SECRET OF THE ASHES AND CROWN

LOG

ories you only wh

ches who still

o made deal

g, it turned cur

one of tho

tory they t

ng the laces on Elira's ceremonial corset. "You're

ghost in the wind. Below, the city bloomed in ribbons and lanterns. Fire dancers painted sparks on cobble

go out," sh

"Out? To the streets? Unc

erous and wistful.

ce before she was shackled to a stranger in silk and

ly come for

d too many people. He preferred

g beneath a lantern tree in a simple cloak wit

te?" she asked, not e

't believ

he m

poor boy's shoulder. And the world k

t yet, but a kingd

es... something

change everything. Most of

A

glowing when the f

aw. His shirt clung to his back, wet from heat and hammering. He didn't belong

Paper lanterns floated like stars breaking free from the sky. Music pulsed throug

turned back

from the alleyway, already holding two half-stolen meat pies and a

hey didn't let us in. Th

he fo

se of the

t two nights like smoke-a silver-eyed girl standin

L

the moment she stepped o

and her breath clouding in the cool dusk air. Elira had bribed the st

e in seventeen ye

terr

al

There were colors that weren't allowed in the palace-blinding reds, rebellious purples, carele

d. No one n

where to go, until a glo

und with hundreds of paper lantern

t wants most, said a

nd decide

out a ribbon torn from her ceremonial sl

y own life-even

to a low-han

and collided

A

like roses d

didn't feel like here. Her cloak was too fine, her eyes too sharp, her

ou-" h

r," she cut in

laughed. "

," sh

she s

g his mother ever told him a

tal

ooked like spilled ink. How awful nobles were. How loud the music was. How s

L

know who

e like

nny. She could argue without someone apologizing. She could ask questi

d her name,

e said.

lit up.

like old enemie

er of the

A

began, the crowd surged

led cloaks rode white horses. At the center: a golden char

ed to mak

l was

t g

whisper l

L

s moved past, breath ragged. Her heart was s

a

who di

ask her to be any

d a hand t

d she j

to the palace with a name on her

ling he couldn't explain and

actly

omeone else had s

nized her face ev

that don't stay