The Shadow Princess (Chronicles of the Stone Veil 6)

In all, my welcome back to Vyronas has been mostly heartwarming. Everyone is tremendously grateful I’ve returned, and there seems to be a boost in morale, even if it is only a small glimmer.

I had one unpleasant encounter while shopping for clothes in one of a handful of little boutiques along the town’s main thoroughfare. The guards stayed outside, and I suppose it’s why none other than Ralina Batton felt confident to approach me.

Throughout my childhood, she was never more than a bully. While Bastien had effectively put Barney and all the other boys who thought they could push me around in their place, Ralina always liked to take her jabs. The worst was that she noticed when I had a crush on Bastien, and she teased me relentlessly about it. This went on for years, and she was always quick to point out how he would never look at me as anything more than a child.

Even worse, as Ralina got older, Bastien and all the men looked her way because she was beautiful, well-endowed, and a shameless flirt. She had the reputation of being eager to spread her legs for just about anyone who could help her climb social ladders, but I’m confident Bastien never went there. She may be beautiful, but she isn’t his type.

I’d avoided her over the years as much as I could, but sometimes it wasn’t possible.

While I was happy she hadn’t been killed in the war, I was dismayed when she approached as I held up a dress to study. She’d come fully prepared with her venom-tipped claws, but she was very subtle.

She put on a good act of respect and happiness that I’d returned, but then immediately alluded to Bastien in a way that led to the conclusion that they’d been intimate after I left.

I wanted to vomit, and it took every bit of grace in me to wish her a good day as I left the shop. Bastien told me he had someone, but in a million years, I never thought it would be Ralina. The woman who used to bully me was now in his bed, and I was so shaken by it, I could barely concentrate.

The effect of her words stuck with me all day, and I sulked during meetings with Bastien and the Conclave.

At one point, he even asked, “Are you okay? You seem out of it today.”

Given that he’d barely spoken to me since the night he left the cottage and moved into the dorms, I couldn’t help but snap back at him. “I’m fine. Mind your own business.”

And so he did, and we haven’t spoken since, other than to acknowledge business matters while with the Conclave.

The morning is warm and the breeze carries the scent of pressian flowers. Every day I spend here, I feel further and further detached from Wyoming. I know I said I was going back when this was done, but I’m not sure I can do that now. I’ve made real connections with the people here, and I don’t think I can abandon them, especially once I regain my throne.

Several folks bid me good morning as I walk by.

A nice lady who owns a bakery is sweeping off the sidewalk in front of her store. “Princess Thalia… aren’t you a vision?”

I beam and thank her as I move past, glancing down at my dress. While I’d been pretty much a jeans-and-work-shirt kind of girl in Wyoming, I’ve been enjoying wearing feminine summer dresses. My current one is sleeveless, fairly low-cut with an empire waist, the flowing skirt the color of raspberries hanging just at my ankles with a long slit up the side that give a peek of leg when I walk. It’s not formal by any means—more like the casual maxi-dress style of the First Dimension—but it makes me feel every bit a woman. I sometimes think I might have forgotten that in the isolation of my ranch.

As I turn the corner and Conclave Hall comes into view, I see Bastien and Kieran standing on the steps that lead in. I’m hoping Kieran has good news to report.

“Cousin o’ mine,” I hear from behind me and turn to see Archer jogging to catch up. He’s been living at the military dorms during his stay in Clairmont.

I accept a kiss on the cheek from him as he falls in beside me.

“Listen,” Archer says as he reaches over and grabs the muffin out of my hand. He breaks it in half and gives me a portion back. “You’ve been working so hard since you’ve been home, I think you should take tomorrow off and go fishing with me.”

He stuffs the muffin in his mouth while I consider his offer. “I don’t know… I mean, there’s so much to do—”

Archer loops an arm over my shoulders, shaking his head as he chews and swallows his bite. “I won’t take no for an answer. You need some fun, Thalia. Just for a couple hours, and the stream is no more than a few miles from here. Well within the cloak.”