Page 33 of Her Radiant Curse

Prince Rongyo extends a hand to me. “I am in your debt, Channari. Please permit my servants to tend your wounds.”

I ignore him and dust off my tattered skirt, unused to such attention—from a prince, no less. “I’m fine.”

The prince is persistent. “At least allow one of my servants to carry you home.”

“We thank you most graciously for your concern, Your Highness,” Adah interrupts, “but Channari is capable of walking home alone.”

Adah starts pushing me along, but even in my exhaustion I won’t budge. I’m not going anywhere until the selection is over.

“Understand this, Prince,” I say to Rongyo. “I have not won her for you. I have won for her the right to choose.” I turn to my sister. “End this. Let’s go home.”

Vanna’s eyes go back and forth from me to Rongyo and back to me. She’s torn. She doesn’t know this prince, but he’s everything she hoped for—handsome and young and, so far, good-natured. It’s as if she wished him into being.

That’s when I realize I’ve won one battle only to lose another.

Rongyo, curse him, takes both Vanna’s hands. “Choose me,” he says softly. “You have my word, before the witnesses of the island of Sundau, that the day I am crowned king, so too will you become my queen.”

Vanna looks up at him. “I will choose you.” A firm pause. “If you will grant me one favor.”

“Anything.”

She raises her voice so all may hear: “Allow my sister to accompany us to Tai’yanan.”

My eyes fly up as Adah gasps in disapproval. Sweat trickles down my temples, and I watch the prince blink as he mentally formulates his reply. He’ll refuse in a nice way. Then the crowds will cheer, and Vanna will come home—

“I should be honored to welcome your sister to my palace.”

I choke on my own spittle. “What?”

Vanna releases Rongyo’s hands and takes mine. “You’re coming, Channi!” She beams giddily, as though we are children again. “We’ll be together, just as I promised.”

Her joy is overwhelming, and while she squeezes my fingers, I catch King Meguh whispering something into Dakuok’s ear. Apprehension coils inside me, but I push it away. The entire village has witnessed Vanna make her choice. There is nothing Meguh can do.

“Will you come now, Channari?” the prince asks kindly. “The servants on my ship can tend to your injuries.”

It seems I don’t have a choice. I start along, until Dakuok intercepts me. “May I assist?” he asks, bowing so low his wooden necklace touches the ground. “The Temple of Dawn is right here, and my priests and priestesses would be honored to tend to Channari’s wounds.”

“You?” Vanna turns on Dakuok. “You nearly killed her!”

“Forgive me, I did not recognize her. I did not realize she was the Golden One’s sister.”

“That’s a lie—”

“Vanna,” cautions Lintang. With a glance, our stepmother reminds her that we are still in the public eye. “The temple is more suitable for healing Channi than the prince’s ship. It is a generous offer. She will be in good hands.”

“She’ll be in the best hands,” Dakuok says smoothly. “Look how tired she is, how hurt. The ship will be too far for her. I will take her to the temple and then see her safely to the port. You have my word on it.”

I glare at Dakuok, not trusting him at all. But what can he do? Lock me up? No, Prince Rongyo is expecting me on his ship. Maybe the priest is simply feeling generous in his joy that Sundau will soon be one snake fewer.

Rongyo makes a hesitant nod. “My servants will fetch you an hour before dusk. Is there anything you’d like them to retrieve from your home?”

That’s when it finally hits me. I’m leaving Sundau. I’m leaving my jungle.

I need to tell Ukar.

Ignoring the prince, I urgently turn toward the trees. Most of the serpents I freed have fled the marketplace, but a few remain within reach.

Find Ukar, I entreat them. Tell him it’s over, and I’m leaving Sundau.

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