Chapter six
The throne room of Aetherra shimmered under moonlight, but Selene barely noticed the marble floors or jeweled columns as her father's voice rang through the room.
"Do you understand what could have happened, Selene?" King Aerion thundered. "You slipped away from your guards, disguised yourself, and disappeared into the lower lands on the eve of the kingdom's festival!"
She crossed her arms lazily, lips pursed in a mock pout. "But I did come back. Isn't that worth something?"
Queen Elaria sighed heavily from her throne, resting her chin in her hand. "You'll be the end of us one day, Selene."
Behind her, Mara stood rigid with arms crossed, clearly resisting the urge to shout her frustration all over again.
Selene offered her a sheepish grin.
"I didn't die. I even brought you back a charm. Look!" She held up a glittering string of festival beads.
Her father pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Out. All of you," he muttered to the guards. "We'll discuss this later. She's grounded no palace gates until further notice."
Selene stifled a triumphant smirk and turned on her heel. "Thank you, Father!"
"Grounded!" he called after her again.
"Right, right," she sang over her shoulder. "Totally heard you!"
That night, her grin faded.
The moonlight was quiet across her bedchamber floor, but Selene lay wide awake, staring at the canopy above her.
His eyes.
That stillness in him like a storm that had already passed and left behind silence. He hadn't said much, but she couldn't shake it. Couldn't forget the way her chest had tightened.
She'd spent her whole life surrounded by people adoring servants, doting parents, boisterous nobles but never had she felt that kind of connection. Not even to Drian.
He hadn't spoken her name, but somehow, he'd felt… familiar.
She turned onto her side, pressing her cheek into her pillow.
I need to see him again.
The next morning came with golden sunlight and loud voices.
"Your Highness, your cousins are arriving at the east wing!" Mara shouted from behind a pile of dresses. "We need to be dressed, not daydreaming!"
Selene sat up in bed, hair wild, smile already forming. "Wait. Say that again."
"Your cousins. Here for the king's birthday week."
A squeal left her lips.
Moments later, she was tearing through the palace halls barefoot until she saw them two girls in elegant travel cloaks, surrounded by luggage and magic-bound trunks.
"My loves!" Selene screamed, launching herself into their arms.
Aralyn,the older, always perfectly poised embraced her with a breathless laugh. "Selene, stars above, did you grow taller or are your slippers still missing again?"
"I threw them at a pigeon," Selene replied solemnly.
Lyra, the younger cousin, with her wild auburn curls and impish grin, grabbed her arm. "We brought moonberry cakes from the west! But you're not allowed to eat any until you tell us everything."
They didn't even wait for tea to be served. The girls locked the door to Selene's chamber and collapsed onto her bed in a mess of silks and giggles.
"Alright," Aralyn said, smoothing her skirts. "Spill. What have you done this time? The servants downstairs are humming about you sneaking into the festival."
Selene's face lit up. "I did sneak out. And it was glorious."
"Oh no," Lyra groaned. "Not again."
"No, listen. It was different this time. I saw him."
"Him?" the two cousins said in unison.
Selene twirled a strand of silver hair around her finger. "I don't even know who he is. But he's… I don't know. Like a mountain made of mystery and moonlight."
Lyra snorted. "That's poetic. Also dramatic."
"I am dramatic."
"What was his name?"
"He didn't give it. Barely said a word."
Aralyn studied her quietly. "Did he do anything to you?"
"No! He barely moved. But when he looked at me…" Selene trailed off, her voice suddenly softer. "It was like he was trying to remember something that hurt."
A silence passed between them.
She continued, eyes distant. "I've been dreaming again. Not all the time, but lately it's stronger. More real. And… sometimes I feel like I'm someone else."
Aralyn's brow furrowed. "What kind of dreams?"
Selene shrugged, keeping her voice light. "Nothing too serious. Fire, shadows. Someone calling me. That's all."
Aralyn didn't look convinced.
"But I'm fine," Selene added quickly. "I just don't want to waste time wondering. I want to see him again."
"Selene," Lyra began hesitantly, "you want to sneak out again, don't you?"
She gave a dazzling grin. "You know me so well."
Aralyn rolled her eyes. "We just got here. And you're already dragging us into palace treason."
"Not treason," Selene corrected. "A minor royal violation of bedtime and security."
"Which is ?"
"Love."
"Love?" Aralyn raised a brow.
"Okay, curiosity," Selene admitted. "But if you help me, I promise to let you pick my dress for the banquet."
Lyra leaned in. "Can we use the moonwell corridor again?"
Selene beamed. "I was hoping you'd say that."
The cousins shared a glance, then all three burst into laughter.
Plans were already forming.