Inside the carriage, everyone except Clara Night kept quiet, making the air feel like it was squished flat by awkwardness. (Clara Night is Adrian Night’s younger sister, spoiled and dramatic—see glossary for details.)
“Big bro, are we heading to Lark City for the annual singing contest?” Clara piped up, eyes wide like she was about to discover a new species.
"Once we get to Lark City, you and Aiden have to go home," Adrian Night replied, cool as a cucumber.
Clara pouted like her favorite snack was snatched. “Bro, I’m not going back! Wherever you go, I go! Don’t even try to fool me. The Four Songstresses—Summer, Brooke, Wynter, and May—do nothing but sing all day, and you keep hiring music masters for them. I bet you want them to enter the contest!” She finished, looking smug, like she’d just cracked a code no one else could.
"After Lark City, we're going somewhere super dangerous. It's not safe for you, so you and Aiden have to leave together when we get there," Adrian said, giving his stubborn little sister a side-eye. (Aiden is Clara’s loyal guard and carriage driver—see glossary.)
"Safe, unsafe, meh! I can totally handle myself. Besides, if Aiden wasn’t here, who’d drive this carriage?" Clara shot a look at Aiden, then continued, "And I know why you’re going to Lark City—you want that weirdo’s Peach Immortal Elixir, right?" She snorted, pure Clara Night attitude.
"Drop it. You don’t need to stress about this. The annual contest draws all kinds of big shots, and if you stick around, you’ll just throw me off my game."
Clara beamed, clinging to Adrian’s arm and nuzzling his shoulder. "I knew you’d worry! Okay, I promise not to cause chaos, alright? Besides, I learned a ton of cool songs this year—maybe your Four Songstresses aren’t even as good as me! Here’s the deal: after I help you snag that Peach Immortal Elixir, I’ll go home with Aiden, happy now?"
Adrian Night gave her a tiny nod, classic iceberg mode.
Meanwhile, Ivy Shen was quietly replaying Clara’s words in her head. Peach Immortal Elixir—what even was that? They seriously held a whole singing contest just for some fancy juice?!
"Ahem," Lucian Vane, sitting across from Ivy, finally coughed. Last night, he’d mulled over her words and remembered his master once mentioning a way to save someone who’d fainted—or just died—by jumpstarting the heart. It was just theory, never tested.
He’d always thought his master was just rambling, but after thinking it over, he realized Ivy really had been saving him. That he, a so-called medical expert, never even considered it? Oof, talk about getting dunked on.
Hearing the poison snake’s cough, Ivy knew he wanted to break the awkward silence. But remembering his smugness yesterday, she rolled her eyes so hard they nearly fell out. No way was she dealing with this drama king!
Lucian’s forehead immediately sprouted a cartoon vein. This woman’s temper was on a whole other level!
"What’s up, did you two have a lovers’ quarrel?" Clara grinned, living for the drama.
Ivy snorted. "A fight? You think I’m as clueless and childish as you? Nice try."
"Pfft, you wish! Don’t act all high and mighty. You think I can’t see what’s up? You two got in, stopped talking, now you’re glaring—if that’s not a fight, what is it, true love?" Clara turned to Lucian with a smirk. "Handsome, don’t waste your time on that ugly freak. When we get to Lark City, you’ll meet my Four Songstresses—Summer, Brooke, Wynter, and May. They’re total babes! Pick one and I’ll gift her to you." She finished, looking ridiculously proud.
Ivy flashed a toothy grin. "How’s that my problem? If you love gossip so much, you should know I dumped all of them ages ago!"
"What?!" Clara shrieked, like she’d just seen a ghost.
"Who agreed to that?!" Adrian and Lucian blurted out in perfect sync, their weird chorus plunging the carriage right back into peak awkwardness.