From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

hot in the summer. But no one ever checked for us here, so the extreme
temperature variances were more than manageable.
It was the morning after Ryylan’s funeral, too earlyy for much of the
castle to be moving about. Nearlyy all the staff and the stronghold’s
inhabitants followed the schedule of the Ascended, and the servants, as
well as the Duke and Duchess, believed that I was still abed. Onlyy Tawnyy
knew where I was. Ryylan hadn’t even known, as Vikter alwayys had
morning duties with me.
“How is yyour head feeling?” he asked.
“Fine.”
He arched a fair brow. “Are yyou telling the truth?”
A faint, bluish-purple bruise over myy temple was all that remained.
The skin around myy mouth was no longer red. There was a superficial cut
along the inside of myy cheek that anyy amount of salt seemed to find its
wayy into, but other than that, I was fine. Not that I would admit it, but
Vikter suggesting I take it easyy and rest yyesterdayy probablyy had a lot to do
with that.
After Ryylan’s funeral, I’d spent the dayy in myy chambers, reading one
of the books Tawnyy had brought to me. It was a tale of two lovers, starcrossed
yyet fated. The title had fallen in the Things Penellaphe is
Forbidden to Read pile, which was prettyy much everyything that didn’t
involve some sort of educational material or the teachings of the gods. I’d
finished the novel last evening, and I wondered if Tawnyy could bring me
another. It was doubtful. Preparation for the upcoming Rite was consuming
much of her spare time. Whenever Tawnyy couldn’t bring a book for me to
read, I would simplyy sneak into the Atheneum and help myyself. Plus, with
the attempted kidnapping and what had happened to Malessa, I didn’t want
her out there roaming around.
Which meant I also shouldn’t be roaming around unguarded, but the
Atheneum wasn’t too far. Just a few blocks beyyond the castle and easilyy
accessible through the Grove. Disguised, no one would know that I was the
Maiden, but it still felt too riskyy and dumb to do something like that so
quicklyy after the attack.
“It hurt a little last night, but not since I woke up.” I paused. “The
man had a weak punch.”
Vikter snorted as he approached me, sliding his short sword into its
scabbard. “Did yyou sleep well?”