The familiar voice startled Skylar. She froze with wide eyes, mouth open and her shoulders raised in the air. But she caught herself. She would not give Lucian the satisfaction of seeing her alarmed. So, Skylar relaxed her shoulders and kept walking.

  "Wrong way, Princess."

  "I am not a Princess."

  "Then why must you act like one?"

  Skylar could not walk away from that. This time she was not startled, but deeply offended. She whirled around, facing Lucian with a fury. Instead of looking apologetic, and regretful like he should have been, he looked unimpressed. The cheek of him.

  "How dare you?" Skylar charged towards him. "My behaviour is perfectly warranted. I am standing up for myself. And I thought you might stand up for me, too!"

  Something flickered in Lucian's eyes. Dullness to something brighter, like moss transforming into bright green grass covered in dew. He hesitated, not knowing what to say, so he looked away. It was a habit of his, to gaze at anything but her whenever she made him feel lost for words.

  It was Skylar's turn to feel unimpressed. Her face hardened and she stepped closer.

  "That's it? You're not going to say anything?" She shoved against his shoulder, as though to check he was working properly, that this was truly her best friend standing before her. Still, the Sunborne heir said nothing. What irritated her more was how his form had barely moved when she shoved him.

  "Agh! The least you could say is that you do not want me to go. I have not heard you talk about my marriage, not even once. I want you to say that this union is ridiculous and unfair. Say that I shouldn't marry him. I-I'm not going back. I'm not going to that ball, I'm not—

  "Okay, okay, I hear you."

  Lucian brushed his hair back, awkward and rather uncomfortable. "It's just… I have to bring you back in time for the ball, or Lady Velcourt will—

  Skylar didn't let Lucian finish. She turned and walked away. "You always take their side. You never hesitate to listen to them, but with me, there is always a catch." Skylar swallowed, not wanting her emotions to get the better of her. "You are supposed to be my best friend! We called each other allies, once. I bet you don't even remember the day we met—

  Lucian rushed in front of her, holding his hands out. "If you'd just let me speak—

  Skylar laughed without any of the humour. She raised her brows, her voice, hollow. "Well, do you have anything worth saying, Lord Sunborne?"

  "Why, yes, Lady Velcourt. If you would just give me the chance, maybe I can tell you." Lucian was just as unamused as Skylar was. The edge to their voices struck one another, and Skylar was tempted to continue the battle, but she said nothing. Instead, she waited.

  "You accuse me of forgetting. But you said day." Sarcasm dripped from Lucian's words. "We met in the darkness of night, my Lady."

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  "You know that's not what I—

  "You had snuck away to enter this very maze." Lucian raised his voice, still rough and mocking. "And if I hadn't stopped you…" he glanced around with feigned worry, "This place might have been haunted today."

  Skylar rolled her eyes and tried to walk past. She had had enough. But Lucian stopped her again.

  "Okay, okay, I apologise." His voice grew softer. "My point is that I saved you. And that is what I am trying to do now."

  "I don't need you to save me, Lucian. I just need you to…" Her words left her, crumbling on her tongue. She was unsure of what she wanted to say because she did not know what she needed from Lucian.

  He had no power to stop this marriage. He was a noble, he was her father's Ward, but he had no say on the matter. The union involved House Velcourt and House Everus. It even involved the King and Queen of Darcia, themselves. They had been sent word of the union before anyone else, as it was Queen Kaya who oversaw the marriages of nobles and anyone with status. Her blessing was permission, which Her Majesty had kindly given both Houses. To speak against the union would be no less than treason, and it would only make everything worse.

  What Skylar needed was a miracle. And with the day of her wedding looming closer, she feared it may never come. Skylar suddenly felt all the fight she had, drain from her body.

  "You need me to be on your side," Lucian said quietly, finishing her thoughts. "That is what I am trying to do."

  Skylar smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. "And how does dragging me back to my mother do that?" Skylar had no fight in her now. She spoke quietly and solemnly. She knew she'd end up in that dress, and at that ball one way or another. But she was always open to suggestions.

  "You still have time. You are not married and you are not set to leave Astros yet. That means there is still time for things to change. And if they don't…" Lucian paused, clearly troubled as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "If they don't, and you still have to marry him… why are you wasting your time running away and getting yourself punished?"

  Skylar had no answer to give. She was speechless. She looked into Lucian's eyes and saw no sign of amusement. She had known him long enough to know when he was taunting her, and when he was being completely genuine.

  "You love attending these balls and banquets. Far more than I do. You make a point to never miss one because you are afraid you might miss something worth talking about. You dance and eat and talk all night. Tomorrow, after your lessons, you could go riding. You could go to the markets. You could even choose to speak to your father again, spend time with him." His gaze held hers. "Whether there is a chance of change or not, wouldn't you rather spend your last moments in Astros, doing what you love? With the people you love?"

  Skylar hadn't thought of it like that. She wondered why she had never considered such a perspective. She asked herself something similar to what Lucian had just asked her, so she could truly arrive at an answer.

  If my marriage to Caspian Everus was truly inevitable, is this how I want to spend my last moments in Astros? If my fate has already been decided, do I want to leave myhome, carrying the weight of my regrets for the rest of my life?

  "So, yes." Lucian's voice was resolute, but it still held a softness for her. "I believe I am trying to save you from yourself. I know regret very well, Skylar, and I do not want that for you."

  The breeze rustled the leaves around them. Lucian was observing her, keeping an eye on every line of her face. He looked concerned, worried that he might have offended her.

  Skylar was turning his words over in her mind. She was answering every possible question, letting every answer settle within her. She didn't like it, but she knew Lucian was right. This couldn't be the way to change things.

  She walked past him without a word, to the very end of the path. Then she turned back to face him. She smiled at him and nodded.

  "I do not want that for me, either. Very well, Lucian Sunborne. You have made your point. I give you permission to return me to my chambers, and then escort me to the ball."

  Lucian's face brightened with surprise and relief. He hurried towards her and they began to make their way through the maze. Lucian used his glaive like a walking stick, a habit from childhood, and Skylar's fingers brushed against the leaves. For the moment, the two walked together in silence, side by side in the maze where they first met.