The grandeur of the Imperial palace was what I expected, even if I had only seen it once in my previous life, and that was when I was trying to destroy it. The golden domes gleamed under the sun, their intricate patterns catching the light like glittering coins. Towering pillars lined the walkways, each one carved with intricate runes, the language of spirits itched into the marble. The scent of perfumes and fresh flowers filled the air, a stark contrast to the heady mix of scents from the heart of the capital.

  My mother appeared entranced and I found myself staring at her smile. How would she feel if she knew I had tried to destroy it, to kill the Imperial family and the man who had ordered her death? Would she be horrified? Or would she understand?

  “Your Highnesses, welcome back.” A voice shook me from my thoughts and I looked forward to see a tall woman in front of use, bowing her head to Isadora and Caspian. She had silver, shoulder-length hair and heavy green eyes that watched my mother and I thoughtfully. “I see the rumors were not unfounded.”

  “Galene, this is Linota and her son Cyran,” Isadora presented us and my mother bowed, forcing me to follow as she placed a gentle hand on my back, urging me to show proper respect. I dipped my head just enough to be polite, keeping my gaze lowered, but my mind was already working. I hadn’t paid attention at the marquess’s house, but I would do whatever it took to make sure my mother was safe here. “I need to speak with Mother and Father about them, so please, show them to one of the guest rooms in my palace.”

  “Of course, your Majesty,” Galene bowed again as she straightened, her expression unreadable. I studied her carefully from beneath my lashes, committing her name and face to memory. If she was Isadora’s aide, then she was someone I needed to watch. A person in her position knew everything that happened in the palace—the whispers behind closed doors, the silent struggles between nobles, the little secrets that made and broke reputations. If she ever turned against my mother and me, she could ruin us with a few words.

  “This way,” she said, her tone even but firm as she gestured for us to follow. My mother hesitated for just a breath before nodding, pressing a gentle hand to my shoulder as we stepped forward. I kept close to her side, not out of childish fear, but because I needed to understand everything about this place—the layout, the people, the way things worked. If I could learn the rules early, then I could find ways to bend them to my advantage.

  As we walked, I made careful note of our surroundings. The palace was even larger than I remembered, a sprawling labyrinth of polished stone and gilded arches. The walls were lined with decor and to my surprise, it was less than I thought it would be. For the seat of an empire that made pacts with dragons for protection, I expected the palace to be more… wasteful and lavish. There was plenty of wealth here, undoubtedly—the smooth marble floors, the delicate silver inlays running along the columns, the massive chandeliers casting a warm glow over everything—but it was restrained. It was a palace built for power, not for indulgence.

  My mother, however, wasn’t paying attention to any of this. She was still in awe, eyes darting between the polished floors and the towering windows that let in streams of golden light. I could tell she was overwhelmed. She had never been anywhere like this, never been given the chance to stand in such a place, let alone live here. It was written in the way she held herself, the way she kept smoothing down the fabric of her dress, as if she wasn’t sure she belonged.

  “You’ll get used to it,” Galene said, her voice quiet but firm, as if sensing my mother’s hesitation. She didn’t look back at us as she spoke, her hands clasped neatly behind her back as she walked. “The palace can be intimidating at first, but it will become familiar with time.”

  My mother offered her a small smile, though it was strained. “I appreciate your kindness, Lady Galene.”

  “Simply Galene my dear, I’m not a noble. Just an old woman who’s been here too long.” Galene glanced at her, arching a delicate brow. My mother nodded quickly, clearly uncertain how to respond. I, however, narrowed my eyes slightly. No noble, but she carried herself with the authority of one. That meant she had been in this position for a long time, long enough to have carved out a place for herself here.

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  I counted every hallway, every turn, mapping the palace in my mind. I noted how many servants we passed, how they carried themselves—some walked briskly with purpose, others moved cautiously, careful not to draw too much attention. I also noted the way they glanced at us and while none were openly hostile, there was curiosity in their eyes, and perhaps a bit of judgment.

