“The prince had me bring your things from the caverns,” she announces. I recognize Braith’s voice, but her tone is as cool as the water left in the tub. “They’re in a room one level down, along with more dresses than you could wear in a year.” She picks up one of the pillows and fluffs it with sharp, jerking movements.
“And he sacked the House Master for beating you,” she goes on, pulling and dragging at the duvet to get it to lay just right. “Jeston has taken his place for the time being.”
So much has happened in the last few hours. What else have I missed? “Braith, stop for a few minutes and talk to me.”
She breezes past to let the water out of the tub.
“I can do that,” I call.
“There is no need.”
“Braith. Please. Take off your mask and look at me.”
She freezes but makes no move to unfasten her mask. I catch her gloved hands, but her fingers remain stiff in mine. “How is your back?” I ask.
“It’s fine.”
Even without seeing her face, I know she isn’t being truthful. “Please don’t lie to me.”
She rips her hands away, her humorless chuckle crunching like broken glass. “You wish to speak of lies? Shall we start with yours,Wynn. Or should I call you Allette?”
She must know everything then. Part of me is relieved to have the secret out. “Yes, I lied about my name, but that doesn’t change anything.”
“It changes everything,” she snaps, whirling and stalking out the servant’s door without so much as a glance back in my direction.
Perhaps I should let her go, leave her to her anger. When she calms down, hopefully she will realize that I had no choice but to lie.
You know what? No. She needs to hear the truth from me. If she still chooses to hate me afterward, then that’s on her.
Still wrapped in my towel, I follow her into the servants’ stairwell, ignoring the way the dampness on this side of the wards invades everything. I stalk down the stairs, not caring who sees me or if they think I’ve lost my mind. Braith throws open the door to the room below Senan’s.
It’s not as large or as opulent as his, but is still beautiful in its simple elegance. There will be plenty of time to explore, but right now, my friend needs me. “Why, Braith?” I demand. “Why must this change everything?”
“Look at this place. Look at it!” She throws her hands wide. “Not only are you living in a bloody castle, you had wings, Allette. You’re not one of us. You’re one of them.”
The venom in her tone hits like a slap to the face. “I’m sorry, Braith. It was foolish of me to believe you liked me forwhoI am, notwhatI am.”
Her hands fall to her sides, but she has no response.
“And I am sorry for lying to you, but I needed this job.”
“No,Ineed this job. You have a prince to look after you, to sweep in and whisk you away. Some of us have to fend for ourselves.”
I only fended for myself for a handful of days, and it did not go well. I cannot fathom how it must be to live with that sort of fear day in, day out, with no end in sight.
How could I think this wouldn’t change things? Even knowing she might end up hating me more, I continue on, committed to trading lies for the truth.
“Wynn was the name of my best friend. She was a servant in my aunt’s tower. Four years ago, I convinced her to come through the portal with me.” I drag a finger beneath my lashes, clearing the dampness there.
“Senan came too, but he wanted us to stay in the human realm, to escape together. Humans killed her. They killed my best friend.” I try not to think about her because it hurts so much. But the grief is always there, a heavy shadow dragging behind me every step of the way. “And then they broke my glamour, held me down, and sawed off my wings. I may have been born Scathian, but now I am neither Scathian nor Tuath. I am nothing.”
And it is only a matter of time before I lose everything all over again. I am terrified of returning to the caverns, and after what has happened, there is a good chance I wouldn’t be allowed back anyway. After all, it’s my fault Jeston’s uncle was sacked. I may be in this castle now, but the day my prince marries the princess, this will all be over.
Braith finally lifts her mask, and I see tears glistening in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Wynn.” She takes a hesitant step forward. “I mean, Allette. What I said was awful. I didn’t mean any of it. I am only jealous of your good fortune when I should be happy for you.”
Good fortune? The thought is laughable. “You’re right to be angry. I never should have gotten the job over a Tuath.”
“Who are we to question fate? After all, without this position, you never would have met me.”