"Here it is, prince, princess." The wizened head curator opens the silk red box and holds the star out to us. "Please give my best wishes for a Merry Christmas to your family."

"Thank you, Mr. Daniel," I say, taking the box carefully. Apen leans over my arm look in with me.

The star is gold wire, polished to a shine that seems to give off its own light. Opal-cut so thin candlelight would shine through it-decorates the space between wires, shimmering white with flecks of blue and pink and green. At the base, there's a small candlestick, so that a little candle can sit inside without dropping wax everywhere. I touch my fingertips to one golden point of the star.

So quiet I barely hear him, Apen whispers, "Do you miss her?"

I nod, my whole heart burning with the sudden weight of her being gone. Six years hasn't taken that away. Maybe nothing will.

Apen stands on tiptoe to reach into the box, touching another point of the star. "Me too."

I glance at him, the little kid part of me wanting to snap, You never knew her. You don't know. But his voice is grave and sincere in a way only Apen's can be, and his hand near mine trembles, and the rim of his iris has gone gray instead of brown. It's like everything in him is quaking with feeling so strongly. My irritated retort dries on my lips, leaving faint shame behind. But sadness and something else-something warm and quiet and lovely-mixes with it.

"You want to carry the box?" I ask, closing it softly and offering it to him.

His eyes widen. "Really?"

"Sure."

He takes the gift with as much ginger care as he'd hold a baby. I can't help but laugh.

"Thank you!" I say again to the head curator. "Come on, Apen. We have a show!"

Apen makes a bow to Mr. Daniels, the box sheltered against his chest, and follows me out the door. He takes carefully measured steps, as if to make extra sure he won't drop the box somehow.

As we walk, I think. Once we get home, I will need to get dressed. That's the first task. Then the rest of the cast will be assembling in the next hour or so for rehearsal, so I need to be there to get everyone in their places. We should have about fifteen actors and actresses in all-more, if extra servants or their children want to be sheep or angels. I might be able to get some of them to help me put the finishing touches on the set for the stable…

The crowd has thickened, now, with people rushing out for last minute items or rushing home after long journeys. I weave between the bodies almost without seeing them, my mind on my plans.

"Stay close, Apen," I say over my shoulder, reaching back to catch a hold of him. But my hand hits the arm of someone who shakes me off. I turn, only to realize: The person I grabbed is a stranger-a boy not much younger than me. He gives me an odd look and hurries on down the street. Other bodies press and flow around me, leaving gaps only for a few seconds.

But my brother isn't there.

"Apen?" I whisper, heart dropping to my shoes. Then I cup my hands and shout, "APEN?!"

Adults give me worried looks. Some people glance around as if they might help. But no one answers my call.

My pulse picks up, double-time. I shove my way back toward the reliquary building. He's so little and he's never been on his own in the city and he's in his costume-he could be any of the boys on the street. No one looking would ever think he's a prince. "Apen!"

But what if someone did realize he's the prince? The only son. The heir.

My legs shake as I come into the market square in front of the reliquary. I search the faces around me, the holes between adults, the spaces behind vendors. What if someone realized he was the prince? What if someone was following us? What if someone took him?

The tremors spread to my hands. No. He looks like a shepherd boy-not a Shepherd boy but the normal sort of shepherd. Who would steal a kid? A normal kid. Carrying a priceless star.

I turn on my heel and burst into a full run back to the palace. Someone's elbow knocks me off my feet and a horseman pulls his steed aside just before I'm trampled. I scramble up and hoist my skirts, breaking into a run again.

Maybe Apen just went home. Maybe he's at the palace now. Maybe everything's fine-

When I dash into the courtyard, Aphera and Adara are standing there, talking together. They both turn to me. Aphera puts her hands on her hips.

"April! What are you-"

"Is-Apen-here?" I pant, slowing and pressing a hand to my aching side. "Did-you-see-him?"

Adara's eyes widen. But Aphera doesn't connect what I'm saying immediately.

"Why would I have seen Apen? Shouldn't he helping with set-up?"

My eyes burn and I look back to the gate. He couldn't have been far ahead of me. I'm faster. He's so small. He has the star and he was moving slow, being so careful-

"April, where is he?" Adara asks, voice soft. She touches my shoulder.

I look at them both. Words won't come out. Aphera's expression changes from annoyance to worry to alarm. I scrape the palm of my hand against my eyes. "I don't know! We went to get the star and now he's gone! I-I lost him!"

My sister's don't move for a moment. Then Adara lets out a little whimper, gripping my shoulder so tight it hurts. Aphera shakes her head sharply and fixes us both in her most commanding look.

"No one panic," she says swiftly. "He hasn't been missing long. I'll alert the guard. And someone needs to let Father know-"

"Do we really have to tell Father?" I ask, fidgeting with my sleeves. The last thing I want is for Father to know. He'll be worried, but I'll also get in trouble. He could even cancel the show tonight. "Apen might show up any second. Or the guards will find him. Maybe we shouldn't worry Father about it..."

