"Why won't Father tell us more? This letter is so cryptic!" I exclaim, throwing it to rest on one of my drafting tables and fighting back the tears. His affliction and mine. "Something sinister lurks in the dark. What is that supposed to mean?"

"We need to investigate this mysterious mage," Mother says, "As I said before, you mustn't tell Kalvar, Kyla. If he fears losing you, the courage he puts on for the people will vanish, and we can't throw this kingdom into a sea of fear. That will be exactly what the Sorceress wants."

"I'm going to leave the kingdom in Kalvar's hands," Mother says, "He's to be assessed soon to prove himself a fit ruler. I think he needs some time to accomplish that without my help. I don't want him to depend on me as I retire from the throne once he is established. I know he's going to make a good ruler if he can learn to take responsibility."

"Where will you go?" I ask. I don't need to worry about Mother, and I hope she's not doing anything that will put her in danger. My mother is known for making a habit of getting herself into dangerous situations.

"I want to find your father and see if I can bring him back to us. As you know, I'm the only one able to approach a Cursed beside you. But I discussed it with Fletch, and he's agreed to accompany me with a guard to the mountains where Father was last sighted," Mother explains.

"I will miss you."

"As I will you," Mother says with a warm smile. "But I believe this is for the best. Even if I can't bring Father back, at least it will give Kalvar a chance to prove his leadership abilities before the people assess him."

"When will you leave?" I ask.

"After Princess Sylvia arrives," Mother says. "She's coming in a few days as I sent word because I want to meet her before I head out." She glances around my studio. "Kyla, these portraits are incredible! You really need to get them out of here and into the gallery."

"Thank you, Mother."

*

Even amid the recent news from Elle and Father's letter, my thoughts can't stray far from Rift. A part of me wonders if my time with him had been a silly dream. Now, as I eat dinner in my quarters with Elle, wearing a patterned white gown instead of my usual black because of Elle's recent teasing. I strive to keep myself focused on my friend's grief and not think about Rift.

It's useless, though, because men don't approach me.

Men don't compliment or flirt with me.

I'm Princess Kyla, the Cursed.

I have a pair of hideous wings on my back, and my eyes sometimes turn red.

I'm more dangerous than the beauteous lily.

At an early age, I'd learned that my future wasn't going to share another being intimate. Rift has rocked that expectation's foundations, and it frightens me.

Now I'm self-conscious of what I will say next time I see him. What if I make a fool of myself?

It's easier not to care.

"Kyla, I know you too well. Something is pressing on your mind," Elle says. She's surprisingly good-natured, but I think it's the three glasses of the alcoholic Dava Nectar she swigged like water.

"Do you remember that young lord I met that had claimed he was from the north?" I ask her.

"Yes!" Elle giggles, "he didn't lack in looks."

"I'll say!" I laugh with her and take a shot of the Dava Nectar so that I can at least catch up with her buzz. Unfortunately, being a Cursed takes the buzz away about as quickly as it comes.

"I was going to bed after the whole thing with the dragon, but... well, he came to my room later that night," I blurt out.

Elle's eyes grow wide. "You mean...? Kyla!"

"We played cards!" I defend with a laugh.

Elle rolls her eyes and giggles again. "Is that what they're calling it now?"

"Shut-up," I grumble good-humoredly, "We literally just played cards. But I learned he lied to me at first about being a lord. He's really a commoner who lives at the edge of the city and is the son of an herbalist."

Elle laughs again. "That's a great way to start a relationship: with lies. Why didn't the guards stop him from coming into your room?"

"I don't know... but Rift came clean about it quickly. I'm sure he was just afraid of getting caught earlier at the party. He's got a great sense of humor, plays cards better than anyone I know, and I think I'm getting a crush on him."

"I can see that," Elle says leaning in toward me and regarding me protectively, but then she smiles and sighs,
"Alright. I'll give him a chance if he's got a great sense of humor. Are you seeing him again?"

"Yes, at the weekend," I say.

"Have you told your mother or any of the palace guards?" Elle asks.

"Elle," I say her name in an "oh please, you know I'm a Cursed" kind of way. I should have known it was silly to tell her. She and Kalvar have always been protective. How many times do I have to tell them that they don't have to protect me?

"I know you're pretty much indestructible physically, but what about your heart, Kyla?" Elle says, suddenly very serious.

"I didn't tell you about him to make you worry for me," I say curtly. "You know I don't expect this to go anywhere. It's just fun to get to know someone else and feel noticed by a man who isn't family. He doesn't care that I'm Cursed."

"I don't care how they present themselves, everyone cares that you're Cursed," Elle states, her expression grim. "I hope you're careful. A commoner who snuck into a royal celebration and just happened to end up coming into your chambers without any alert from the guards? That sounds kind of suspicious."

She needs to trust me.

I'm fine.

Nothing bad happened.

And for all I know, my guards had gotten drunk at the celebration and were thus unable to perform the duties that they didn't even really need to do since I am already the palace's greatest defense.

"He's not stupid for showing an interest in you," Elle says, realizing I'm a bit hurt by her comment. "But I'm just asking you to be cautious. I love you, and I know you've never been romanced before, and love can be... well, complicated. You see it with Kalvar and me. Even though we mean the world to each other, we hurt each other sometimes."

"But you said that you made the right choice in marrying him anyway," I say. "You don't have to baby me. I may not be romanced and admired by courtiers every day, but I'm not stupid."

"Kyla, your eyes are red," Elle says, her brow furrowing with concern. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel bad."

"I'm sorry, too," I mutter. "I'm not as naive as you're making me out to be. And I will be careful. He's good-looking, he made me laugh, and we had such a good time playing cards... I want to do it again and see what happens. It can get suffocating and lonely in the palace every day. You wouldn't understand because people like you, and they like Kalvar." My skin is prickling. The stress of this is making my body want to change.

"You're right," Elle says thoughtfully. "You should go out and experience things. I forget how insensitive I can sound when I have someone, and you've been treated so poorly by the young lords."

I get up from the table and walk to the window ledge. "I have to go, Elle. I know you want what's best for me. You always have."

"And I always will," Elle adds. "Whatever you do, Kyla. Be yourself around this Rift and know that if he hurts you, we'll be here to talk to."

I hop off the ledge and take flight, but I keep my monster locked in.