keys
I didn’t think running through the outside corridors of the palace could be fun, and under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t be. But seeing Cardan walking toward me, his unhurried movements, as if he’s too cool to run, is oddly entertaining. His pace is deceptively fast, though, and even though he’s still a fair distance away, I know he’ll catch up sooner or later.
I give him a cheeky grimace before disappearing around the corner of a hedge, heading toward what I hope is the next clue’s location.
The hill is dimly lit, the absence of a full moon making it hard to see much of anything. I squint, trying to make out shapes in the darkness, and spot what looks like candelabras a little ways off. Maybe I can grab a candle, something big enough to carry around and light my way. I hurry over, but as I get closer, I realize the candles are stuck firmly in place. I can’t take them.
Frustrated, I glance around and notice a lantern nearby. Perfect.
Cardan steps in front of me, his silhouette cutting through the shadows.
"Are you done running away already?"
his voice is smooth but with a hint of amusement.
"Just when it was starting to get fun"
"We’re not here to play tag"
my tone is sharp as I try to move past him in the direction I was heading.
He steps in front of me again, blocking my path, and this time he pushes me gently but firmly against the wall. A sense of déjà vu creeps into my mind, and I can’t help but remember the last time we were in a similar position. My heart skips a beat, but I force myself to stay calm.
"If we keep wasting time, we’ll be last"
my voice steady despite the way my pulse is racing.
"Are you the competitive type?"
he asks with sharp eyes
"Enough to not be last"
I reply, meeting his gaze.
"I thought you were, though."
"It depends"
he says, his smirk widening.
"Only when I’m interested in the prize."
I don’t think I’ve figured out if this treasure hunt interests him or not. His active search for clues has been ambiguous so far, and I can’t tell if he’s genuinely invested or just along for the ride.
He holds out his hand, and I look at it, my brow furrowing.
"The key"
his voice firm but his expression playful.
A challenging grin forms on my face, and I bring my hand with the key behind my back, leaning against the wall.
"What if I don’t want to give it to you?"
my grin widening as I hold the key just out of his reach.
He raises an eyebrow, his smirk turning dangerous.
"Do you want me to reach out and get it?"
Maybe. The thought sends a thrill through me, though I’d never admit it out loud. I think I’ve just discovered a playful side of Cardan, and maybe I’m taking more advantage of it than I should. But sooner or later, this will have to end. Everyone will return to their roles, and this strange, fleeting dynamic between us will fade. So why not take advantage of it while I can?
I tilt my head, my grin widening.
"You’re welcome to try."
Cardan’s eyes darken with something sharp and amused, and he leans in just slightly, close enough that my breath catches in my throat. His hand rests on the wall next to my head, caging me in, but I don’t feel trapped. If anything, I feel…
"You feel playful?"
he asks, his voice low and smooth, like velvet.
"Why?"
I counter, my tone light but my eyes steady.
"You think you’re the only one who’s able to play?"
His smirk softens into something almost genuine, and for a moment, I think I’ve caught him off guard. But then he leans in closer, his breath warm against my skin.
"How bold of you"
he murmurs, his voice like silk and poison all at once.
"Teasing a prince."
My grin doesn’t falter.
"You make it too easy."
His gaze flickers between my eyes and my lips, and for a heartbeat, the air between us feels charged, electric. Then he exhales dramatically, as if this whole situation is dreadfully inconvenient for him.
But there’s a glint in his eyes, a spark of mischief that tells me he’s enjoying this far more than he’s letting on.
Then, without warning, his hand moves behind me, his fingers brushing against the small of my back as he leans in closer. His face is inches from mine, his breath warm against my skin. It’s the third time this evening that we’ve ended up like this, our faces too close, the tension between us too palpable. I know it’s all an act, a game he’s playing, but at this rate, I might just get used to it.
His hand slides behind my back, but instead of taking my hand, he grabs my wrist. In a single, fluid motion, he lifts my hand, bringing it between us.
Then, in a move so bold it steals the air from my lungs, he closes his mouth at the point under my wrist.
