exactly what cloth she needed. She would make me sit behind our fort, memorizing the feel of each fabric until I could differentiate them by touch alone.

My breath catches when Ellie pulls at the laces above my waist. Panting, I manage a mutter between my teeth. “You didn’t tell me I’d be wearing a corset.”

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