Chapter 46
Forty-Six
ALLETTE
The servants’ cavern might look the same as it did before, but the woman behind this mask couldn’t be more different than the one who arrived all those weeks ago.
My mission hasn’t changed: To find my prince.
Only this time, my eyes are wide open. The countless lies we’ve been fed since birth have become steppingstones, a staircase of deceit leading me closer.
This time, I know what must be done to ensure we are never again cast into darkness.
No one stops me or calls me back as I make my way through the cavern and down the hallway to the staff rooms where Braith waits. The other servants and handful of guards pay me no mind, their attention on their duties, not the traitor in their midst.
Braith answers on the first knock, opening the door only a sliver to peer through.
“It’s me,” I whisper.
Gasping, she swings the door wide, catching my arm and pulling me inside. The room looks the same as it always did, save the two laundry baskets piled high with sheets and pillowcases. Braith raises her mask, the dark circles ringing her eyes matching my own. “I wasn’t expecting you so soon. How did you get in?”
“The House Master’s office.” There isn’t time to explain further. After we save the prince, we’ll have all the time in the world. I nod down at the baskets. “Did you find a uniform for Senan?”
“I stole two—one for each basket, just in case.”
Then I suppose there is nothing left to organize. “Are you certain you want to do this?”
“Certain I won’t let you do this alone.”
We collect our baskets and slip out of her bedroom. The hallway is clear; no doubt everyone has already been given their assignments and are hard at work earning their wages.
Our slippers make no sound as we navigate our way through the maze of passages to the family’s tower. Two guards who look vaguely familiar wait at the base of the staircase. After a quick perusal, they step aside, allowing us past. I hold my breath, wondering if the wards might have changed, but they let us through. The king must’ve been too busy making everyone’s lives miserable to worry about safeguarding against a “dead” woman.
Up we go, turn after turn, stair after stair, past the level leading to Senan’s private chambers. I hope he’s all right, that he hasn’t been wounded.
What if the rumors of the trial are a lie and he is gone already? I force my legs to move faster, bringing me higher and higher, until I can hear the deep rumble of a quiet conversation up ahead.
My footsteps still, and I turn to face my accomplice. “You know what to do.”
Braith slips into one of the alcoves that houses cleaning products and supplies.
Here goes nothing.
I set down the basket and toss some of the laundry onto the steps. Then I sink onto the stairs and begin to wail.
The conversation ends, followed by footfalls.
A silver-clad guard sprints around the corner, sword drawn. When he sees me, he stills.
“Dammit,” I sniffle. “I tripped over these bloody slippers and turned my ankle.”
The man hesitates for only a moment before sheathing his sword and kneeling to help me up. He had to be a nice one, didn’t he? I almost feel bad for what’s about to happen to him.
Braith tiptoes from the alcove and clobbers him with a shovel made for scooping ashes. The man crumples beside me with a groan.
Memories of killing that blackguard in the launderette come barreling back.
This isn’t the same.
There’s no blood and I’m not alone. He’s not dead, only incapacitated, and if we don’t act quickly, he’s going to wake up. “Do you have the dust?”
Braith withdraws one of the vials I sewed into her skirts before she left the burrows. I hate doing this, but we cannot take the risk of this man waking up.
Using his own dagger, I cut his palm and pour dust on the wound. The gash heals before the vial is gone, and his veins start to glow, throwing wicked golden light across the stairwell walls.
Together, we manage to drag his heavy body into the storage closet.
One down, one to go.
“William?” the other guard calls. “Everything all right?”
I hold my breath, counting the seconds until the second guard emerges from around the corner, but we’re ready. I’ve cut my hand and smeared the front of my dress in blood. He curses and bends down to check on me, then Braith whacks him as well. This one is smaller, so his body is easier to move. In the alcove he goes, next to his glowing comrade. Another dose of stardust and he’s no longer a problem.
I clamber for the stairs, Braith’s quick footsteps chasing me as I climb, my heart pounding a steady rhythm, calling for my mate. When we reach the door to the king’s office, I grab for the knob and turn?—
The damn thing doesn’t budge. No. NO! “It’s locked.”
Braith drags down her mask, her flushed face glistening with sweat. “The doors are never locked.”
“Well, this one is.”
“Maybe one of them has a key? I’ll go check.” She runs back down the stairs, and all I can do is stare at the final barrier separating me from the man I love. What if there is no key? I could use my magic, but that would make too much noise. What if we came all this way only to fail?
The stars have cursed us, so why would I think this time the ending might be different?
Braith returns brandishing a key, and I’m so happy, I could scream. Since I can’t do that, I stick the key in the lock and turn. Pressing my ear to the wood, I listen for signs of life on the other side.
Braith’s hand falls to my shoulder, her whisper giving me strength. “Go on. Open it.”
I can do this.
Unfortunately, I’m on my own from this point forward. Braith is to return to her room in case the plan goes awry. It was the only way I agreed to let her assist me. As she makes her way back down the stairs, fear floods my core.
I can do this.
For Senan. For me. For us.
The brass warms under my touch, and when I turn the knob, my racing heart thumps faster.
Golden sunlight washes over a wide desk sitting in front of open balcony doors. Shelves of books line the far wall, opposite more windows.
Down from the windows sits an iron cage.
Inside that cage is my prince.