Page 66 of The Stars are Dying

The knock at my door twisted my body and banished Nyte’s echo from my mind. “It’s a training day, milady.”

I recognized the woman as the one who’d taken my things from the feast. Another lingered timidly behind her.

I stood in a cotton robe, pinching the top together to be sure my tattoos were concealed. “Thank you. I’ll dress myself.”

Training.While it would usually inspire a thrill, I couldn’t stop the rise of anxiety that this might be the place to set me apart from the lifelong skilled combatants I was up against.

The timid woman moved away to begin fixing the bed.

“My name is Davina, and this is Shaye. We’re here to help you with anything you need.”

“Really, I’m fine. Just leave out what I should wear.”

“We can’t be dismissed. Orders of the king,” she said with a wince.

I realized my lack of warm reception and relaxed. “Thank you.”

I stood awkwardly, not knowing what else to do, while the two handmaidens fixed the bed. I watched Davina as she tucked a strand of black hair that had escaped her long braid behind her ear, flashing me a warm smile. Shaye worked around her like clockwork, her short brown hair sitting above her shoulders and her eyes focused on her task.

To distract myself, I wandered into the closet. So many garments overwhelmed me, but I tried sifting through them to find some suitable combat wears. Closing the door, I decided I’d change swiftly enough to have my markings covered before I could ask for any help with the fastenings.

Leather hugged my body, feeling both lightweight and powerful. I slipped into black pants and an undertop, then I swiped up the jacket.

“I just wanted to check—”

Whipping around, I blanched more than Davina as she paused with her hand on the door, gawking at me. I cursed, reaching for her without thinking to pull her inside.

“You-you have markings…” She trailed off, eyes wide as she met mine.

“I don’t want the others to know about them,” I said, hushed and hoping Shaye wouldn’t hear me.

“I should hope not,” she whispered, also checking behind her as her face paled. “They would lead to all kinds of speculation. Perhaps disqualification.”

I turned taut at her investigation. Glancing over my arms, at my ears, she reached up and I jerked. She retracted her arm immediately at my reaction, pinning me with a look I knew all too well. One that would never fail to rouse the need to counter whatever conclusion she’d come to in her mind.

I wasnotweak.Nota coward.

“I had my suspicions when I looked through your things.”

My eyes widened then fell in accusation. “You had no right.”

“Be glad it was me and not someone else who could have turned you in! Starlight Matter is considered cheating in this. I fear for you greatly should the king ever find out.”

My lips tightened. How did I know I could trust her? Her face relaxed as she seemed to read mine.

What was I thinking?

“Cassia.” Hands wrapping around my upper arms jostled me, and I met Davina’s look with horror.

The longer we stared at each other, the more mystified I became at how easily she could read me. It only sank my dread further.

Realization relaxed her brow. “That’s not your name,” she whispered, arms dropping from me.

I didn’t deny. I couldn’t confirm. Pacing to the back of the closet, I couldn’t believe I’d been exposed barely a day beyond the castle threshold. Before the Libertatem had even begun.

“What happened?” she asked.

I opened my mouth, but all it did was flounder.

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