Page 38 of Trial of Thorns
Caelynn
“Take me with you, pleeeease!!”
I roll my eyes at Raven, literally on her knees begging me. “I’ll go as a bird, even!”
“A bird at a ball? Come on.” I hold my hands on my hips as she crawls closer. I scooch back. “Stop it! You can sit on the terrace as a bird. You’ll be able to see inside from there, and all the best drama happens outside anyway. I’m not even going to stay long. I’ll come back and hang out with you later.”
“Seriously,” she says, still crawling forward. “It’ll make my LIFE if you make me into a raven and let me sit on your shoulder as you enter. Please, please, please. I promise once you get to the crowd, I’ll fly out the window and then sit at the gazebo to watch all the hookups.”
I sigh and narrow my eyes at her. I could make her into a raven easily enough. She’s done a good job of keeping her distance from the other contestants in public so I doubt anyone has any suspicions yet.
She notices my consideration, and she inches forward, gripping my hands in hers. “Please, please, please, please, please.”
I pull my hand back and point in her face. “You stay on my shoulder, completely still—stoic, even—and the moment I’m at the bottom of the stairs, you fly off.” She’s nodding eagerly already. “You’ll be a flashy stunt in their eyes, a magical accessory. NOT a pet. Not a friend. Not anything significant in any way. Anything that brings more attention to you than necessary is dangerous. Do you understand?”
“Yes!” she whispers desperately.
I take in a long breath. “Fine.”
She tosses her arms up dramatically, like she just won a championship game, her head hanging back in pure bliss. “Yessssss.”
“Okay, Napoleon Dynamite.”
“What?”
“Nothing,” I murmur.
“I can’t believe I get to go to a FAE BALL. OMG.” She spins around the room, her arms open wide. This is what I get for bringing a human teenager to the fae realm.
“Now, help me get ready. The dress my queen sent is... intense.”
I could magically create a different dress, but it would be impolite to ignore a gift from my court’s queen. As much as I dislike my role as symbol of rebellion, I am still proud of my homeland and the Queen of the Whisperwood.
“I wouldn’t put that thing on until you’re about to walk out the door. You won’t even be able to sit.”
I sigh. “I hope I can sit. I have to for the procession.”
“Worry about your hair and makeup first. Dress last.”
I shake my head. “I’m not trying that hard, Raven.”
“What are you talking about? It’s a BALL.”
I roll my eyes. “And I’m only going because I have to. They made it part of the trials. Stupid fools, just looking for a chance to showcase us like prized cows. How much do you think the crown is making off all that betting?”
“Millions of dollars?”