Not a kiss. No, that would be too simple, too expected. Instead, his lips part just enough for the warmth of his breath to ghost over my skin before he bites down. A sharp, quick nip, nothing enough to hurt, just enough to send a jolt of shock straight through me.
I gasp, my breath hitching. He smirks against my skin, his dark eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
And when he pulls away, the key is no longer in my grasp.
It dangles from his fingers now, spinning lazily as he twirls it once. His smirk widens, and he steps back, his movements unhurried, his expression utterly smug.
I snap out of whatever spell I’ve fallen under, my cheeks burning, my heart pounding.
“You—”
“Me”
he agrees, his voice low and smooth, his grin widening.
"What was it you said? 'You’re welcome to try'?"
He tilts his head, his expression infuriatingly pleased with himself.
I want to slap him. I also, infuriatingly, want to slap myself for finding all of this kind of hot.
I exhale sharply, pressing my lips together to stop whatever mortifying reaction might escape next. My pulse still thrums where his teeth grazed my skin, a phantom sensation that refuses to fade as quickly as it should.
Cardan watches me, twirling the key between his fingers like it’s all been so easy.
I take a slow step toward him. His grin widens.
“Something on your mind?” he drawls.
I don’t answer him. Instead, I focus on the lantern, my initial goal. From a distance, it had seemed within reach, but now that I’m standing beneath it, I realize it’s higher than I thought. Even on tiptoe, I can’t quite reach it to detach it from its hook.
There’s a small ridge on the edge of the wall, and I climb up onto it, stretching my arm as far as I can. Just as my fingers brush the base of the lantern, Cardan steps forward and plucks it down effortlessly, handing it to me.
"What do we need this for?" he asks
"It’s for me"
I say, stepping down from the ridge.
"I can’t see in the dark"
I remind him, my voice tinged with irritation. One of the many privileges of being human among crepuscular creatures.
He raises an eyebrow but doesn’t comment, his smirk lingering as he follows me up the hill. At the top, I see other students scattered among the trees and the flat grass, some talking, others… well, doing things that I assume are part of their clues. Two of them are literally licking each other’s faces, and I can’t help but wonder what Madalyn and Morac were thinking when they created this game.
We walk across the plain below the hill until we reach a small lake, its surface shimmering faintly in the dim light. I set the lantern down on the ground, its glow casting flickering shadows across the water.
"The clue tells us to come here?"
his tone dripping with mockery as he glances at the lake, his eyes glinting in the dim light.
"You’re asking me?"
I reply, raising an eyebrow.
"You’re the one good with riddles."
he says, looking around as if the answer might be hidden in the trees.
"But what’s written there isn’t a riddle"
I tell him, pointing at the parchment.
He takes it, and reads aloud:
"To find what you seek, you must take the plunge. The truth lies in the reflection, but the answer is deeper than it seems. Dive in, and your prize waits where the surface holds secrets."
He looks up at me.
"So we have to go into the water?"
"Yes, exactly"
I say without thinking, though it’s not at all what I understood from the parchment. But if that’s what he thinks, I’m not about to correct him. His fault for asking me.
He seems surprised for a moment by my quick response, then he sets the parchment on the ground and turns to me.
"Ladies first"
he says, gesturing toward the water with a flourish.
I smile fakely, crossing my arms over my chest.
"We should go in order of rank, and yours is definitely higher than mine."
He sighs, his smirk softening into something almost genuine, and begins to unbutton the cuffs of his shirt, rolling them up with an ease that is almost maddening in its casual grace. He takes his time, and maybe I’m lingering a little too long watching him, as I bring a hand to my mouth, placing my chin on my palm and biting my ring finger lightly, amused.
"Want me to give you a hand?"
he asks as he unbuttons the top buttons of his shirt, revealing the upper part of his chest.
I can’t hold back the laughter, bringing my other hand to my face to hide my grin as I turn away. I hear him sigh, and I know he’s realized I lied.
"If you wanted me to undress, you just had to say so"
his tone is annoyed but with a hint of amusement.
"It wouldn’t have been as satisfying" I say, laughing.
I see him trying to hold back a smile, but he can’t quite do it.
