Page 41 of Stolen Star

“Princess Mirena,” I say, recognizing her from that first day in the throne room, when I was presented to the royals.

And the man she’s dancing with… he looks so familiar…

“That’s Katerina’s brother,” I realize.

“Yes,” Aerix confirms. “Dimitri. He looks like her, don’t you think? Like Katerina?”

“He does,” I agree, watching as Mirena’s hands slide over Dimitri’s shoulders, her wings curling around them both.

“She loves him,” I say—or rather, Iobserve.

“Yes,” Aerix says, almost wistfully. “They’re happy together.”

From the way he says it, it’s like he’s trying to puzzle out what happiness evenmeans.

I scan the rest of the courtyard, and when I spot Queen Ravenna, it’s not her that I focus on. Because Islastands by her side. She’s not dressed like a human pet, or even like a favored servant. Instead, she wears a gown of midnight blue, adorned with silver thread that catches the light with every movement.

She smiles and nods at something the queen says, looking every bit as if she belongs at the monarch’s side.

Then, our eyes lock across the crowd. There’s no surprise in hers, no shock at seeing me here with Aerix, wearing this diamond-covered gown. Instead, she tilts her head slightly. It’s an acknowledgment, not a challenge. The gesture reminds me of our chess games—of her careful, deliberate strategy.

Isla excuses herself from the queen’s side and begins moving through the crowd toward us. Night fae part for her almost as they did for Aerix—not with quite the same fear, but with a respect that no other human in this court receives.

She stops in front of me and takes in my gown, the dagger at my waist, and the way Aerix’s hand remains possessively at my back.

“Look at how far you’ve come, Zoey,” she says slowly, in definite approval.

“Isla,” Aerix acknowledges her with a nod that seems almost familial.

“The dress suits her,” Isla says to him, her eyes never leaving mine. “I told you it would.”

“You helped pick this out?” I ask.

Isla’s laugh is light, almost musical. “Of course I did. Do you think our prince here knows the first thing about fashion? About what would flatter your particular... assets?” Her gaze flicks to the low neckline of my gown, then back to my face, and she gives me a conspiratorial smile.

“I know enough,” Aerix retorts with a half-smile, and his wings shift slightly, almost playfully. “I know what looks good on her. Or rather—what she looks goodwithout.”

Isla makes a face and rolls her eyes. “Isodon’t want to think about that,” she says.

For the first time since I’ve known him, Aerix actually looks... embarrassed? His midnight eyes narrow, but the frost patterns that form at his fingertips are delicate, not threatening.

“The diamonds were my idea,” he says defensively.

“And a good one,” Isla concedes. “I’ll give you that much.”

I watch their exchange, fascinated by this new side of Aerix—the way his usual deadly demeanor softens around Isla, how he allows her to tease him without consequence. It reminds me of me and Sapphire—like watching siblings bicker.

I smile slightly at the thought of Sapphire. Luckily, Itrust that she’s okay with Riven. He loves her—there’s no doubt about it. Even though she was fighting it, she’ll see the light soon.

Plus, I’ve learned firsthand that fae princes are impossible to resist.

“You did a fantastic job with choosing the dress,” I tell Isla, meaning it. “I appreciate it. Just like I appreciate you helping me the other night.” The words are spoken quietly and carefully chosen, ensuring no one else will hear.

Isla waves a dismissive hand. “It needed to be done. Besides, it gave us the perfect excuse to get rid of Victoria. It was about time she moved on from the human wing.” Her smile is sharp, her eyes calculating, despite the lightness of her tone. “Her time there was done, and she knew it as well as anyone else. Best to get it over with instead of having to dread it every day.”

I tilt my head, taking in this side of Isla that I saw while we played chess, but never when we discussedpeople.

The craziest thing? I don’t hate it.

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