Jem knew she was dreaming, but she didn’t care. She was too happy for the moment to care. She was married, and her husband was the old Matias—he no longer had a scar in his eyebrow, and he was looking at her with so much love.

In her dream, Jem was walking through the old gardens at her father’s estate. Her mother had filled this part of the property with roses. Tauriel had cut them all down years ago, but here and now, Jem was surrounded by their beauty and fragrance.

Jem looked down and realized that she was holding a baby to her bosom. Matias came up behind them and wrapped his arms around them both. He leaned forward and kissed the baby’s head. “How is our little one doing?” he asked softly, a tender smile on his lips.

Jem looked up at him and said, “He misses his father.”

Matias tightened his hold on them, rocking them both in his arms as they stood among the flowers. Jem felt something press into her back. She turned and saw her mother’s ring on a leather cord around Matias’s neck. She had given it to him before he left for the army. Now it was glowing brightly, vibrating with some kind of power. Its light grew brighter and brighter, so bright she couldn’t look at it, so bright it was going to engulf her and—

Jem jerked awake. She looked around her. The sun was pouring in from the open curtains, blinding her. It took her a moment to get her bearings, but as soon as she did, she laughed a bit to herself. That’s all it was, she thinks. The sun in my eyes while I slept. My dream just…reflected that. She lay back down on the soft bed.

All of a sudden, real memories from last night filled her mind. Matias’s warm body on top of hers, his bruising kisses, the sharp surprise of feeling him inside of her. And there had been other moments too…glimpses of the old Mati, tender touches and gentle care.

Jem turned and looked at the spot in the bed beside her. It was empty. She pressed her hand against the pillow, and frowned when she realized it was cold. Did Matias…not sleep here last night? Jem had fallen asleep quickly, to her surprise, and she felt a pinprick of disappointment that he wasn’t here with her when she woke.

Jem climbed out of the bed and stepped to the window. There was an unfamiliar soreness between her legs. She realized that she was still wearing what was left of the transparent gown she had been given last night—it hung in tatters around her shoulders. She cast them off of her body and pulled the silk robe around herself instead.

A knock came on the door. Matias!

“Enter,” Jem said, but to her disappointment it was the two maids from last night.

“We’ve come to help you bathe, ma’am,” one of them said, a knowing smile on her lips. “We are to prepare you for breakfast.”

As she sat in the warm bath, Jem wondered how much these maids knew of what went on here last night. Perhaps she was the one with greater knowledge now. Although she still wasn’t confident she could answer any of their questions, if they were ever to ask any.

After dressing her, the maids led Jem to the dining room, a long hall with an enormous table. Matias and Prince Lukka both sat on one side. Jem approached them slowly and bowed to the prince. Matias didn’t look up from his meal.

Lukka stood and crossed to her, taking her hand. “Good morning, Lady Vespertine,” he said. “Did you sleep well?”

Jem glanced at Matias, who was still ignoring her, and flushed. “Excellently well, Your Highness,” she said. “Thank you for the beautiful rooms.” Now that she had had some time to process all of the changes from the last twenty-four hours, she felt in better command of her manners.

“It is my pleasure to host you,” Lukka said. He led her to a chair and pulled it out for her. If anyone was watching, they’d think Lukka was her husband, not Matias.

A butler placed a plate before Jem, and she lifted her fork. She ate a few bites in silence. The longer Matias ignored her, the more annoyed she felt. Well, two could play this game. She turned to the prince.

“And what are your plans for the day, Your Highness?”

“I’ve already met with Branoc and Connall this morning, so I think I’ll escape to visit the town this afternoon. I haven’t been home in over a month, and I miss the bustle of the market.”

Jem finished chewing and then said, “Forgive me, Your Highness, but Branoc and Connall?”

“Two of the mages,” Lukka replied. “Branoc’s the tall one with red hair, Connall’s the short one. The kid is Ronar—he’s just seventeen, but he’s a wicked shot with a bow and arrow. And the woman is Maeryn.” Lukka paused and added with a wink, “But don’t call her that, or you’ll get an earful—she goes by Mae.”

