er

ion, but all of that fades into the background as I focus on him. He's leaning against a wall, arms crossed, his expre

f I'm actually heading toward him. The surprise in his gaze is subtle, but it's there. He wasn't expecting this. I ca

e simply old friends catching up. "You're hidi

still looks a bit stiff, like he's not sure what to do with himself. I get the sense he's uncomfortable, and I wond

I'm not hiding," he says, his voice low and measured, as

my head slightly. "And wha

his gaze flicking away from mine for a moment before

charged. I suppose I'm do

lowering my voice a little. "I hope I'm not interrupting

eyes. It's warm, like he appreciates the gesture, but it's gone as quickly as it appeared

on in his mind. His responses are clipped, careful,

m everyone around us. It's overwhelming enough for me, and I'm used to this kind of thing. Maybe Brook just isn't

to the ballroom, the pomp and circumstance of it all. "But it's

there's a hint of understanding in hi

e disheartened. I was hoping for something more. I didn't expect firework

n, I fee

way. But it's not the all-consuming certainty I was hoping for. It's not the One feeling. And

keep smiling, determined to make the most of this m

," I say, keeping my ton

ing to the floor for a secon

ghtness in his voice suggests otherwis

underst

breathe out. "All these

like he appreciates the acknowledgment. I take another step clo

too. Every eye is on me tonight, everyone just waiting

is gaze. He looks like he's on the verge of saying something, but

r

is talk

ossible to ignore. I glance around the grand ballroom, half-expecting to see someone watching with a smug grin on their face, like this is some elabo

om. It's just her. Maerilee, the princess of Altinna, with her long whitish hair that shimmers wit

utting through the noise of the ba

kind of question is that? I've barely seen the place. We're only h

come up with something that

inadequate. "The architecture especially. The way the palace bl

ine it looks. Not the practiced, polite smile royalty

ace. It's like the stones themselves are alive, holding up the walls, protecting us

ess behind her eyes that I hadn't noticed before, a weight of responsibility that feels far too great for some

e one who gets all the attention. He's the handsome one, the charismatic one. He's also arrogant as hell. I glance over at him now, and sure enough, he's

ilee, she's still watchi

t feel awkward or out of place. Maerilee listens to everything I say, really listens, and asks questions t

s. At first, I think it's just because he's bored, but then I see the tigh

e je

doesn't make sense. But I can see it in his expression, the frustration, the simmering an

bout water magic and how it can be used to enhance art. I'm halfwa

floor just behind a servant who

ve

about to happen. The servant steps onto the ice, his feet slipping out from under him. The

ne, the way it moves through the air. I focus, guiding it, redirecting it. The wine

mps itself ove