Chapter Fourteen
To buy some time, Ibusied myself and closed the door behind us, turning the three locks. I turned back around to find them unmoved and unchanged. Bastian remained still at my side, eying them carefully. With a sigh, I gathered my courage and marched deeper into the room, heading straight for the small silver table in the corner and lifted a decanter of brandy from it, splashing some in a glass. I needed the drink. Badly. After what happened with Bastian back at the library and whatever was about to happen with my furious kindreds, I needed four drinks. Or maybe ten drinks.
After swallowing the burning liquid, I refilled my glass and carried it over to one of the chairs, ignoring the angry stares burning into me.
“Didn’t you get my note?” I sipped my brandy and tried to project innocence and calm.
I’d expected them to be upset, but nothing like this.
Aster took a predatory step towards me, his hands curled into fists at his side. “Yes. We got your fucking note. What were you thinking? I told you I’d take you two tomorrow night.”
“I can’t stay here trapped forever.” We were fine, safe. We never saw anyone on our late night trips to the library.
Whist pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s not forever. It’s for now. Until we’re sure the situation is under control. We’re all working overtime to try to make sure it’s safe for you and get that asshole off the throne so you can finally be free.”
I snorted. “You were trying to get him off the throne long before you met me so don’t act like you’re doing me a favor here. This isn’t for me and it sure as hell shouldn’t be for me. It’s what’s best for the kingdom which is why I decided to stay and help. I didn’t decide to stay so the three assassins wouldn’t have to leave their mission while I waited primly in the music room and wrote love songs.” The words burned my lips as they spewed from my mouth coated in venom. I wanted to take them back as soon as they slammed into my kindreds.
Saber fell back a step like my words were a physical blow. “We never expected that of you. But until we have a plan in place it’s not safe for you to be out and about in the palace without us.”
Frustration with them refused to let me back down. They needed to understand I had taken care of myself alone for over two decades. I didn’t need them to smother me with safety when I used to live outside and brave angry villagers with my treasonous songs. I wasn’t helpless. I’d escaped the last pricks who tried to steal me.
“It isn’t necessarily safe for me here either. Hell, when they took me last time I was in the prince’s own quarters. I’m not untouchable here.”
“Most people will think twice before breaching the assassin’s own rooms. And it’s unlikely they’d try the same thing again, expecting us to be prepared for it. Which we are.” Aster’s jaw clenched, and he turned away, breathing deeply.
Saber scowled at me. “You’re getting complacent, thinking you’re safe, but you aren’t. None of us are. You have to be more careful.”
Saber’s anger was almost worse than the others.
“I have been. And I was.” I pulled out the daggers strapped to me and tossed them to the ground. “I’m not helpless and I won’t be locked up like a princess in a tower from a fairy tale.”
Sky threw his hands into the air. “We haven’t fucking locked you up. You’re hardly ever in here during the day. That happened once. One day. You know how dangerous it is for you to be out there without us. For both of you.”
“I didn’t go alone. Bastian—”
Whist broke in and interrupted me. “Bastian is in just as much danger as you. And if he had to hurt someone to protect himself or you, the king will probably execute him. Especially since you haven’t accepted the bond.”
“He doesn’t know that.”
Aster shook his head. “It won’t take long for him to figure out if he hasn’t already heard from his spies. The two of you are stiff and awkward around each other. Nothing like you are with the rest of us. It’s obvious you’re both fighting the bond.”
“No one saw us.” I crossed my arms.
“This time. But without me or at least one of the assassins with you, you’re giving them the perfect opening. We just got you back, Rhapsody. For fuck’s sake.”
All my anger disappeared at Aster’s cracked roar. I finally saw past the rage and spotted the fear. The fear for me.
Aster knelt in front of me, his hands on my knees. “We got back and you were gone. Just like last time. I didn’t find the note until I’d raced all over the place calling for you.”
Sky stepped forward to grip my shoulder. “We thought they’d gotten you again.”
“I’m sorry.” And I was. It terrified them I’d disappeared on them again because of the danger they felt was their fault even though it had been my choices that brought me here. Brought me to them. They’d been patient and attentive and I’d been all over the palace with them by my side.
What had really sent me scurrying out of here was Bastian. We were more comfortable in the library together than here.
“You will be.” Aster whispered the dark promise into my ear.