  Our clothes, despite being chosen by a noble servant, were still too plain for the imperial palace, but I had expected as much. There was no reason to go out of our way to buy such expensive clothing, considering our place still hadn’t been determined yet. At the moment, we were “guests” of the crown princess, although it seemed most assumed she was hiring my mother as a new servant in her palace.

  “Where are you two from?”

  “Polec.”

  “Ah, that territory belongs to Blackwood, doesn’t it? I wonder why her Highness decided to bring you here.” Galene answered thoughtfully, but her tone indicated she was aware of the mutual hatred between the Blackwoods and Caspian. If Galene was aware of the tension, then she likely knew far more about the inner workings of court politics than she let on. That meant she was either testing us or simply voicing her own curiosity. Either way, I had no intention of letting my mother stumble into a conversation she wasn’t ready for.

  “Because Princess Isa said I'm special!” I grinned, putting the biggest smile on my face as I beamed up at Galene, deliberately making my voice a little too loud, a little too eager. “She said she wanted to see if I’m magic!”

  Galene hummed in response, her expression unreadable as she glanced between me and my mother. I could see the way my mother stiffened at my words, her fingers twitching slightly at her sides, but she didn’t scold me. She knew as well as I did that denying it outright would only make Galene more suspicious.

  “Magic?” Galene mused, tilting her head slightly as she smiled at me gently. Her eyes were warm, the correct expression for appearing to entertain a child, but I could see the gears turning behind her expression. She believed me. “That would make you quite special.”

  “Uh-huh! I told the princess I was stronger and faster than the other kids, and that I never get cold, even in winter!” I rocked on my heels, looking up at her with wide eyes. “Do you think that means I have magic, Miss Galene?”

  “It sounds like you do, little Master,” Galene chuckled and I made sure to echo the sound, ignoring my mother’s discomfort. I knew she didn’t want anyone to know about me, but if my dragon powers were awakening quicker than before, it was better to reveal I was not normal now. If I hid it, people would assume my mother is keeping it a secret because she was also not human, and that would only make things dangerous for her.

  Once Galene turned away from me, I resumed my careful observation of the palace. I had already memorized every turn we’d taken, noting which corridors led to larger halls, which paths had more guards posted, and which doors seemed to lead to places only the highest-ranking servants or nobles would be allowed to enter. Leaving the central Palace was marked by the open garden we now walked through and I could see what I assumed was Isadora’s palace in the distance ahead of us.

  As we walked past the central fountain, the air grew heavier with the scent of lavender and honeysuckle, the perfume of the well-kept palace gardens mixing with the warmth of the afternoon. I heard the sound of children running and before I could stop myself, I turned to see two girls barreling down the stone path to the side of us. Their laughter rang through the air as they ran at full speed, skirts fluttering behind them and I frowned. Caspian and Isadora never had any children, and as far as I knew, the Imperial family only had one child.

  So who were these girls?

  “Your Highnesses, please stop running around like that!” Galene called after the girls but they ignored her, the smaller girl pulling the older one along. Neither of them could be older than me, and I was about to ignore them as they ran around us to avoid being caught by Galene. It was only for a brief second, but it was enough.

  The scent of saltwater hit me like a crashing wave, so sharp and distinct that it nearly made me stop in my tracks. It was unlike anything I had ever smelled before—briny, crisp, with an undercurrent of something faintly sweet, like seafoam carried on the wind. I had never even seen the sea, and yet I understood that’s what I was smelling. I stared after the girls as they ran, unable to shake the feeling that something was off.

  “Cyran?” My mother’s voice shook me from my stupor and I turned to give her a bright grin.

  “I’m okay, they didn’t hit me!”

  “I’ll have to let Princess Isadora know that Princess Valaine is playing in her garden again. She needs to be firmer with that child,” Galene muttered as she continued leading us, and I made a mental note of the name she mentioned. So, there were members of the Imperial family that were not common knowledge.

  Good to know.