These Hollow Vows (These Hollow Vows 1)

“Of course she does,” Tess says.

“Many,” Emmaline says, nodding.

This should have been obvious to me, but only yesterday, when Finn said that the book wasn’t in this palace, did it occur to me that the library I’m searching for isn’t either.

On the one hand, after my run-in with the Sluagh, I shouldn’t trust the mirror anymore. On the other hand, I have no other leads on the Grimoricon, so I don’t have much of a choice. New strategy? Use the mirror but proceed with caution.

When I asked the mirror again this morning, I studied the image more closely than I did the first time, and the answer was right in front of me. Waves crashed just beyond the library windows. If I’d noticed that the first time I looked, I wouldn’t have wasted time thinking that there was some secret second library in this palace. From everything I’ve seen here so far, we are nowhere near the sea.

Tess pours me a cup of tea, and Emmaline continues to fight my curls into submission while hiding the choppy pieces. “The queen has several palaces throughout her territory. This is her primary residence, and the location of all the most formal events, but she only spends about half the year here. The other half she splits between her three other palaces.”

I give my best attempt at a dreamy sigh. “I think if I were a powerful queen, I’d want to spend my day by the sea.”

The twins laugh. “Maybe because it would remind you of a certain prince’s eyes?” Emmaline says.

“When you’re queen,” Tess says, “you’ll be able to choose where you spend your time.”

“Serenity Palace, the seaside castle, is lovely, but it’s not meant for the full court. It’s more of a retreat for the royal family,” Emmaline says. “But I suppose you could change that.”

“There is a seaside palace then?” I ask.

“Of course. The southern shore is thought by many to be the most beautiful part of the Seelie territory. Rumor has it that the queen’s parents were partial to Serenity Palace.”

“Perhaps that is why she rarely visits,” Tess says.

Emmaline shoots her a sharp look, and Tess bows her head.

“Why wouldn’t she want to visit a place that reminds her of her parents?” I ask. There’s something more than grief here if they aren’t supposed to talk about it.

Emmaline shakes her head. “We wouldn’t know, milady. We’ve only been in her service for ten years. The queen’s parents died twenty-one years ago.”

They exchange another worried glance. I’m sure they know more, but they’re too afraid to say it, and I decide not to push.

* * *

“I have an idea,” I tell Sebastian as we walk through the gardens that night. “Promise you won’t laugh at me?”

The hot day turned cool with the setting sun, and I shiver in my sleeveless sundress. Sebastian tucks me closer to his side, warming me with his body heat. “I suppose that depends on the idea,” he says, grinning.

This morning he told me he’d been away for some important meetings. I think I believe him, but I can’t help but wonder what he thinks about the missing prisoner. I don’t want to believe he truly would’ve killed Jalek, but the uncertainty is getting to me.

“Tell me your idea,” he prods.

“The maids mentioned a beautiful seaside palace that your mother rarely uses. One that sits on the southern shore? I was thinking it might be nice for you and me to get away from all the pressures and demands of the court. To actually spend a couple of days where we can focus on each other.”

He smirks and wriggles his brows. “Oh, really?”

I nudge his side with my elbow. “That’s not what I’m talking about, and you know it.”

“That’s a shame,” he says, chuckling.

“Says the man who barely wants to kiss me,” I tease, and when the amusement falls off his face, I’m reminded that he’s not human. So strange that when we’re alone together it’s easy to forget. “Male, I mean. Sorry.” I cover the awkward moment with a smile.

He sighs. “Man, male, whatever. After two years living as a human, the label hardly matters to me. It was the other part . . .” I frown, not understanding, and he explains. “You think I don’t want to kiss you?”

“Well . . .” I bite my bottom lip, and his eyes follow.

“Half the time I can’t think of anything else.”

“But you don’t,” I say softly, thinking of my conversation with Finn, of his revelation that I do want Sebastian but I don’t want to risk his rejection when he finds out the truth. He was right, even if I don’t want to admit it.

Sebastian smirks. “Can’t you tell I’m playing hard to get?”

I laugh. “Oh, I noticed. Playing at it for two years, it seems.”

He cups my jaw and drags his thumb across my lips. The contact is like the first sip of sparkling wine—sweet, heady, and leaving me wanting more. “Is it working?”