Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen

Author:Gina Chen [Chen, Gina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2022-07-26T00:00:00+00:00

Whatever Dante is doing to uncover Raya’s true intentions, he isn’t doing it fast enough, and he certainly hasn’t encouraged a healthy sense of self-preservation in the prince.

Cyrus and Raya begin going out on romantic dates, pretending they’re in love. They shop for wedding jewelry. They share chaste kisses. They “flee” their guards to row a boat privately on the lake, all in view of Sun Capital denizens spying on them. A play in a theater couldn’t be more staged. All that’s missing is a string quartet hidden in the bushes.

I’m not jealous.

Fine, I’m a little jealous.

All the tales ever told speak of beautiful boys and girls falling in love simply because they’re beautiful. But even the most beautiful witch is strange and wicked. Unhappy ever after, heart unmended, wishes unheeded, and alone, always alone.

Cyrus will get showered with rose petals on his wedding day.

I get thorns.

The thorn borne from my blood is hidden in a locked box in the back of a cabinet. I try to forget about it until one patron, a pock-cheeked farmhand, tells me, “Sighted Mistress, I am not sure if you have seen, but there is rot on your tower.”

I follow him to check, pretending I have no idea what he means. The black scar of rotted growth is not only lingering where the thorn had broken off—it’s spread.

Thanking the farmhand profusely, I send him on his way. Then I go back inside to retrieve a sharp knife to dig at the blackened parts. With my hand injured and little room to maneuver on the steps, it’s tough work.

I can’t tell anyone about this. The palace couldn’t know about the thorn, couldn’t know the reason this rot is here, but I’m paranoid just the same. Everyone’s looking for more signs of Felicita’s prophecy.

All the tale needs is the villain, and the line between revered and reviled is as thin as an accusation.

I don’t plan on using the thorn. I don’t trust that voice, and even if I did…Maybe to whoever is watching over me, killing Cyrus to save myself is an easy decision, but I’m no villain—just an opportunist, like everyone else.

Besides, what I really want is to look Cyrus in the eye when I best him. To strip away every trick and cunning smile of his until people see what I see.

I want Prince Charming to fall from grace.

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