Page 195 of Burn Her They Said
Malin nods, though suspicion ripples through him, and I almost mention that the Queen may have just passed the bit of gauze off to her healer—though I may be mistaken, and I don’t want to worry them.
Prince Auden joins his mother by the now-raging fire. Their lips move in unison until the cloying heat disappears as they bring the fire’s expansion to a halt, with the flames licking up what appears to be an invisible wall conjured by their spellwork.
“Goddess of the Harvest, please accept our sacrifice in consideration of your blessing for a bountiful season this coming year,” Queen Celine shouts with her eyes cast to the sky, and the crowd all respond in kind.
My ears feel as if they’ve been stuffed with cotton, and my neck muscles strain as I try my best to keep this heavy crown steady when it tilts to the side.
Kind brown eyes meet mine while the amber shield lifts by my feet, allowing the light blue mist of Cirrin’s healing to swirl up and imbue my chest. Energy thrums, reinvigorating me as it cools my flushed skin from within. I smile at Cirrin in appreciation, and he mirrors the expression as he retracts his magic, then nods to Varic to seal the shield again.
“Now it is time to dance!” Prince Auden yells, garnering the loudest cheer of the evening.
The Annovian guards ask Varic for permission before taking hold of the Harvest Throne, and I brace against the armrest as they raise it. Sharp pain radiates from the top of my skull and down through every vertebra as I contort the muscles in my lower body to compensate. Because not even Cirrin’s power is enough to keep me from misery when my body has been pushed past its limits.
Purple fog emanates from Malin’s fingers as his telekinetic magic trills up my back where Varic must have lifted his shield to allow it in. It swirls around my skull, where it raises, then holds the crown aloft to relieve the tension in my neck.
I seek and find Malin’s eyes while tears form from the relief he’s offering me.
Malin nods, staring forward, and maintains his magic, so I might lean back with his aid in carrying the weight of this burden.
Chapter Sixty-Seven
Alight
Prince Auden thrusts his hand in my face, and since I have no ability to refuse his demand, I raise my hand as Varic’s shield glides to the tips of my fingers just before I dutifully take hold of the Prince’s. I lock my gaze ahead when Prince Auden stares at me with a prideful smile rather than paying any attention to where we are stepping.
Our collective protectors follow closely behind as he guides me across the dance floor without incident. We halt once we reach its center and Varic’s jaw feathers when the Prince leans in to whisper something I can’t quite hear. My gaze flicks down to my Lead Guard’s hands to make sure there are no lightning bolts making an appearance.
Tension still ripples along Varic’s temples, and the best thing I can do is send him a thread of my love. My pulse pounds heavily until the ridge of his mask lifts, just before more warmth imbues my heart when he sends me the same back in response.
My chest flushes brighter than ever as the noble guests crowd in, obscuring the view from the citizens made to stand on the ground, only able to see between the esteemed guests’ legs where they might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of me and the Prince.
“Look how she flushes,” a witch in a deep navy dress titters.
“Wouldn’t you if the Prince looked at you that way?” the witch in a lighter shade retorts.
Prince Auden seeks my eyes, so I give in. Though my focus is on tracking my Guards within my periphery while they form a wider five-pointed star around us. My heart hammers against my ribs as the Prince’s guards maintain the same distance. While something about this feels unsafe, I cannot name what it is.
The Queen stares over, wearing an unreadable expression from where she reclines upon her silver throne. The Emperor stands to her left, with his Guards behind him, all of whom seem to be enjoying this far more than my own. My brow furrows as I scan that side of the dance floor, curious as to where Wyrth, his Guards, and Imelda might have gone.
Varic’s shield warms my skin as it glides upward, tingling and almost biting in its intensity as it sluices over my chest and rises higher still.
A smile breaks across my face in triumph from the way Varic lays claim to me. Ensuring no one else can hold me, no matter what they think.
Gratitude for his protection swirls in my chest as Prince Auden aligns our bodies, clasping our hands together on one side while his other slides down and over the thin veil of amber, claiming the small of my waist. I shudder as he curls his fingers, a reminder of what I would feel fully were it not for the shield preventing it.
He guides my free hand to rest over his shoulder, and his hazel eyes darken, then mine widen in realization that I have failed to subdue the waves of pleasure rippling from my body. The Prince acting as if he assumes it is his proximity causing my response, when the effect is unique to the beat of Varic’s heart pulsing between us.
The Prince leans down to whisper, “I’m afraid you will not be able to select the song, as we will be dancing to the traditional one played after we perform the sacrifice.”
“I was wondering if that term could be revised.”
“Scared you, did we?” His mouth lifts in a grin, and I shudder.
“Yes.”
He chuckles, twisting my stomach. “We believe that burning the fields is an act of sacrifice.”
A deep breath fills my lungs as I stall, having nothing constructive to say in response.
