Curse of Shadows and Thorns

In spite of the cause of their celebration, Elise enjoys the festivities at the castle, spending time with Siv and Mavie and reading more of Lilianna’s journal and her tales of her third child. Elise and Legion are often separated, but steal glances at one another flirtatiously while she is confronted by other suitors. Legion rescues her from a conversation with Herr Gurst. He and Elise cannot deny their desire for one another.

The men at the castle gather for a hunting party, where Elise knows that all suitors will be trying to talk to Legion. Siv tries to warn her about getting too close to Legion, and Zyben tells her that he wants Legion to find her a match by the end of the week. Zyben’s queen, Annika, gathers the women at the castle for a tea party, where they gossip about Elise’s relationship with Legion and how she should take him as a consort after she is married.

The mysterious child who had prophesied her future at the party at the beginning of the novel enters the tea party. Annika explains that she is part-fae, has fury, and is called Fate’s daughter. The queen asks for a prophecy, but the veiled girl says her talents do not work like that.