swung open, revealing a narrow, dark passage, built from limestone like the interior walls instead of lucent crystal. The hidden route was courtesy of a former king with a paranoid streak unnecessary in a land that had been at peace for hundreds of years—but Lyana wasn’t complaining, when it made sneaking out of the palace for a few hours that much easier.
“This place always makes me feel claustrophobic,” Cassi muttered.
Lyana grabbed her friend’s hand because, to be honest, she’d always felt the same way. The ceiling was barely two feet above her head, the walls weren’t wide enough to spread her wings, and though a handful of oil lanterns lit the space, everything felt cramped, especially to bodies made for open air.
“We’ll be outside soon,” she said. An undeniable excitement pulsed through the words. As much as Lyana loved her home and understood the need to remain indoors in such a hostile, cold environment, she’d choose the wintry bite of open air over the palace walls any time.
“Are you sure about that?” Cassi couldn’t help but wonder.
Lyana frowned, shaking her head. “We’re back to this?”
“Well,” her friend drawled, “I just remembered that I ran into Elias with your brother last night, right before bed. Exactly how many cups of hummingbird nectar did you have to plug into him before he agreed to this little plan of yours? Five? Ten? He was flying in zigzags when we left him.”
Lyana shrugged. “I don’t know. A few?”
“That’s what I thought. I’m not sure how hospitable he’ll be feeling after all.”
“Just come on.”
With a roll of her eyes, Lyana pulled on Cassi’s arm, urging her friend to move a little faster. They reached the end of the passage after a few rushed minutes, but before Lyana could pull the door open, a deep voice stopped her.
“Don’t even think about it.”
Lyana paused with a heavy sigh. But it was just an unexpected setback, a little delay, nothing more. She forced a wide smile onto her lips and opened the door. “Morning, Luka.”
Her brother stared back with his arms crossed and his ashy wings outstretched, blocking the door to the outside. The atrium was made of crystals, meant to blend with the surrounding town, and it was lit brightly enough to reveal the disapproving lines etched in his dark skin. Two years older, and he never let her forget it. To his left, Elias stood with drooping shoulders, his tan wings folded and his face remorseful.
Lyana wrinkled her nose at him. Traitor.
“It’s not Elias’s fault,” Luka cut in, aware of every thought racing through her mind. “Did you really think I wouldn’t know you’d pull a stunt like this? I didn’t even realize Elias was on duty until I got here this morning to wait with him.”
Lyana spared Elias an apologetic look before concentrating on her brother. “Luka, come on. We’ll only be out for a few hours. I’ll be back before Mother and Father even realize I’m gone.”
He raised disbelieving eyebrows. “When have I heard that before?”
Valid…
“I mean it,” Lyana insisted. “I just want to watch the first house arrive. I just want to get rid of my nerves. I need some fresh air, or I’ll go crazy. Don’t you, of all people, understand?”
“I do, Ana.” His hard gaze softened. Before she could press the advantage, however, his brows scrunched together. “But this week, of all weeks, we need to be on our best behavior.”
Her wings drooped. “Why?”
“You know why. We’re representing our family, sure, but we’re also representing the House of Peace, all our people, all the doves. And most importantly, we’re representing Aethios, god of the sun and the skies. We can’t dishonor that.”
“I wasn’t going to,” Lyana said softly. She stopped short when Cassi bit her lip to keep from commenting. “It’s just, Luka, that’s not all we’re doing. And you know it.”
He sighed but remained silent with his jaw clenched.
Because she had a point.
Yes, they were the prince and princess of the House of Peace, but they were also a boy and a girl about to be paired off with a mate for the rest of their lives in a political partnership, instead of the love match all their friends would someday make.
The heirs from each royal house were currently on their way to her home for the courtship trials—their most honored tradition, during which all the royal matches would be arranged. They were held once in a generation, usually as soon as all the second-born children came of age, though