Plus, it made me stand out when I took my place at the arena for the jousting. I hadn’t slept very well the last two nights
with the conversations of husbands keeping creeping up. I dreaded to think who my parents had picked.
What if it was some repulsive man? Someone who just wanted to make babies with me in order to keep control and power,
someone like Uncle Dorian. I felt sick to my stomach as the thoughts ran through my mind. I hoped the festival would help keep
my mind off it so I could enjoy myself. Norok’s wedding would be the day after the festival, so there were many exciting things
to keep me occupied.
“Oh, Princess Ornella, you look absolutely beautiful, like the Goddess herself,” Kathlyn exclaimed as she looked me up
and down, taking in my entire outfit. “We are just missing one thing.”
Quickly she rushed off towards my closet and then came back seconds later, holding a midnight blue cape decorated with
gold and silver stars.
“I hope you don’t mind. I had this made for you, to match your dress,” she admitted, holding out the cape for me.
It was an unusual cape with individual sleeves. It was unlike any cape I’d seen before. As I slipped my arms through the
holes, I gawked at the way my skin appeared to have been decorated with sparkles of stardust.
“You did not have to get me anything, Kathlyn. This must have cost a fortune.”
“It’s no bother, your highness. I know how much time and effort you have put in for today to be perfect. I wanted to get you
a little something.”
After she fastened the gold collar around my neck, she made me twirl on the spot to see the whole outfit. I caught a glimpse
of myself in the mirror. I felt beautiful and knew that the outfit had come together perfectly.
“Thank you, Kathlyn,” I said, kissing her lightly on the cheek.
I slipped on my shoes and headed downstairs to join the others. I made a mental note to give Kathlyn the money back for the
cape as well as an extra day off this month in thanks.
Today was all about celebrating, thanking the Goddess, and enjoying each other’s company.
“You look like starlight and sunshine all mixed together,”my shadow man murmured in my mind.
“Thank you…I think.”
Of course he could see and hear me. I wondered how much he already knew. Maybe he knew my deepest darkest thoughts.
Did he know the dreams I had of him entering my bed chamber and claiming me as his own?
Dreams with him were the only reprieve from the nightmares of my uncle. The ones with my shadow man felt so real—so
vivid—as if I could feel his touch. I could feel his hand slowly creeping up my thighs and touching me in my most intimate
places.
Clearing my throat and shaking my head, I pushed back that thought for another time. Again, hoping he wasn’t able to hear