SEVENTEEN
When we approached the outskirts of Azure Cove, the sun had already faded behind the hills. Deciding it was best to sleep one more night in the woods and appear in the town in the morning, we sent Tyrus ahead to alert the citizens of our impending arrival. Tyrus had departed only minutes earlier when Violet sauntered up to Lysander, an obvious chip on her shoulder—arms crossed, eyes sharp and restless.
"Are you expecting pageantry and feasts? Perhaps villagers dancing in the streets?"
My jaw nearly dropped. "What?"
Eyes turned our way.
"Where is this coming from?" I asked her, and she shrugged, c*****g a hip. Did she even know?
After a long beat of silence, she told me, "Sometimes I swear you've forgotten you're just a farm girl, Aster. Now you're riding into villages like