"Doesn’t it scare you to know what I could have done if you had made me get into the water just for your own amusement?"
he asks, stepping closer.
"No one instigated you to do anything"
my smile widening.
"You were doing it all by yourself."
I pause, tilting my head.
"And then you wanted me to go first, so which of us is worse?"
"Me"
he says without hesitation, his smirk returning.
"Because I could throw you in the water with your clothes still on."
I raise an eyebrow, my tone dripping with irony.
"So you could peek at me in my wet clothes? What a perv."
Cardan lets out a sharp, incredulous laugh, tilting his head as if actually considering my words. And now the tension between us feels lighter, almost playful.
“Now, that is an interesting accusation”
he muses.
“You spend the evening staring at me, and yet I’m the one with impure intentions?”
“I wasn’t staring” I lie, poorly.
His grin is wicked, all sharp edges and mischief, and I know I’m in trouble before he even moves.
“Oh? Then you won’t mind if I—”
Before I can react, his hands are on me—fast, too fast. He grabs my hips and lifts me off the ground like I weigh nothing. My heart lurches, and I let out a startled yelp, my hands instinctively flying to his shoulders for balance.
“No, no, no, wait!”
I protest, squirming in his grip, though part of me is laughing already. I try to reason with him, but he’s not listening. He hoists me onto his shoulder like I’m a sack of grain, and I give him a few light blows on his back, more for show than anything else.
“Cardan, put me down.”
“Nuh-uh”
he says, his voice smug and entirely too pleased with himself.
“Nuh-uh?”
I repeat, incredulous. I hit him again, a little harder this time.
“Put me down!”
“You’re missing the magic word”
his tone is dripping with amusement.
He shifts me slightly, his hands firm on my legs and then, to my utter disbelief, he starts taking off my shoes. They slip off with irritating ease, and I can’t help but laugh despite myself.
“Please?”
I say, though it comes out more like a question than a plea.
“Wrong!”
he replies, and I can hear the smirk in his voice.
There’s a sudden rush of air, my stomach flipping like the world has tilted on its axis, and then—splash.
Cold.
The lake is freezing, and though only my feet and part of my skirt are wet, the shock of it steals the breath from my lungs. He sets me down on the shore, and I glare up at him, my teeth already chattering.
“You absolute—”
I start, but he cuts me off.
“I did warn you”
he says, looking down at me from the safety of the dry land. His expression is one of pure satisfaction, and it only makes me angrier.
I lift my skirt slightly, just enough to kick the water, sending a spray of icy droplets in his direction. If I’m going to suffer, so is he. The water hits him square in the chest, and he blinks, momentarily stunned. Then he shakes his head, sending droplets flying from his dark hair, which now clings to his forehead in damp strands.
“I did say please”
I remind him, my voice sweet but laced with venom.
“And I told you it was the wrong word”
his tone infuriatingly calm.
“Then what should I have said?”
I demand, crossing my arms over my chest.
He smirks, stepping closer to the water’s edge.
“I beg you, handsome and strong Cardan, please put me down!”
he says, mocking my voice with an exaggerated falsetto.
“I don’t sound like that”
I tell him, pointing a finger at him accusingly.
“And that's not a word, that'a whole freaking sentence, I would have never guessed it.”
“That’s exactly why you’re in the water”
his grin widening.
“I could splash you again”
I warn, lifting my skirt slightly.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you”
he says, though there’s a glint in his eye that tells me he’s enjoying this.
“I won’t do it if you promise me you won’t actually try to throw me in the water once I try to get out”
I counter, my voice firm.
He sighs, “I don’t like to make deals.”
I lift my skirt again, ready to splash him, and he holds up his hands in mock surrender.
“Okay, fine”
he says rolling his eyes, though he looks thoroughly put out.
I walk carefully out of the water, my feet sinking into the soft mud of the shore. He keeps his word, though I can tell it pains him to do so. My hair is a mess, damp strands clinging to my face, and I reach up to remove the hairpin, trying to comb through the tangles with my fingers. I catch him watching me, and I notice he’s taken off the golden crown of leaves that usually rests on his head. He’s running a hand through his own hair, trying to tame the unruly curls.
