A Memory of Nightshade by A.L. Knorr

Author:A.L. Knorr [Knorr, A.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Intellectually Promiscuous Press

When Jessamine returned to the ballroom, she was disappointed to find that the Silverfae retinue had retired for the night. Not a single ghostly head of hair remained to brighten the room. Either Prince Ruskin had a powerful grip over his retinue’s schedule, or Silverfae found it preferable to miss the last dance of the night. She spent the last waltz in the arms of a courtier who couldn’t stop yawning, which made her fight not to yawn herself. When the last bows and curtsies were made, Jessamine and the final shift of Calyx, exhausted and glowing with fragrant sweat, made their way to the quiet parlor where the Calyx rested their feet and took a nighttime tonic before going to bed. Jessamine retrieved her drink and followed Wisteria, where they collapsed on a bench seat full of pillows. Other Calyx draped themselves across the furniture while they drank, kicking off their shoes and scratching themselves. A few lay sprawled on the floor with legs in the air, letting their blood go the other way for a little while.

Moony was perched on the top of Wisteria’s auburn curls, flexing his pearly wings.

Jessamine gestured to the butterfly. “He is very beautiful. What kind is he?”

Wisteria licked elixir off her top lip. “Thanks. He’s a Moon Dust butterfly. Don’t you love his coloring?”

“Very much.” Her heart gave a pang of longing for Greta.

As though he could sense the ache in her heart, Moony fluttered from Wisteria’s hair toward Jess, landing on the back of her hand.

“He likes you. He doesn’t usually go to strangers.”

“I’m not a stranger, am I?” Jess admired Moony’s finely feathered wings and long graceful antennae.

“Apparently not.” Wisteria laughed as Moony crawled up Jess’s arm to her shoulder, then around to Jessamine’s back. He crawled across her shoulders and to her collarbone, his little feet tickling her skin, then fluttered into the air, circling their heads before landing on the window.

Jess tried to sound casual. “How was your dance with the prince?”

Wisteria cocked an eyebrow. “How was your dance with the prince? I would much rather have danced with the Silverfall prince.”

“Prince Ruskin asked a lot of questions.”

“He is very handsome, in the way those Silverfae are… so pale. Kind of like Moony, I guess. maybe that’s why I’m drawn to them. Prince Faraçek is handsome too, but in a dangerous way, you know? And after what he did… well, I kind of hope he knows that the Calyx are only being polite because we have to be. None of us will ever forgive him. Every one of us has imagined something similar happening to our own familiars.” She held her hand out to Moony and he fluttered to her, perching on a knuckle.

Jessamine didn’t know what to say. The Calyx didn’t speak about Greta, probably not wanting to cause her further pain. Jess appreciated Wisteria’s solidarity, her empathy.

Wisteria put a hand on Jessamine’s arm. “We might have to dance with him, laugh at his jokes, smell his strange

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