Page 26 of The Kingdom's Reckoning
"No, you don’t understand." Dani wiped her hand across her face. "I’m not telling you this to convince you to do anything. I’m telling you this because I care about him. Graeson is one of my oldest friends. I can’t…" She shook her head, her hazel eyes wet. "I don’t want to see him get hurt, so I’m telling you the truth because he won’t."
"Why didn’t he tell me?" Kallie asked, still leery.
Dani released a heavy sigh. "Because in most of the visions Lysanthia had of you, you two do not end up together."
"Most?"
"All but one," Dani explained, holding up a single finger. "As the odd optimist and hopeless romantic that he is, Graeson takes that single chance as a sign of hope. But you and I both know where the future is headed, that chance might have already slipped away. When Gray finds out you left, he will want to come after you because he is determined to hold on to that thin strand of hope. We hope he will be too late if he does. But if he’s not," Dani said, her fingers tracing her wedding ring, "don’t make him believe in some fairytale ending. Don’t make him convince you otherwise."
"He won’t," Kallie said. She might not have changed her feelings about the soul bond, but she did not want to hurt Graeson.
Dani reached over and grabbed Kallie’s ankle. Her hold was firm yet gentle as she stared at Kallie with sad hazel eyes."The soul bond is special, but when it’s gone, it destroys you in more ways than you can count." Her expression darkened, but it wasn’t with anger. Rather, it was something harder, something deeper, something only someone familiar with loss could understand. "This will feel like a betrayal, but my hope is that you see that the Fates have already made this choice for you—as painful as that might be. Better thatbothof you realize it now before you accept the bond and it’s too late."
Chapter 10
MYRA
As Myra wandered the halls,she hesitated when she reached the open doors of the library. In Ardentol, Myra had never been allowed inside the library unless Kallie had sent her there to fetch a book from the librarian. But more often than not, Kallie had preferred to go, finding solitude in the quiet. Sometimes, although rarely because of the paranoia of being caught, Myra would sneak inside, pretending to look for a book for the princess.
When Myra peered inside now, she expected someone to reprimand her for even looking at the books that were held within the glorious room. To her surprise, no shouts came.
She glanced around, but none of the nearby guards moved. Was it a trick?
She ventured closer, placing her feet just before the entrance. She gripped the door frame with her hand, yet the guards remained unfazed.
Myra stepped inside the library, her steps light as if the floor would crumble beneath her for even daring to enter. When she crossed the threshold, the floor did not quake, insults were not spat at her, and questioning gazes were not directed at her. Shedropped her shoulders in shocked relief, the tension she hadn’t known she was harboring dispersing.
The warm, woody scent of old books and ink scrawled across pages welcomed her. Similar to the rest of the castle, beautiful stained glass decorated the exterior walls. With the library facing the east, the sun’s rays spilled into the room, casting an array of broken rainbows across the glossy pine floors. She wondered how the room would look in the early morning hours as the sun rose, how the glass would be affected by the vibrant pink and orange hues.
When she spotted the librarian, Myra jolted backward and folded into a quick bow. "My apologies, my lady."
The stranger, who had been watering a group of plants, paused. She cocked her head to the side, and her long, slick black hair fell to the side, brushing her hip. "Do you often apologize for silly things?"
Straightening at the woman’s light laughter, Myra blinked. "Pardon?"
"Have you done something to insult me personally?"
"I—" Myra bit her lip and shook her head, suddenly feeling rather ridiculous. "I do not believe so, but if I have, I do?—"
"Don’t say it," the woman said, setting the can down and holding out a hand.
Myra chewed on her lip, unsure what to do or say. The only words that sat on her tongue were another apology, which would no doubt upset the librarian even more.
"Ah, you’re the newcomer, right? Her Majesty has informed us you may roam the castle. You are more than welcome to peruse the library while you are here. Knowledge should be shared, not hoarded—no matter one’s status," the librarian explained, bringing Myra back to the present. She held out her hand and smiled warmly at Myra. "Please, come in."
With a wobbly smile, Myra bent into a small curtsy. "Thank you, miss…"
"Magnolia," the woman said. Then quickly added, "justMagnolia. If you’re going to be in Tetria for a while, you should know that most of us don’t go around calling each other lords and ladies."
"Really? How else do you show respect to those with titles?"
"A title does not always warrant respect. Wouldn’t you agree?"
Shame immediately heated Myra’s cheeks. She was fully aware that people like Domitius and Sebastian didn’t deserve to be held above others simply because of their status. Still, the habit had been ingrained in her for so many years that it was harder to break than she had imagined.
Myra made to venture deeper into the library, but before she made it much farther, she turned back to Magnolia. "Are there any books that are off-limits?"
"Off-limits?" Magnolia asked, as if she had never heard the words.
