“How is Mother Crystal doing?” I asked Cedric. He chanced a glance at Killian before responding. “She is ageing and thus losing control of her magic,” he said. “Is there anything we can do for her?” I offered out of courtesy. “You can return to the coven,” he blurted, making Killian growl. “It wi

“How – Why did you never mention that to me?” I asked Killian after Cedric left. He pushed his hand into his hair and leaned back in his seat, his eyes gazing everywhere but at me. “What are you hiding?” Thinking of him keeping secrets from me made me unexplainably bitter. Remembering how secretive

As if dealing with the possibility of being Hawke’s daughter was not enough, a strange rumour spread about me. People were saying I was barren. “What even is this?” I massaged my temple as I flung the newspaper down. Eliza looked from me to the paper and back at me with a worried expression on her

“Are you an idiot? Even the blind can see that she is trying to create a rift between you and His Majesty.” To my surprise and Eliza’s horror, Jack clasped the front of my dress and lifted me out of my seat while I blinked in amazement. “Jacqueline Adela Bale, who do you think you have your hands o

The palace was quiet after the sudden layoffs. Even my maids moved about without making a sound. Mary stared at me more often in the days that followed and I could almost hear her internal struggle. It was good that she did not switch sides at the drop of a hat but I was beginning to get impatient.