Lunaria startles me out of my stupor, stalking into the room and staring at me as if to say, time to get moving. I get out of the tub, dressing myself in a simple silk gown that hugs my body, the color matching Thorne’s eyes. I keep the lightning necklace on, adding only a set of simple earrings and black elbow-length gloves to complete the look. My hair hangs long and wavy, front pieces pulled into a twist that keeps it out of my face, and my makeup is light and airy.

When I aerstep into the massive dining hall that’s rarely used, it too has been transformed by Silene. In addition to the overgrown vines that line the palace, there are lights everywhere. Glowing strings swoop down from the high ceiling, while gossamer navy fabric drapes under them. The effect is that when you look up, it’s like you’re looking up at the night sky. Twinkling lights also hang down the walls, interspersed with the creeping ivy.

A single long dining table runs down the length of the space, decorated with more lights and arrangements of cut flowers from the greenhouse. Bright yellows, pinks, reds, and blues are interspersed with dark green, giving the decor a look that is wholly at odds with how Thayarian affairs usually look. From the front of the room, smells of garlic, onion, meat, and freshly baked bread waft from a buffet table lined with covered dishes. The cooks are dressed up though, socializing and drinking like everyone else. Silene must have organized it this way so everyone could take part.

Across the room, Thorne speaks with Aria, his prince charming act out in full force. His eyes twinkle with mirth as he says something to her, giving her a smirk that I’m all too familiar with. He’s clad in a navy suit, perfectly tailored to show off the hard lines of his body. Aria’s hand is on his arm, and she laughs brightly, leaning into him. He winks. Hot jealousy spikes through me, and I stalk toward them.

“Thorne,” I say, placing my hand on his shoulder. “Thank you for coming tonight.” Aria looks at me with the briefest flash of annoyance before she bows.

“Your Majesty,” she says, “what an excellent idea the Velmarans had for this Winter Solstice. I dare say His Highness must have had a hand in these arrangements. The Velmarans are known for their own lavish dinner parties, I hear.” She flashes a pretty grin at Thorne, eyelashes fluttering, and it makes my magic rear up with ferocity. I crush it, not willing to let the room shake with my power and give away my feelings. You like Aria. She’s a good advisor. The reminder doesn’t help the feeling of my skin crawling.