Jem nodded. Something told her that Prince Lukka had found that out about Mae the hard way. Then she glanced down the table at Matias. He was somehow even surlier than he was when she walked in. Jem turned back to the prince.

“Visiting the market sounds pleasant. May I join you, Your Highness?”

Before Lukka could respond, Matias snapped, “You cannot go.”

Jem crossed her arms and glared at her husband. “And why not?”

“Because,” Matias said, “we are leaving for my new estate after breakfast.”

Jem blinked at him. “Your… What are you talking about?”

“The king gave me a small estate with my baron title. We are going there today.”

“I—” Jem was thrown into the same disoriented state she was in yesterday. How could her life keep changing so dramatically? “But…my belongings. I must return to my father’s estate first. Say goodbye to the servants…”

But Matias stood and simply said, “I will ready the horses. I expect you to be prepared to depart in one hour.”

Jem’s mouth fell open as she watched him stride out of the room.

“A bit abrupt, isn’t he?” Lukka asked. He leaned over and patted Jem’s arm. “But he’s also strong and just. I’m sure he’ll soon warm to your beauty.”

Jem looked at her plate and sighed. “Warm” was the right term to use, because Matias was as cold as ice this morning. How could he treat her this way? After what they did together?

Last night, she had seen the old Matias. Jem understood now that consummating her marriage could have been a violent and painful affair, but Matias had been gentle with her, even loving. She thought they had connected on a deeper level.

But now he acted like she was a burden. Again. Jem hated the sense of up and down with him…she was growing seasick.

She pushed her chair away from the table and rose. “Thank you for your hospitality, Your Highness,” she said.

Lukka stood and nodded at her. “Safe travels, Lady Vespertine.”

***

There had hardly been time to unpack, so Jem was ready within half an hour. She walked down to the courtyard where they had entered yesterday (was it only yesterday?) and stood waiting in her traveling cloak. Matias was nowhere to be seen, so when a carriage pulled around, Jem climbed into it.

A few moments later, she heard voices nearby.

“You, Branoc! Take the reins!”

Jem peered out of the window. Matias was riding horseback, surrounded by the four other mages. Jem took a moment to match their names with their faces.

She only got a glimpse of Branoc before he climbed up onto the carriage to sit in the driver’s seat. He was taller than she realized, with a long beard, and red hair that he wore tied back with a leather cord.

Jem looked out of the other window to see Connall, the short and strong one of the group, in a hushed conference with Matias. He had a shaved head, and even from a distance, Jem could see the scar that ran from his ear to his throat. After Matias spoke to him, he turned and shouted orders.

“Mae! Ronar! Take up the rear!”

He must be Matias’s right-hand man, Jem thought.

Mae and Ronar trotted up to take their places a few paces behind the carriage. Ronar looked younger than his seventeen years, with a merry face and dancing blue eyes. Mae was the opposite—harsh and unsmiling, sitting proudly atop her horse. Jem realized with a start that Mae was wearing men’s clothing.

All four of them looked strong, like soldiers seasoned by battle.

Jem startled as the carriage jolted forward. She looked at the palace disappearing from view and realized that she hadn’t said goodbye to her father. He was cruel, but he was the only family she had. Leaving this way felt sudden and…somehow incomplete.

They traveled for hours. Jem alternated between dozing and looking out of the window. Soon, the sun was low in the sky, and Jem was half asleep when the carriage suddenly lurched to a stop. She looked out the window to see if they had arrived at the estate, but they were surrounded by tall grass.

Ronar and Mae were both still on their horses a few paces away, watching the fields closely. Their eyes scanned the landscape with an alertness that made Jem nervous.

She poked her head out of the window. “What’s going—?”

“Get back inside!” Matias barked.

Jem turned to look at him, just in time to see something moving in the grass. Before she could cry out a warning, a ravener leapt toward them.