A stupid idea comes to mind, and before I can think better of it, I step closer to him and slide the hairpin into his hair. He freezes, his expression one of utter confusion, but he doesn’t stop me. The white bow clashes with his usual dark aesthetic, but instead of looking ridiculous, it softens his features, giving him an almost boyish cute charm.
“Pretty”
I say without thinking, the word slipping out before I can stop it.
He raises an eyebrow.
“I’ve been called in many ways, but never this.”
“Did you find something?”
a voice cuts through the air.
I turn to see Jude standing on the other side of the lake shore, her arms crossed over her chest and a lantern at her feet, seems like she had my same idea. Behind her is someone I don’t recognize, though I think I’ve seen them in her class. Jude’s gaze flicks between me and Cardan, and for a moment, it looks like she’s about to murder him. Then her expression shifts, her eyes narrowing as she takes in the scene—me, damp and disheveled, and Cardan, with my hairpin still perched absurdly in his hair.
“Nope, still nothing”
she replies to her partner, though her eyes stay on us for a moment longer. Then she takes her lantern and turns on her heel walking away, her partner trailing behind her.
Oh, that was embarrassing.
I already know the question she’s going to ask me later.
I turn back to Cardan, who’s smirking like he’s won some kind of prize. Without a word, I bend down to retrieve my shoes, my cheeks burning. He watches me with lazy amusement as I retrieve them, the wet hem of my skirt clinging to my legs like a second skin.
I clear my throat, pretending I don’t notice how Jude looked at us just now, pretending my face isn’t a little warm.
“Well”
I slip my damp shoes back on
“if the clue is actually in the water, I’d say you’re up.”
Cardan hums, tilting his head as if considering. His eyes glint with mischief
“Or”
he says, drawing out the word
“I could just make you go back in.”
I glare at him, my hands on my hips.
“You agreed.”
“I technically only agreed not to throw you in once you got out”
he's all too pleased with himself.
“I said nothing about after.”
“Anyways”
I say, cutting him off with a wave of my hand, as if that could silence his infuriating logic. I turn my attention back to the lake, its surface still and glassy, reflecting the twisted branches of the trees above.
“The clue said something about looking deep, but I don’t know if it means just looking into the reflection of the water or literally going to the bottom.”
I smooth my hands over my dress, trying to straighten the damp fabric.
“I hope the first option is the right one”
I mutter, mostly to myself. The last thing I need is to go back into that freezing water. I’m already risking a fever as it is.
Cardan walks back to the edge of the lake, his movements unhurried and graceful, as if he’s strolling through a garden rather than skirting the edge of a potential death trap. I follow him, carrying the lantern and placing it carefully on the ground beside me.
The light flickers, casting long shadows over the water and our reflections. They’re different now than they were in the hall of mirrors—softer, more relaxed. More us. I see that he’s holding his crown of leaves in his right hand, the golden circlet catching the lantern light.
My hairpin is still in his hair, stark against the inky strands, and he doesn’t seem to want to take it off. I don’t know whether the sight of it makes me want to laugh or cringe. Maybe both. He looks ridiculous, and yet somehow, it works on him. Of course it does. Everything works on him.
Maybe he agrees with the comment I made earlier.
I glance at the parchment again, frowning as I try to make sense of the clue. For a moment, I think I’ve made a mistake, that we’re wasting our time here. But then I hear it—a soft, almost imperceptible noise in the water. My head snaps up, and I see something breaking the surface, floating toward us. It’s a box, small and ornate, its surface gleaming faintly in the lantern light.
I look at Cardan, unable to hide the smirk tugging at my lips.
“Your turn.”
He gives me an annoyed look, his lips pressing into a thin line, but he doesn’t argue. He sets his crown down on the ground, careful not to let it touch the damp earth, and reaches out toward the box. His arms are long, and he manages to pluck it from the water without so much as getting an inch of his sleeve wet. I, on the other hand, would’ve had to wade back in up to my knees. Lucky for him, I suppose.
