Chapter 19: The Festival

It had been less than an hour since I’d arrived, and I’d not only become a part of a brand-new family, but I was also invited to attend my very first festival.

“I still can’t believe this just happened,” I told Celestria as she led me to yet another wing of the castle.

Celestria had already hugged me three times, but she stopped and hugged me once more.

“Sisters,” she whispered.

“Sisters,” I repeated.

“My mother gave me a new room this year,” she told me once we continued on our journey. “You can have the one right next to it. Oh, my parents also bought you some more dresses.”

“You and your parents are the best people I have ever met.”

“We just want to make you feel loved and taken care of,” she said humbly. “You deserve it. Besides, I’ve always wanted to have a sister. I guess I shouldn’t be happy about it because of everything that you’re going through, but I can’t help it.”

I hugged her tightly. “Well, I’m happy, and I haven’t felt that way in months. My old life is in the past. I need to get to the truth, but once I do, I want to move on and make new memories.”

“That’s the spirit!” She opened a large wooden door and pushed it in. “This will be your room. My room is right through that tapestry.” She pointed at a large, knit piece that was covered in glittering stars.

As beautiful as it was, it didn’t dim the beauty or the size of the room. The mattress felt as soft as a cloud. The desk and chair smelled of fresh wood. Plants and flowers filled the room. The same fairies that had taken care of us at lunch, were zooming around, and watering the soil by flicking the tiniest wands I had ever seen.

I was browsing the color-coordinated closet full of dresses, riding clothes, and combat attire when someone knocked on the door.

“It’s Maven. May I come in?”

“Of course, Maven. Come on in,” Celestria said, then turned to me. “She is my lady’s maid.”

The girl looked to be only a few years older than me. She curtsied and immediately headed for the closet. “Lilli was assigned to Lady Drake, but unfortunately, she’s out sick,” she said.

“You don’t have to call me lady. Please, call me Drake.”

She smiled. “You are just like Lady Farah and Lady Celestria. They like to keep things casual too. As you wish, Drake. Now, let’s get you ready for a day of fun.”

By the time she was done, I couldn’t recognize myself.

Celestria looked like a dream in a stunning baby-blue gown. She sat down on my bed and waited for Maven to finish doing my hair.

“You are so beautiful. I do believe I’m jealous,” Celestria said and giggled.

“A true diamond, my lady. I mean Drake,” Maven seconded.

Half of my hair was up, and the other half was down. A silver necklace hung around my neck. Celestria had one as well. The crystal pendants were clear and radiated different colors whenever the light hit them just right.

By the time we went downstairs and joined Farah and Bolton, I felt like the weight I had been carrying for months was gone.

The four of us walked through the giant double doors and were greeted by a surprisingly sunny and warm day. Madison was likely already covered in a layer of snow, but Celestria’s village seemed to be stuck in a permanent summer.

The village seemed lively in the morning, but now that the festival had started, it buzzed with people. Hundreds of stands were set up throughout the village, the merchants selling everything from produce to jewelry and clothing.

Bolton leaned in. “I think someone is trying to get your attention,” he whispered.

He was right. Hunter and Tanner were lingering near an apple pie stand, waving at us.

I wasn’t ready to face Hunter after he’d spent all too many days ignoring me, but before I could pull Celestria back, she was striding over to them. I had no other choice but to follow.

“How is your break going, Drake?” Hunter asked me.

“It’s Drake Aurora Jolenta now,” Celestria announced proudly.

The guys’ eyebrows traveled up their foreheads.

“Celestria’s family adopted me,” I explained, even though I didn’t feel like talking to Hunter. As handsome as he looked in his embellished shirt, black pants, and riding boots, I was mad at him.

Hunter beamed. “Congratulations! I’m glad you found a place you can call home.”

Tanner’s reaction was much more reserved. “Looks like you just gained a sister, Celestria. Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” Celestria said curtly.

Hunter nudged Tanner. “We hoped we’d see you here.” He stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out a golden box. “Tanner?”

Tanner did the same.

“We got you gifts,” he said. “Celestria, may I?”

Celestria froze in place and watched the prince open his box. Once he did, he presented her with a delicate diamond necklace. She hesitated for a moment before allowing the prince to put the necklace around her neck.

When he secured it in place and their eyes met, I had no doubts. Celestria might not have wanted to admit it, or maybe she was scared to admit it because so many girls chased after Tanner, but she definitely had feelings for him, and he had feelings for her.

Hunter cleared his throat. “And this is for you,” he said and held out a beautiful bracelet covered in pink and purple stones. I had never owned anything so delicate or received a gift from a man.

