Free Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes Page B

embraced Cleo immediately. “I never thought I’d ever be close enough to hug you again! You look wonderful!”
    â€œThank you,” Cleo said, smiling at the trio.
    â€œYour sister . . .” said a dark-haired girl wearing round-rimmed glasses, her eyes welling with tears. “I’m so sorry about Emilia. And your father . . . oh, Cleo. It’s all so horrible!”
    The third girl, who had dark brown hair and a face full of freckles, stepped in front of her friend. “Yes, it is horrible. I didn’t think they’d ever let you out of that castle, you poor thing! There are rumors that the prince keeps you in a tower under lock and key!”
    â€œOh, how absurd. I’m fine. All is well.” But there was something catching at Cleo’s voice. “And much gratitude, Maria, for your condolences. I miss my family more than I can ever express.” She smiled tightly and hooked her arm through Lucia’s. “Girls, I’d like you to meet Princess Lucia Damora. Lucia, this is Dana, Ada, and Maria, three of my oldest friends.”
    The girls eyed one another with alarm before curtsying.
    Lucia made sure not to show it, but this made her feel exceedingly uncomfortable. She was an outsider, an uninvited guest who ruined the party for the inner circle.
    Well, that was just too bad, wasn’t it? Her father owned this city now. This entire kingdom, in fact. And everyone in it.
    They should learn to be more respectful.
    â€œIt’s an honor, your highness,” Ada, the freckled one, said, curtsying again. “I hope we haven’t offended you.”
    â€œNot at all,” Lucia replied.
    That was a lie, of course. No matter how much her father believed he had these people under his thumb, she knew they wouldn’t easily forget what had happened. And it was not known by many, but Lucia had played a crucial role in the takeover. She had used her
elementia
to break through the magical warding on the palace doors she and Cleo had just walked through.
    That moment had changed everything.
    Would she have done as her father asked if she could have predicted the results?
    If she hadn’t, her father would surely have been defeated. He and Magnus would undoubtedly have been killed. She would have lost so much.
    Yes, she thought. She would do it again if she had to, if it meant saving the people she loved.
    And, frankly, girls such as Cleo’s friends were lucky to be alive. They should be thanking her.
    â€œIt was wonderful seeing you all,” Cleo said hurriedly, clearly just as eager as Lucia was to end this little gathering. “Hopefully I’ll see you again soon.”
    The girls murmured farewells as Cleo and Lucia walked past them. Lucia kept her proud stare on their wary glances until they each looked away, lowering their eyes to the ground.
    That’s better.
    â€œApologies if they seemed rude,” Cleo said. “They’re just a small part of the group I used to socialize with. Perhaps they’re confused and hurt because they haven’t received an invitation to the palace in so long.”
    Nor will they ever again
, Lucia thought. “Are you very close with them?”
    â€œCan we ever really have friends outside the palace we can truly trust?”
    No. They couldn’t. Lucia hadn’t had many female friends in Limeros, as her father had kept her sheltered from petty socializing. Instead, she formed bonds with her tutors, as well as a few potential suitors from noble families she’d met at banquets and formal events. And, of course, Magnus.
    A lump formed in Lucia’s throat. She used to consider Magnus not only her older brother, but her dearest friend. The cold way he treated her now pained her deeply.
    But she couldn’t love him the way he wanted her to. And everything she’d done or said since his confession had only damaged their relationship more.
    â€œLucia?” Cleo squeezed