Chapter 26

After his run-in with Lyra, Julian met with Thea in his office. Thea wanted to know about the details concerning the engagement party. After Julian’s announcement at the banquet, everyone was waiting for the day of the official engagement between him and Crystal. Thea wanted to get a heads up so she could start preparing as early as possible, wanting to make sure that the ceremony was up to standard. But Julian did not seem all that concerned about it. “Forget about it for now,” he told her, half of his brain still stuck on the conversation–if one could call it that–he just had with Lyra. “We might never get to that part.” That’s what he hoped. If he could find the information he wanted as quickly as possible, there would be no formal engagement. “Oh, alright,” Thea said. She did not have to inquire any further. Right away, she could tell that Julian must have an ulterior motive for making the announcement about Crystal becoming the future queen. She had lived long enough in the palace