Chapter 16

I stood on the castle steps, watching every carriage roll through the gates, my stomach in knots.

Then a door swung open, and Mira stepped out.

The breath I'd been holding finally left me in a rush.

"You came!"

I ran down the steps and threw my arms around her before she'd even set both feet on the ground. Mira laughed and hugged me back just as hard.

"Of course I came." She pulled back to look at me. "Did you really think I'd ignore a magical crystal telling me to leave my miserable job and move into a castle?"

"I didn't tell you to leave your job."

"You implied it beautifully."

I laughed and grabbed one of her bags before she could argue. We hauled them toward the servants' building together, and Cordelia was already waiting for us by the door.

"Mira?"

Mira snapped straight, all business in half a second flat. "Yes."

"Come in."

The door closed behind her, and I waited. And waited