I stared at him, my heart feeling as if it were the wheels of the carriage.
“There hasn’t been any trouble. Just a few Shades, but nothing that wasn’t quickly handled…” Creases formed between Ector’s brows. “Are you okay? You look a little pale.”
“I think I might vomit,” I whispered.
He blinked twice. “Do we need to stop the carriage?”
“No. No. I don’t think so.” At least, I hoped not.
“Bele mentioned that you were nervous. I didn’t believe her. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you nervous.” His head tilted. “But, yeah, you’re definitely that.” He leaned forward, resting his hands on his bent knees. “You remind me of my sister.”
That snapped me out of my panic spiral. “A sister?”
He nodded. “She looked as scared right before her wedding as you do now. Said her stomach felt like it was full of winged creatures.”
My stomach felt just like that.
“Of course, that was an entirely different situation. Love match and all.” He smiled faintly. “But I’m guessing the nervousness is the same no matter what.”
“Love match?” Now those winged creatures had invaded my chest.
“Childhood sweethearts or something.” He grinned, a distant but warm glint filling his gaze. “Look, I know you came into this whole thing with…other plans, and probably hadn’t given much thought to a future. And I have no idea what is going on between the two of you half the time, but Nyktos will always be kind to you.”
“I know. Gods, do I ever.” Another laugh rattled out of me. The crease returned to the space between his brows. “It’s not that.”
“Then what is it? Are you worried something will happen? You shouldn’t—”
“I want to be Nyktos’s Consort,” I blurted out. “I want it more than I think I’ve ever wanted anything…” Well, I likely wanted the Rot to end more, and for Kolis to be dealt with. And I also wanted to murder Veses, slowly and very painfully, so therewereother things I wanted just as much, but… “I want this.”
Ector’s mouth remained half-open as the carriage ground to a halt. Neither of us moved. Not even when a knock sounded on the roof. “I wasn’t expecting you to say that,” he whispered, eather pulsing behind his pupils. “Any part of that.”
“Neither was I,” I admitted in an equally quiet voice.
“And that makes you nervous?”
I nodded.
The carriage doors opened, and this time I couldn’t detect the scent of stale flowers. There were too many other smells—wood smoke, food, and burning oil. “Everything okay in here?” Rhahar asked.
“Yeah.” Ector’s smile was slow but wide. “I really think it is.”
“Okay.” Rhahar drew out the word, turning to me. “Nyktos is waiting for you inside.”
My chest tightened until I feared I was on the verge of an attack, but then it loosened. I rose on what felt like toothpicks and took Rhahar’s hand, seeing nothing but the lines of mounted guards beyond him and a section of the Rise. He helped me step out of the carriage as one of the draken flew low over us, its wings outspread. I followed the draken’s descent to the top of a colonnade that had been built upon solid blocks that formed multiple archways which fed into the Hall. I stepped back, taking in the sprawling, pillared structure of shadowstone backdropped by the stone-gray sky and scattered starlight. The City Hall was as I expected, open to the air but at least several times larger than what I was familiar with in Lasania. Beyond the pillars, a soft,buttery glow of light and the hum of…of music and laughter drifted out.
My gaze fell to those stationed at the entrances to the Hall and surrounding the entry house. They were guards, but these wore helmets constructed of a thin layer of shadowstone that covered their faces and necks. The soldiers.
“This way.” Rhahar’s hand stayed firmly around mine, and as the lines of soldiers parted, I realized that it probably had a lot to do with how badly my hand was trembling.
Ector and Rhain fell into step behind me, along with Saion and the twins as Rhahar led me toward a tower that was like a smaller version of the Shadow Temple. The windowless structure, which must’ve been the entry house, was less grand, but it still reflected the light of the stars in such a way that it appeared as if thousands of candles lined the walls.
Rhahar walked fast through the rows of soldiers, and I wasn’t sure if the speed was due to his eagerness to be rid of me or to have me safely within sight of Nyktos.
The winged creatures Ector had spoken about now felt as if they were attacking my heart. The doors of the tower opened, and I immediately recognized hair a shade of red wine under the darker sky. Aios stood next to who I believed was Kars, the muscular, fair-haired guard who’d offered to watch over me. Aios’s gown was sleeveless and an emerald green.
She came forward, taking my hand from a likely relieved Rhahar. “You look beautiful,” she said, smoothing her other hand over one of the plaited braids on the side of my head as Kars bowed. She then folded my arm under hers, walking at only a slightly more sedate pace as the guards surrounded us. “Do you have any questions before we enter?”
Maybe the winged creatures had finally made it to my head because my mind was empty except for… “Have you ever been in love?”