Cardan lifts the box effortlessly, turning it over in his hands as water drips from its edges. It’s small, wooden, and locked with a delicate metal clasp. Intricate patterns are carved into the surface, curling like vines, but there’s no keyhole in sight. The craftsmanship is exquisite, but the box itself feels... alive, as though it’s watching us.
“Well”
he drawls, examining it with clear disinterest
“congratulations. You’ve found a wet box.”
I roll my eyes, reaching out. “Can I see it?”
He lifts it just out of my grasp
“I am the one who got it.”
I huff, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Fine. Then you figure out how to open it.”
Cardan’s smirk deepens, as if I’ve just played into his hands, and he turns his attention back to the box. He presses a finger against the lid, tracing the grooves in the wood with a deliberate slowness that makes me want to snatch it from him. But nothing happens. He shakes it slightly, holding it up to his ear as if expecting it to whisper its secrets. Still nothing.
I sigh, exasperated.
“I don’t think brute force is going to—”
Before I can finish, he lifts the box to his lips and breathes on it.
I blink.
“Seriously?”
He shrugs, his expression all innocence.
“Faerie magic thrives on dramatics. Maybe it wants a kiss next.”
I open my mouth to mock him, but the words die on my lips as something does happen. A faint shimmer flickers across the surface of the box, like sunlight catching on water, and with a soft click, the clasp unfastens.
I stare. He looks equally surprised, his eyebrows lifting in genuine astonishment.
Then he grins, that infuriating, self-satisfied grin that makes me want to both strangle him and kiss him.
“You were saying?”
I snatch the box from his hands before he can tease me further, prying the lid open with a little more force than necessary. Inside, nestled in black velvet, is a single, ornate key. It’s small but intricate, the bow shaped like a pair of intertwined serpents, their eyes tiny rubies that glint in the lantern light.
I glance at him, holding up the key.
“Seems like we have two now.”
“I wonder what could this one unlock”
his tone flat but his eyes sharp with curiosity.
I lean in slightly, my voice low and full of suggestion.
“Your heart?”
He groans, shoving me lightly.
“Ehw. That’s so corny. Never say something like that ever again.”
I snort, clutching the box to my chest as I step back. I was just trying to match his vibe.
“Rude.”
But I can’t help the grin tugging at my lips. Cardan’s disgust is almost comical, his nose wrinkled like I’ve just offered him a plate of rotten fruit. Still, there’s a flicker of amusement in his expression.
“Oh, excuse me”
I say, tucking the key into my pocket with a flourish.
“I didn’t know only you were allowed to make corny jokes.”
“I would never be so blunt about it”
he says, shuddering for effect.
I roll my eyes and start walking back toward the lantern, brushing the damp fabric of my skirt away from my legs as I go. The fabric clings stubbornly, and I can’t help but grimace.
“Come on. We should get moving before someone else figures out the clue.”
Cardan falls into step beside me, his expression one of exaggerated suffering.
“Of my heart?”
he repeats, as if the words themselves are a personal affront.
“No, the clue”
I tell him, pointing to the parchment still lying on the ground.
He bends to pick it up, his movements fluid and unhurried, and grabs his jacket and the crown of gold leaves in one smooth motion. He shakes the parchment open, his brow furrowing as he studies it.
“There’s nothing on it”
he says, turning it over in his hands.
“How is that possible?”
I ask, moving closer to see for myself. And truly, the parchment is blank—no words, no drawings, not even a smudge of ink. It’s as if the message we’d read earlier had never existed.
“Maybe we’re done?”
I glance at him as if he might have the answer.
He shrugs, and I sigh.
We start walking back toward the initial gathering place, the sound of distant voices growing louder as we approach. I keep my eyes on the path, but something catches my attention—a glint of light in the bushes, faint but unmistakable.
I pause, tilting my head.
“Do you see that?”
Cardan follows my gaze, his eyes narrowing.
“See what?”
I don’t answer, stepping off the path and into the undergrowth. The bushes are thick, their branches clawing at my arms as I push through, but the glint of light draws me forward. I raise the lantern, its golden glow cutting through the darkness, and I see it—a small passage, hidden among the foliage. Inside, there are boxes perched on stone pillars, their surfaces carved with intricate patterns that seem familiar.