Aphera frowns at me. "We have to tell him, April. This is important."

"I'll do it," Adara volunteers. She straightens and wipes a sleeve across her cheeks.

"But what about me?" I ask, relieved to not have to face Father but still desperate to help somehow. "What can I do?"

Aphera marches toward the soldiers at the gate. "Just-don't leave again. We can't have both of you get lost. Stay here and watch for him."

Adara nods and hurries in the opposite direction. I stand between them for a long moment, feeling myself stretched so far I can't even think. Then I take off after Adara.

I'm far enough back that she doesn't hear me. She goes to the council doors and hesitates, then nods to the guard stationed beside it. He gives her a confused look but pulls it open. Inside, conversation drifts to a stop. Adara squares her shoulders and walks in.

"Adara?" My father's voice. "Is everything all right?"

"May I speak to you-alone?" Adara asks. She probably doesn't want to alarm the whole council.

"Of course." Father sounds confused, but he dismisses the councilors. While they file out, I slip around the door and crouch against a bookshelf just within the room. The guard keeps a professionally neutral expression even though he glances at me while he closes the door. I give him a nervous smile.

When the door latches, Father stands and goes to Adara. I lean around the bookshelf so I can see. He pulls out chair so she can sit, but his gaze doesn't leave her face. "What's wrong?" Then he groans and puts a hand to his forehead. "The star. I completely forgot."

"It's not that," Adara says softly. She doesn't sit.

Father doesn't seem to hear. "I can't believe I forgot. I can go get it now and we'll have plenty of time to set it all up, right?" He turns toward the door.

Adara touches his elbow. "Father, it's Apen-"

But I can't let this happen. I can't ruin Christmas Eve, especially not when Apen's fine. I'm sure he's fine. And the guards can take care of it. And Father won't have to worry-it will all be over before he can do anything about it. So I jump out from behind the bookshelf and plaster a smile on my face.

"Apen just spilled hot chocolate all over his costume!" I blurt the first lie that comes to mind. "He's fine though! No burns or anything! He's fine."

Father frowns at me. "What? Why were you hiding over there?"

Adara shoots me a glare. "April."

"Aphera and Adara were worried because Apen was really dramatic about it," I rush on. "They wanted to tell you but I said-"

"No, April," Adara says firmly. She looks at Father. "Apen's lost in the city."

I want to stamp on Adara's foot. I rush over and grab Father's other arm. "No, no, he just-wanted more hot chocolate from the city."

Father holds up his hands. "Stop, stop." He fixes Adara in a hard look. "What is going on?"

"I sent Apen to get the star and he-hasn't-come back," Adara says.

I gape at her. Why would she lie for me? It's my fault Apen got lost.

"No! It's not that bad!" I try one last effort to make a cover story. "Really! We thought he was lost but he had just gone to change out of his chocolate-covered-"

Father shouts, "Don't lie to me, April!"

There's something in his voice that's-different. That echoes in my brain and lodges there, a splinter that stings its way through my thoughts. Don't lie, don't lie, don't lie.

I open my mouth to insist I'm not lying. But instead, I say, "I took Apen with me to get the star and I let him hold it and then he got lost in the crowd because I was so busy thinking about tonight-"

I clamp my hands over my mouth to stop the flow of words, blinking in surprise. Why did I say all that?

"What?" Father's face pales. He's afraid-more afraid than me or Aphera or Adara, even, I think. Apen's the last of Mom. Apen's the heir. "What were you thinking, April?"

Adara grabs my shoulder protectively. "Aphera's sending out a search," she explains. "He hasn't been gone long but-but we don't know where he is."

"How could you let this happen?" Father demands, turning on her.

"Aphera and I couldn't go ourselves," Adara whispers, looking down at her feet.

Father's face turns red. He clenches his hands around the back of a chair. "You could have sent a message requesting permission." His gaze flicks to me. "Why didn't you take a guard or check with me yourself?"

Because I wanted to be fast, is how I'd like to answer. But the splinter in my head sharpens and truer words tumble out of my mouth. "I wanted the performance to be perfect so you'd go back to normal, and I didn't want to interrupt you-I didn't want you to be mad at us."

My face heats. I feel like I'm standing in the room with underwear on my head. What is wrong with me? Why would I say so much?

Father exhales sharply and shakes his head. "I'll deal with you later."

He walks toward the door, but the guard swings it open. There's Apen, grinning, the box in his arms. Aphera stands behind him. Her eyebrows lift when she spots me.

"Apen!" Father kneels and engulfs him in a big hug. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, Father!" Apen leans back to show the box proudly. "I got a little separated from April but I kept the star safe! See?"

Father laughs and rubs Apen's hair. "Well done."

Adara rubs my shoulders gently. Apen beams at Father, detailing his walk here as if it was a grand adventure, and Father listens without a trace of anger. That is the Father I'm used to seeing-the playful, warm Father. But it's as if I'm suddenly looking through a window on a scripted scene. One with no room for me.