Page 2 of All the Chaos of Constellations
“Shall we?” He gestured before them. Each step was a rich hue of deep blue flecked with silver glitter, so it looked like thousands of tiny stars inlaid in the floor.
“Of course.” She tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow, hefting the hem of her gown with the other, and together they descended the curving staircase to the party below.
Novalise didn’t need to look to know that every pair of eyes was focused on them. For one, she was on the arm of Ariesian Starstorm Celestine, Keeper of the Stars, Lord to the First House of Aeramere, and High Councilor to Queen Elowyn Willowblade.
Ariesian also happened to be the most eligible bachelor in Aeramere, next to the queen’s son.
How quickly those curious gazes slid from him to her. Their scrutiny was understandable—while her brother may be the Keeper of Stars, Novalise was the one who could read them. It was a gift she did not take for granted. Though it seemed like she held fate in the palm of her hands, such magic came with a limit.
Her own destiny was beyond her control.
Star readings were an indispensable form of magic in House Celestine. Readings were used to determine the fate of any fae in Aeramere, and they were also utilized to assist Queen Elowyn in manners of court politics. Since the queen’s magic was tied to the earth, she relied on the stars for guidance. It was Novalise’s mother, Trysta Starstorm, who offered such council. She was the current Reader of Stars and foretold Novalise’s destiny on the night she was born. Though Novalise might have hoped for something more substantial than the promise of a good marriage, she had readily accepted the fact that in the coming months, she would be the one to take her mother’s place as the next Reader of Stars.
Novalise skimmed the ballroom looking for someone, anyone, to distract her from the probing glances and the softly spoken whispers that were loud enough for her to hear.
“I wouldn’t want the stars to choose my mate for me.”
“Could you imagine? Being forced to marry someone you don’t know?”
“Sounds dreadful.”
She tuned them out, as she always did, relegating their criticisms to nothing more than uninformed opinions. No one in the ballroom knew her on a truly personal level. They only saw what she projected—a lady from one of the most powerful houses in Aeramere with quintessential taste and superb manners. Her upbringing had been exemplary, and her reputation was held in high regard. She would marry whomever the stars chose for her and she would not object, because she’d known from the day she was born that her fate was out of her hands.
That, and she hadn’t yet been able to snag a male on her own.
But no one else needed to know about such a trivial detail.
Just as Novalise was about to release her brother’s arm to go in search of a refreshment to take the edge off, an unfortunately familiar face came into view.
“Oh no.” She tightened her hold on Ariesian’s arm.
“What is it?” He glanced down at her sharply. “What’s wrong?”
She gave the barest incline of her head toward the male who approached them. “It’s Lord Marintide.”
Amusement highlighted the lines of her brother’s usually somber face, so the curve of his mouth wasalmosta smile. “Didn’t he court you some time last year?”
Novalise scoffed. “I’d hardly call trying to lure me into his bed a form of courtship.”
Ariesian’s silver eyes widened, the sapphire flecks in them brightening. A rush of color bled into his high cheekbones. “Nova…”
“What?” She angled herself so her back was facing the incoming threat. “Don’t act like you didn’t know.”
Because he did.
Ariesian was well-informed of the exploits and accomplishments of his siblings. All seven of them. He knew every detail about every aspect of their lives, so much so that Novalise wouldn’t be at all surprised if her brother had spies who reported back to him. As the eldest male, he’d been groomed to become Lord Starstorm, a role he assumed after the death of their father almost a year prior. And he took his responsibilities, as well as the wellbeing of his seven siblings, very seriously.
“That’s not the point.” He ground the words out through a clenched jaw.
“Then what is?” Novalise’s feigned smile caused her cheeks to ache.
Ariesian’s brows knitted together once more as he studied her. “I would’ve thought you well suited with the Lord of House Azurvend.”
She thought so too, once.
The fae of House Azurvend were a bit more wild and free-spirited, something she imagined had everything to do with the fact that their magic connected them to the sea. House Azurvend ruled anything from the ocean to the rivers of Aeramere. It was the home of water nymphs and selkies, and some of the less inhibited fae. Reif was no exception. He was spontaneous, something she admired, and as unpredictable as the waves. When he carried her out into the surf last summer, kissing her until her body was pulsing with need, she thought for sure she could spend the rest of her days with someone as reckless and carefree as Reif Marintide. But the stars had other plans. When Novalise caught him with his tongue miles deep between the legs of another female, she’d been furious and humiliated.
She wanted a male whose head wouldn’t turn the moment someone prettier walked past.
