Contents
Chapter Ninteen
Overview
Lore dreams of a past on an island, hinting at women bound to a deceitful, powerful figure. Awakening, Lore hides Bastian’s note, but he finds and pockets it, acting strangely distant. Bastian forces Lore onto summer progress, Alie joins by uneasy intuition, and subtle tells—like Bastian eating cantaloupe he hates—signal manipulation.
Summary
Lore falls into a vivid dream-memory of a lush island where a haughty woman pressures the dreamer to accept a powerful man’s marriage offer, promising he can bend the island’s bonds. Dream-Lore insists, “He lies,” signaling past deceit and captivity.
Waking to Bastian’s greeting, Lore spots the incriminating note on the table. Bastian notices it, claims not to remember it, and pockets it. Lore lies about its origin and distracts him with affection. He almost kisses her but pulls back, echoing previous distance, while Nyxara remains silent in daylight.
A servant delivers breakfast, and Bastian announces they must leave for summer progress. Lore argues to remain and research, but Bastian’s playful tone masks a cold insistence; he jokes that anyone who mistreats her can become a garden statue, making attendance nonnegotiable.
Prepared by Juliette, Lore learns the route includes the Demondes, Viscount Allairs, and Lord and Lady Leclaire, with a smaller, choosier court this year. In the foyer, Amelia openly charms Bastian as Hugh grins; Gabe watches from the Presque Mort ranks, sharing a charged glance with Lore that recalls their near-kiss and unresolved feelings.
Alie tells Lore Bastian first ordered, then awkwardly apologized about her attendance, ultimately suggesting Alie watch over Lore. Though she resists being a nursemaid, Alie chooses to come on intuition. As they depart in finery and carriages, a final tell unsettles Lore: Bastian casually eats cantaloupe—something he hates—deepening suspicion that something, or someone, is influencing him.
Who Appears
- LoreProtagonist; dreams of deceptive island vows, hides Bastian’s note, is compelled onto summer progress, grows wary of Bastian’s odd behavior.
- BastianKing and Lore’s betrothed; finds and pockets the note, avoids intimacy, insists on progress, behaves off—eats cantaloupe he hates.
- AlieLore’s ally; resists being a minder but joins progress on intuition after Bastian’s conflicting requests.
- GabePresque Mort; watches Amelia, exchanges charged glance with Lore, underscoring unresolved tension.
- Amelia DemondeCourtier; openly flirts with Bastian before departure, highlighting shifting court dynamics.
- Hugh DemondeAmelia’s brother; present with easy camaraderie toward Bastian during the send-off.
- JulietteLady’s maid; prepares Lore meticulously and outlines the shortened, selective summer progress hosts.
- NyxaraGoddess bound to Lore; silent in daylight, her past hints color Lore’s dream of deceit and captivity.