Page 82 of Reaper’s Curse

I stood on a pedestal before the mirror, monitoring Camilla as she made her way around the hem of the black slip I wore. All of the other pieces I tried on were ready to go, but this one still needed tweaking.

Camilla pulled a pin from her wrist cushion and weaved it near the base of the slip. “Sorry I couldn’t make you any new leathers. I don’t have the proper tools.”

“That’s okay,” I replied. “I appreciate everything you’ve done. Overwhelmed by it, really.”

Camilla glanced up from her work, her face beaming. “Well, I gather leathers are your preferred choice of apparel, so I reached out to someone I know, and they’ve already started on the order.”

I blinked. “Wow. All these clothes and new leathers. Someone might think the prince is trying to buy me.”

Camilla let out a nervous laugh, causing my gaze to narrow on her. But Camilla kept her nose in her work, avoiding my scrutiny.

I turned my attention to the mirror and the reflection of myself in the sleeveless, solid black dress with a plunging neckline. I couldn’t imagine going anywhere or doing anything where such a gown would be required.

“Where am I expected to wear this garment?”

One of the girls, the unafflicted twin named Kira, danced forward with a child’s drawing of me wearing what I assumed would be the finished product. “Black like the bird, the raven. Like your name.”

“Pretty.” My thoughts snagged on the words black…bird.

Camilla laughed. “The girls did help in the concept stage. The gown is for the upcoming birthday ball.”

I shook my head. “Oh. I⁠—”

“You really must go. It’s the highlight of the year. Everything and everyone is so beautiful.” She sighed, a faraway look settling on her face. “The ball is for August’s birthday, so it’s always had an autumn theme. Rich and dark colors. Masks to honor Samhain. Before August…when he was still here…Winter would always make it snow on the guests. Nothing drastic, just a light sprinkling. Very magical but not fitting with the theme. It was part of their brotherly teasing.”

A smile clearly born of bittersweet memories laced across her face. “The palace staff hated the snow because it would melt to water all over the floor. But August… He’d always try to make sure Winter’s snow evaporated before it touched down.” She’d stopped working and stared at the edge of the gown, her eyes glazing. “Those were beautiful times.”

“Sounds amazing,” I said, hoping to pull Camilla out of whatever sad place she’d slipped into.

“Yeah.” She resumed pinning the hem of the gown. “Winter hasn’t made it snow since August disappeared. But then, magic became a fraction of what it was after that. I doubt he could make it snow even if he wanted to.”

After all the magic Winter had managed to recollect, I had to wonder. Maybe he could make it snow, but he probably wouldn’t want to. That would be like ringing a bell to tell…and show…his grandmother that he had untapped, unsyphoned magic.

And then, she’d likely take it.

In fact, I now contemplated all the citizens, like Camilla and her twins. How many knew why their magical wells had diminished?

“He thinks you’re going to look so pretty,” Kira said. “He can’t wait to see you in this gown.”

She nodded to the slip of a dress I currently donned.

“Who?” I asked. “Winter?”

Kira shook her head. “Chace. He said the dress was pretty when I showed him the drawing.”

“You saw Chace?” Why was my heart acting the fool and getting erratic?

I had received his letter this morning. I knew he was all right and trying to dictate my actions.

He’s just trying to keep you safe, my inner voice whispered.

Camilla stepped back from her work and ran an admiring gaze over the sweep of the gown, scrutinizing every element. “We saw him this morning. He was making his way back to Aoes’s in time for the early morning breakfast rush.”

I almost laughed at the word “rush.” When I’d been staying there, I had not witnessed anything that constituted a rush.

Camilla nodded at whatever she saw regarding the garment. “He looked dead on his feet and is likely resting up.”

“Why so tired?” I swept my hand to my chest. My heart pounded too fast and too hard.