Carnival of Lies Read Free

wondered how different her life would be right now if her birth secrets hadn’t ever been revealed to her. She told herself that she’d still have had hesitations about the lot in life that had been doled out to her, but she couldn’t truly know that. If she were simply another ruling-caste girl with a handsome, loving daimon—one destined for power and position—would she be buying a black mask? Would she be entering Marchosias’ Competition?
    W HEN SHE RETURNED TO her family home in the section of The City reserved for the oldest, most respected of the ruling-caste families, she wasn’t surprised to find her mother waiting in the sitting room. She was well aware that her mother had a thriving network of spies, as was appropriate for a woman of her station.
    â€œAlone, Aya? You’d go there alone? What would Belias think?” Her mother remained seated.
    Aya took the seat beside her mother. As much as she wished she could stand calmly, say her piece, and leave, she knew that to do so was impossible. She couldn’t tell her mother everything, but she also couldn’t refuse to talk to her.
    â€œIt’s not going to be any of his concern soon,” Aya said levelly.
    Her mother’s pretty face was marred by sudden wrinkles as she frowned in confusion. “Because you won’t be going around on your own?”
    â€œBecause my betrothal is ending,” Aya corrected.
    Her mother reached out and patted her hand. “Is this about mistresses? I know it’s troubling, but they need looking after too. Belias can shepherd several women. He’s a good leader.”
    â€œNo, Mother.”
    â€œIs he being cross with you? You can be a trying child. Men do not like obstinacy in their wives.”
    Aya closed her hand around her mother’s, preventing her from patting Aya again. “I’m breaking the engagement because I want to make my own decisions.”
    Her mother laughed, and Aya didn’t know how she’d cope if her mother rejected her completely. She knew that this woman hadn’t given birth to her, although she didn’t know that, but she’d raised Aya. In all ways but biology, she was Aya’s mother.
    â€œYou always overcomplicate things,” she said. “Either persuade him to let you have your way or accept that he has a good reason for refusing.”
    â€œBecause you and Father selected him to marry me?”
    â€œHe comes from a good family, Aya.” Her mother paused, and then delicately asked, “Is he . . . unsatisfying in some way? Is this a rebellion?”
    Aya sighed. “It’s not about Bel. It’s about me.” She paused, weighing the risks of admission, before adding, “I’m going to enter the competition.”
    Her mother shook her head. “You always were your father’s daughter.” An admiring light filled her eyes. “He was a wonderful fighter.”
    And Aya wished that she were her father’s true daughter, but the father who raised her was no more her father than her mother was. They’d been bespelled to believe she was their own child after their infant had been killed. Her father had gone to his death still thinking that she was of his blood, and Aya was going to do whatever it took to preserve that secret for her mother and for herself. Doing so meant never having children of her own because unlike the witch who gave Aya life, she had no ability to hide another’s magic.
    Gently, her mother pointed out, “You need to take quarters of your own if you do this. The shame of it will cause troubles for your brother, so we need to appear as if you’ve been cast out of the house.”
    Mutely, Aya nodded. She stood, kissed her mother’s cheek, and left. Her family wouldn’t abandon her, not completely, but they weren’t going to be a party to her scandalous behavior either. It wasn’t an unexpected reaction.
    But it still