I take the black key from my pocket, holding it up to the light. The pattern on the key matches the carvings on the boxes.
“Here!”
I signal for him to follow, and together we step into the hidden passage.
The air is cooler here, the shadows deeper. There are several boxes with different patterns and some are open, probably some have already finished and got here before us, while others are still closed and don't seem to have any openings to insert keys.
I move to one of the closed boxes, sliding the black key into the slot. It fits perfectly, but when I try to turn it, nothing happens. The key won’t budge.
“Wait”
Cardan says, his voice cutting through the silence. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the golden key, holding it out to me.
I take it, my fingers brushing against his for the briefest moment, and slide it into the slot.
The soft click of the lock is almost anticlimactic. The lid pops open just slightly, as if teasing us, and I lift it the rest of the way, revealing a folded piece of parchment nestled inside. The paper is thick, the edges slightly gilded, and it smells faintly of something sweet and floral—like honeysuckle and crushed petals.
Cardan leans in, his shoulder brushing mine as he reads over my shoulder. His breath is warm against my neck, and I have to force myself to focus on the words in front of me.
“Well?”
he prompts, his voice low and impatient.
I unfold the parchment, my fingers brushing against the raised ink as I skim the words. My brow furrows as I read aloud
“‘Congratulations, you have proven your wit and cunning. Now take what is yours and beware—others may try to steal what they could not earn.’”
I glance at Cardan, who looks just as unimpressed as I feel. His lips curl into a smirk, and he shakes his head.
“They could’ve just said, ‘Here’s your prize, don’t lose it.’”
I hum in agreement, my eyes flicking back to the box.
“Is there actually a prize?”
I mutter, more to myself than to him. I reach inside, pushing aside the parchment, and my fingers brush against something smooth and cool. At the bottom of the box is another, smaller box, its surface polished to a mirror shine.
Cardan lets out a low laugh.
I ignore him, my attention fixed on the smaller box. It’s just as intricately carved as the first, with a delicate keyhole that matches the key still in my hand. I slide the key into the lock, and it turns on its own with another soft click. The lid springs open, revealing two small vials nestled in velvet. The liquid inside is a deep, swirling red-purple, and when I lift one to the light, I notice tiny glimmers of gold and silver suspended within, like stardust caught in a storm.
“What is it?”
I ask, more to myself than to Cardan. I hand him one of the vials, my fingers brushing against his as he takes it. He holds it up, his expression unreadable.
Cardan turns the vial between his fingers, watching the way the liquid swirls. Tiny flecks of shimmer catch the light, drifting through the crimson-purple like embers suspended in glass.
He hums thoughtfully.
“It could be anything. Poison. A potion. Juice.”
I giggle.
“I don’t think it would be ideal to give poison as a prize for a treasure hunt.”
He uncorks the vial and gives it a cautious sniff, then jerks his head back slightly.
"Oh."
I raise an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
He hesitates for a fraction of a second before offering the vial back to me.
“It smells like pomegranates.”
I take it from him, bringing it closer to my nose. He’s right. The scent is rich and sweet, but something about it makes me wary.
“Do you think we’re supposed to—?”
I start, then pause, shaking my head.
"No. I am not drinking a mystery liquid."
He grins.
“I’m not stupid.”
I shove the vial back into the box, placing the second one beside it.
“We can figure out what it is later.”
He doesn’t argue, which means he probably agrees.
We secure the box and step back out into the clearing, the glow of scattered lanterns and murmured voices ahead. The air is thick with the scent of night-blooming flowers and the faint tang of magic. I see Madalyn and Morac talking animatedly to each other, some students sitting and chatting, their laughter carrying through the night. A few of them have velvet bags dangling from their wrists, their prizes no doubt. The place is bright enough here, so I set the lantern down.
"AH!"
Madalyn says, turning to us.
"Prince, are you finished? Have you found your prize?"
Funny how I am always ignored.
Cardan nods.
I see Madalyn looking at him with a strange expression. Then it hits me—Cardan still has my hairpin in his hair. I gasp, my cheeks heating, and then I clear my throat.
