These Hollow Vows (These Hollow Vows 1)

I sense rather than see Sebastian step close to me. With one finger, he tilts up my chin so I’m looking at him. “When I am king, you and your sister will have an open invitation to stay at the palace.” The rest hangs unsaid in the air: if I become his bride, I won’t have to wait until he’s king. And maybe . . . maybe if I’m honest with myself, the possibility would be tempting. If it weren’t for my bargain.

I finish my ice cream in silence, stuck in the loop of my own thoughts. When I’m finished, Sebastian puts our dishes in the sink and walks me back to my bedroom.

“Thank you for tonight,” he says when we stop outside my door. “It was good to have you to myself, even if the minutes went too fast.”

“It was really nice,” I admit. “Thank you.”

He drops his gaze to my mouth and his lips part.

Finn’s words ring in my ears. You’re a few sweet promises and tender moments away from being that boy’s bride, and everyone knows it.

I step back. “Good night, Sebastian.”

* * *

I sleep with the mirror under my pillow and half expect Mordeus’s goblin to show up in my room during the night. He doesn’t.

After breakfast the next day I feign another headache as an excuse to miss training with my “tutor” and wait in my room with the mirror. I want to get this to the king as soon as possible so that I can start looking for whatever’s next.

But it seems that Mordeus’s goblin operates on his own schedule.

I spend a lot of time using the mirror to see Jas, and as I lounge in bed waiting for the goblin, I allow myself to look again. She’s sewing today, sipping tea, and laughing with her attendants.

I close my eyes and clutch the mirror to my chest. Could she really be so well cared for? I want to believe, but there’s a niggling warning in the back of my mind that says I shouldn’t be quite so willing to trust this magic. Even Sebastian wasn’t sure it would work for me. How does he know I can trust what I saw? I need to know if Jas is okay.

I sit up in bed. This doesn’t have to be complicated. I still have the mirror, so I can test it.

“Show me Sebastian.”

My reflection fades away, and I’m looking at the golden prince. He’s sitting at his desk in his chambers, his expression serious as he focuses on the book before him.

I jump off the bed and swap the mirror for the fake before rushing across the palace.

Halfway there, I second-guess myself. What if he moves before I make it to him? What if he recognizes the mirror I’m returning as a fake? With each doubt, I move faster, and by the time I get to his door, I’m out of breath.

When the sentry posted outside Sebastian’s chambers spots me, he smiles and bows his head. “Lady Abriella.”

“He’s here?”

The sentry nods. “Yes, milady. I can show you right in. He said you’re always welcome.” He opens the door for me, and I step inside. I haven’t been here since the night I was attacked by the Barghest. I’m more accustomed to the castle’s opulence now, but even so, I never had the chance to fully appreciate the beauty of his room that night—the dark wood furniture, the sitting area as large as Madame Vivias’s entire main floor, the floor-to-ceiling windows that line the far wall.

I find Sebastian at his desk, looking just as he did in the mirror, and I nearly melt with relief. It works. Jas is okay.

Sebastian looks up from his books and smiles at me. “Hey, you.”

I don’t bother trying to hide my grin. Knowing that Jas is well cared for is a massive weight off my shoulders. I want to dance. “Hey.”

He closes the book he was reading and pushes out of his chair. “The servants said you were ill and canceled with your tutor today. Are you okay?”

I nod, giddy. “I was just tired.”

He tucks the shorter lock of hair from my face behind my ear. It won’t stay, but I don’t think he minds the excuse to touch me. “I kept you out too late. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.” I extend the replica mirror toward him. “I forgot to give this back to you last night.”

“Right. I was . . . distracted.” He smiles and takes it from me, his fingers brushing mine. “I hate to cut this short when I have you to myself again, but I have a meeting I need to get to.”

I step back. “Of course. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to keep you.”

“I have a lead on Jas.” He puts the mirror in a drawer. “I need to meet with one of my sources.”