Page 34 of The Starlight Savior

“When do I start training?” Saige pushed away from Conor’s arm. There was no more time to waste. The surprises, the feelings of betrayal, it seemed to push her back a step. All she wanted was to move forward.

“I’m waiting for approval.”

“Can’t you ask your father to push that up the to-do list?”

A muscle in Conor’s jaw twitched. “Just because he’s my father doesn’t mean I have control over any of this. I told you that. I should have more information before supper.”

When they approached Saige’s door, they stopped. “Goodnight, Conor.”

“The sun is rising right now.”

“It appears neither of us have slept, have we?”

A ghost of a smile trailed Conor’s lips. “It appears we haven’t. Goodnight, Lady Nerestel.” He slid into the door across from her, closing it smoothly.

Of course. His quarters were right across from Saige’s.

Chapter 16

Saige had never realized the benefits of handmaids until she needed to rid herself of this suffocating dress. Her arms struggled behind her back as she fought the intricately tied corset. Her muscles barked in pain as her fingers trailed against the laces. The enchanted cuffs tamed the emotion pounding in her chest because once it slid down her body, her limbs became heavy. She could barely feel the fabric brushing over her skin as she folded herself in her bed.

Saige pulled the dress from the ground, wrapping it around her. The hours spent in her father’s room seemed to stick to the fabric. When she closed her eyes, she could see him, as if he were right there in front of her.

Her mother used to always tease that Saige and her father looked like twins. Same dark hair, but her father kept his short to avoid the tangle of curls. Bright blue eyes that she always felt so much pride in sharing. Her mother claimed she despised the scruff of his neatly trimmed beard, but she often saw her mother place a hand lightly on her father’s cheek and smile.

She missed him. Her mother too.

“Why?” Saige choked as a sob broke through. “Why couldn’t you have just told me?” The flame in her body grew brighter and brighter as she was swallowed by ragged sobs. Gods, she had spent so many days crying recently. Her tears were an avalanche colliding through her body.

If her father and mother had told her from the start, things could have been different. If only she could read more letters. Absorb them until she found the answer to every formed question. But Eva had said they’d take their time, warning of becoming too overwhelmed.

Too late.

She buried her face into the dress, whispering every thought. “If I would’ve known, I could’ve helped. I could’ve trained.”

Squeezing her eyes shut, she sucked in a shaky breath. She needed sleep. Light was beginning to flood through the window across the room, and whatever her day or evening may entail, she must be ready.

Everything had been sacrificed to be here.

Her mother and father. Her life in the village. She could either put her whole heart into it, or give up. Waste away and let the world run its path, let the mist roll through, and her father’s wish of healing the land go ungranted.

Their lives were worth so much more than that.

The thought of it brought the steady rhythm back in her chest, drying up her eyes and leaving her cheeks sticky. Her eyelids fluttered closed. Curling on her side, she brought the covers to her chin. A dark wave of sleep overpowered her. She saw nothing. She heard nothing. Just the quiet push and pull of defeat and exhaustion.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Spending all day in bed, Saige only stirred to inhale the meals set aside for her. Each time she closed her eyes, dreamless sleep greeted her. If it was the cuffs’ doing, she was grateful for it. She was so accustomed to sleep raged by memories that it was a blessing to not be overrun by her emotions.

As stars began to glitter upon the purple sky, a small knock sounded from the door. Wrapped in a blanket, she shuffled forward. She was still in her undergarments, green dress piled on the bed. Opening the door, Saige saw Esme and her two handmaids waiting for her. They wore the same outfit, a simple lilac linen dress with a black apron.

“Is it time again?” Saige sighed. The idea of walking back into the dining hall this evening, all of the witches and warlocks staring at her, waiting to see what foolish thing she’d do now, left a hot feeling in her belly.

Esme nodded. “Supper will begin soon. You’re expected to attend, of course.”

“A bit of a do over I would say.”

Esme smiled softly to herself. “Adjustment is a difficult thing to navigate. Especially alone.”