As he placed the bracelet around my wrist and fastened it in place, I could feel butterflies fluttering in my stomach. He had hurt my feelings, but I couldn’t deny that he also made me nervous. A ~good~ kind of nervous. I did my best to ignore it, but the closer I got to him, the harder it became.

“The pleasure is ours,” Tanner said once we thanked them both.

“Wait a second,” Celestria said. “Only my parents, Drake, the registry, and I know about the adoption. So, what are these gifts really for?”

“Like we said, we hoped you’d be here,” Hunter said. “Farah and Bolton might’ve promised to bring you to the festival.”

Celestria narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “That doesn’t explain much.”

The guys chuckled.

“Care to take a walk with us?” Hunter asked, and before we could answer, offered me his hand.

I didn’t know what I expected when we set out for the festival, but it definitely wasn’t laughing and dancing with Hunter while Tanner twirled Celestria nearby.

Hunter and I talked about everything, from our life before we came to the academy, to how excited we were to get our wands, to how we were planning to spend the rest of our break. He asked about the investigation into my family and how I was taking it all. I told him about my home burning down, and how the administrator and Master Rhoslyn were helping me.

Even though we had spent so much time together at Oswalda, this was the first time we’d had a deep conversation. He was sweet and actually listened to everything I had to say.

The warm sun warmed my face. Apple pie filled my stomach. The bracelet glimmered on my wrist as Hunter’s warm hands clutched my waist. If anyone had asked me to describe my perfect day, this would’ve been it.

Once nighttime came, we made it to the center of the festival where a large group of magic welders were showing off the wonders of their magic. They aimed their wands at the sky, and colorful butterflies and birds shot out and fluttered away.

My entire body pulsed. Aside from being very good at potions, thanks to Master Rhoslyn and the book she had given me, I hadn’t been able to perform magic on my own. But I felt it growing inside of me, and any time I was close to those who were in control of theirs, I could feel my own ripple beneath my skin.

One of the performers brought a young child to the front and enchanted her hair so it changed color every few seconds. Even though the magician explained that the spell would wear off in twenty-four hours, the parents still looked horrified.

After the performers left to take a break and recharge, two men came up to Tanner and whispered something in his ear. He reached for Celestria’s hand. “We would love to stay longer, but I’m afraid something came up. Please forgive us, ladies.”

“We will see you soon,” Hunter assured me, and pressed a kiss to the top of my hand. “We promise.”

Then they disappeared into the crowd, the two men following after them.

I turned to Celestria, who was watching Tanner walk away. “Did that just happen, or is this a dream?” I asked her.

“More like a nightmare. I thought I might puke,” Allyah said, smirking.

There were still small patches of purple on her arms, but she was almost back to normal. She was also as nasty as ever.

It wasn’t just her attitude. She gave me this horrible feeling. Maybe it was her aura?

“Nice to see the purple wore off,” Celestria said, linking her arm with mine.

“I know it was you, so don’t play dumb with me,” Allyah growled.

“Believe what you want to believe,” I said.

“What is that?” she asked and pointed at the necklace around Celestria’s neck.

“A gift from the prince,” Celestria snapped back.

Allyah’s hands began to shake and the fan she was holding in her hand snapped in half. A few pieces of it landed on the ground, but one managed to slice her palm. Droplets of blood slid through her fingers and colored the grass red.

“Just so you know, he buys everyone gifts. As for you, Hollis, Drake, or whatever you call yourself these day—Hunter is promised to the lost princess, so I wouldn’t be getting my hopes up. He isn’t allowed to date or even like another woman until they find her body, and that’s not going to happen.”

Allyah tossed the rest of her fan to the dirt, huffed, and disappeared into the crowd.

“What did she mean when she said they’d never find the princess’s body?” I asked, feeling more unsettled than I had before.

“I have no idea. But if she can’t get the prince, she probably sees Hunter as a consolation prize. She can see that he likes you, so she wants to get in your head and get you to back off.”

“Why do I get the feeling that she’d kill me if it came to that?”

“She can try, but as long as we’re together, she won’t succeed. We’re too powerful for her, and once we get our wands, she will have to leave us alone for good,” Celestria said.

Celestria sounded brave and unbothered at the festival, but the moment we got home and got ready for bed, she asked if she could sleep in my bed.

I moved over to the right side and made room for her.

“Good night, Drake,” she said gently.

“Good night,” I whispered back, and then we proceeded to toss and turn for the rest of the night, Allyah’s words about Hunter and the lost princess spreading through me like poison.