The Shadow Rule by Novae Caelum

Author:Novae Caelum
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781958696095
Publisher: Robot Dinosaur Press

30

SUN AND STARS

Pageantry is society’s attempt to not recognize itself in its own mirror.

HOMAJ RHIALDEN, SERITARCHUS IX, AS QUOTED IN THE CHANGE DIALOGUES

Lesander wore a single, pea-sized diamond in each ear. Just one, and a single, thumbnail-sized diamond in a simple gold setting on a simple gold chain. Her flame-red hair was swept up in a simple knot, and she wore a clean-lined floor-length gown that seemed blue at first glance but then darkened into bottomless depths.

Like space, Dressa decided. Lesander looked like the sun and stars in space. And if she hadn’t already been married to her, she’d want to do it all over again.

Of course, she’d have that chance too, wouldn’t she?

Lesander lightly gripped her arm as they glided into the Lilac Hall, one of the smaller social halls over which the residence wing sat.

Dressa’s breath caught as forty or fifty pairs of eyes turned her way, and the room collectively rustled into a deep bow.

She wasn’t used to this. She still wasn’t used to this level of attention. That deep a bow was usually reserved for Arianna.

She spotted her father, one of the only ones who hadn’t bowed, near the back of the room with a knot of older courtiers. Well, Iata as her father, but inhabiting him so perfectly it was like the same thing. He raised his glass with that crooked, ironic smile, and gave her a shallow nod. His continued public approval was high currency for her in the palace right now.

And beside him was Dressa’s mother.

Haneri also didn’t bow but nodded to Dressa, with almost the same degree of approval.

Dressa’s heart kicked into her throat. How long had her mother been with Iata so far tonight? Had she noticed anything off?

Her gaze flicked back to Iata, but if Dressa hadn’t known it was him, she would never have known it wasn’t her father.

She felt the barest tug on her arm from Lesander. She’d been standing in one place for too long.

Dressa spread a smile across her face, but reminded herself not to show it too widely. Not as widely as she might have a week ago. She was still Dressa, yes. She couldn’t discount the years of openness she’d cultivated, her more wild reputation at court, but she was the Heir now. And the faces around her seemed just as hesitant on how to navigate those distinctions as she was.

But she spotted one of her oldest co-conspirators in social events—could she call them a friend?—Count Ajim, coming toward her, the widest grin on their face. They’d completely buzzed their hair since she’d last seen them briefly on the night of the ball and dyed their eyebrows and lashes phosphorescent blue. Ajim had always been more striking than the current courtly standard of beautiful, with a personality like lightning. She had to admit the glow did good things to their vibe.

Dressa had been too focused on driving attention from Arianna at the ball, and Ajim too focused on picking up a new hookup. She

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.