He turns to me, and I snatch the hairpin from his head as quickly as I can. He doesn’t seem to react, merely placing his crown of golden leaves back on his head with practiced ease.
"You’re not on the list"
Morac says, stepping toward us and glancing at a scroll similar to the one we found inside the box.
"What list?"
I ask, securing the hairpin back in my hair.
"Did you find the treasure?"
Morac asks, lowering his voice and leaning in closer.
"...Yes, the vials." I say
"But we didn’t drink the contents."
"Well, thank goodness"
Madalyn says, looking at me with a mix of amusement and disgust.
"It’s not a drink, it’s a perfume."
How could I have known... there was no istruction.
"So?"
Cardan says, his tone bored.
"You should have put a drop of perfume to finish" Morac tells us.
"Ah—"
I say, the rules of this treasure hunt are really strange.
"But the note said that someone could want to steal it from us."
"Yes, because this perfume amplifies the beauty of whoever wears it, something like what your hair clip does" Madalyn tells me, pointing at my head.
"They’re hard to find, many could want it" Morac adds.
I’m a little shocked. Now the out of nowhere compliments I’ve received are explained...
"Okay"
Cardan says, grabbing my wrist and pulling me away from the conversation. We head to a free corner with some steps, and he sits down, motioning for me to sit next to him.
I take out the box and open it, removing one of the vials and setting the box on the floor on my side. The liquid inside shifts like molten garnet, shimmering as I tilt the glass. Cardan plucks the other vial from the box and uncorks it with an elegant flick of his fingers. He watches the liquid bead at the rim before letting a single drop fall onto his fingertip.
"This is ridiculous"
he says, turning his hand slightly, watching the way the perfume glistens in the light.
"As if I needed this."
I huff a quiet laugh, though I wish I could say the same. I think of my hairpin, the way Kiki decided to give this to me. I had assumed she meant to give it to be because it is aesthetically pretty, but now I wonder if she knew its magic too.
The realization sits uneasily in my chest.
Cardan shifts beside me, tilting his head as he considers me.
"Do you want me to put this on you?"
I blink. "Huh?"
"This"
he says, holding up his finger, the drop still clinging to his skin like a tiny, liquid ruby.
"Oh yes, because I need it and you don’t"
I say, sighing.
"Do what you want."
He doesn’t hesitate. He reaches out, fingers brushing against my skin as he presses the perfume just beneath my ear. The touch is light—barely a whisper—but my breath catches nonetheless.
Then he leans in, close enough that I can feel the warmth of him, the soft brush of his curls against my cheek. He inhales.
Then, just as quickly, he pulls back. His expression gives nothing away.
"I don’t see much of a change" he says.
A flicker of something tightens in my chest. I scoff, rubbing at the spot under my ear as if I can scrub away both the perfume and the casual dismissal.
“Wow. Thanks.”
He smirks, reclining against the steps with all the ease of someone who has never questioned his own appeal.
"I meant—"
"No need."
I grumble, cutting him off before he can finish whatever he's about to say.
Before he can push the teasing further, Valerian appears, clapping a hand on Cardan’s shoulder and shoving him playfully.
"Took you long enough to end, huh?!"
Cardan makes an exasperated sound but doesn’t bother answering. I take the opportunity to stand, brushing off my skirt.
As I step away, Morac intercepts me.
"Oh, you’re on the list now" he says, scanning his scroll. "You actually ended the game now."
"Good, thanks. Can I leave?"
He studies me for a moment, as if searching for some reason to make me stay.
“Technically, yes. You’ve finished."
"Thank you."
I say, already turning, eager to escape the gathering. But before I can slip away, I spot Jude and Taryn approaching, deep in conversation. Behind them trail their respective partners.
"You finished as well?" Taryn asks.
"Yes, and you two?"
"We did as well" Jude replies.
I tilt my head. "So, would you like to come to my place?"
Taryn hesitates.
"But the game isn’t over."
"It is when you finish. I just asked Morac" I say.
Jude grins, looping her arm through mine.
"Okay then, I have many things I want to ask you about."
I sigh. "I knew that already."