Page 63 of Only in Moonlight
“In the best possible way,” I said in a breathy voice. “Shall we move this to the balcony?”
Thankfully, she let me escort her through the door. It had only been five feet ahead of us. Five more feet, and I could’ve avoided the kiss of my nightmares. But we’d made it at last, and the cool night air soothed me after that suffocating lip lock. The balcony was long and narrow. Delicate white flowers grew along the railing, almost luminous in the starlight, and stone benches waited every few feet in case people wanted to sit and enjoy the view.
Valen had said it was secluded, that the view didn’t compare to the west balcony’s, so nobody went there. He’d said I’d find it empty.
Liar.
A plump young woman leaned against the railing, shoulders curled in, head bowed, and looking altogether despondent. She wore a gorgeous, glittery dress and had long, silvery hair like Prince Cael’s.
“Lurena!” Regula snapped.
The woman spun around with a frightened squeak.
“What are you doing out here?” Regula stalked toward her. “You should be inside with your fiancé. The deal isn’t done until you’re married, and he’s in there dancing with another woman right now.”
Right. Regula had a daughter named Lurena. Which made her fiancé Aristoph.
And I’d thoughtmylife was terrible.
Lurena cringed. “I’m just taking a quick break—”
“Spare me your excuses,” Regula hissed. “I can’t afford for you to mess this up.”
“I won’t mess it up. Aristoph is so drunk that he won’t remember anything that happens tonight.”
“But other people will.”
Regula had Lurena backed up against the railing like a cornered mark, only inches separating them. Lurena’s lips pressed together like she knew better than to argue any further.
“I don’t care if he’s passed out drunk in the middle of the dance floor. Get back inside and act madly in love with him. And if you don’t think he’ll remember tonight, then you’d better make sure he wakes up next to you tomorrow morning. He’s from the richest family of merchants in the realm, and I willnotlose their support because of your selfishness.”
Lurena stared at her feet.
“And stop pulling up your neckline.” Regula gave the front of her daughter’s dress a hard yank. “If you’re going to be fat, at least take advantage of your cleavage.”
I’d hated the Moonlit Court when I’d learned about my father. And I wasn’t too proud to admit I’d felt jealous of them, too. They lived a life of magical luxury, untouched by the trials suffered by us poor, lowly humans. I doubted Lurena had ever eaten a dinner of moldy bread or picked bugs out of her straw mattress. She didn’t dread the winter, fearing her ramshackle shelter and measly food stores weren’t enough for survival.
But I wouldn’t trade my loving mother for any wealth, comfort, or privilege in the universe.
Lurena scurried past me with her head bowed, and Regula stood there scowling and muttering. After a second, she remembered my existence.
She drew herself up. “I’m sorry you had to witness that.”
Shit, what should I say? Iwantedto call her a shitty excuse for a mother, a bullying wench, and a stain on the name of princesses everywhere… But I needed to seduce her into lowering her guard, not piss her off so she vaporized me with magic.
“You amaze me,” I said. “That you can shoulder the burden of motherhood on top of your royal duties and tireless crusade to enrich our people…”
A relaxed smile crossed Regula’s face, and I wanted to gag. But now I saw my opening.
I reached into my pocket. “I want to offer you—“ I pulled out my hand and looked down. “No, I couldn’t.”
Regula crossed the distance between us. “What?”
“It’s too meager a gift for you.” With my shapeshifting magic, I added a blush to my cheeks. “You deserve something much grander.”
“Let me be the judge of that. Show me what you’ve brought.”
I removed the silk pouch of dream dust from my pocket. The air itself seemed to stand still in anticipation—which was my imagination acting up. I breathed steadily and kept my eyes on Regula’s face, trying not to focus on the sensation of sand shifting within the bag. Regula stood about a foot away. I could probably hit her from here, but closer would be better.
