Chapter 31 Sybil #3
Samian scoffed, his gaze moving to the wall beside us, but kept silent.
“So?” Daelan murmured, drawing out the word. “Is it safe to come in, or is there another murdered lord somewhere in the palace?”
“No one is dead,” I hissed, sending him a glare.
“No,” Samian sighed. “She just decided to meet a mysterious person outside of the palace—alone. Telling no one, might I add.”
“Intrigue,” Ivara chuckled. “Will you tell us who you met, or are we keeping that a secret?”
Rolling my eyes, I found the closest chair and fell into it.
“It was Hale,” I muttered, not meeting any of their stares.
“He slipped a note under my door this morning saying that he knew I was a part of the rebellion and to meet him. Alone. I went because I was afraid that he would tell Ambrose if I didn’t. ”
Silence echoed around the room until Samian released a vicious curse. “Hale? Ambrose’s closest servant and confidant? That’s who you met?”
I whipped my head toward him, my eyes narrowing, my frustration taking over the calm I tried to maintain. “Yes,” I ground out, still trying to hold my temper back. “And as you can see, I’m fine. Everything went fine. Now, if you could please calm down, that would be fucking great.”
Samian’s face turned a brilliant red. Ivara chuckled as she walked past him into the living area, sitting across from me. “Well? What did the little male say?”
“He wants us to help him,” I said, grimacing. With Samian’s reaction just now, I wasn’t sure how he would take my next words. “He said Ambrose is becoming too unpredictable. He wants us to help his brother escape from the palace.”
Ivara watched me closely, her brow rising. “I’m sensing there’s a but in there.”
A quick laugh left my lips. Ever since I met her, she has always had a way of seeing more than I would show.
It should have felt unnerving, yet it always had the opposite effect.
It made me feel closer to her, like she truly saw and knew me.
“But,” I bit out, taking a moment to calm myself, “I want to help him escape as well. He may serve Ambrose, but that doesn’t mean he wants to. ”
“And he told you that?” Samian growled. I didn’t miss the challenge in his voice, nor did I miss it in the gleam in his eyes.
“Yes, but I was able to discern it for myself as well,” I cut back.
“He has done terrible things in Ambrose’s name, Sybil. Hale is not some down-on-his-luck male looking for a better life. He chose this when he decided to serve under Ambrose.”
“What about me then?” I reminded Samian, the mark of the bargain burning under my sleeves.
“Am I some down-on-my-luck female looking for a better life, or do I deserve the same treatment he does? Do you deserve the same treatment? Or Ivara and Daelan? In my eyes, we are all the same. You three are still standing by while Ambrose commits these terrible acts. Do you have your reasons? Yes. Do I understand those reasons? Yes, again. But that changes nothing. Like it or not, we’re the same, and Hale is reaching out for help.
I know I would want someone to give me the benefit of the doubt if it were me. ”
Panting after my outburst, I watched Samian carefully. His face softened, the anger slowly leaking out of him.
“She has a point,” Ivara said quietly, hesitating on what she was about to say next. “I can also vouch for him. Sybil isn’t the only one he has come to for help. I’ve gotten several servants who were in danger out of the palace safely with his help.”
“You didn’t tell me that,” Daelan complained as he finally walked into the living area, plopping down in the chair beside her. “Why wasn’t I involved?”
“Because you were too busy sailing around the world and having those ‘crazy adventures’ you enjoy talking about non-stop,” Ivara said, giving Daelan a pointed look. Her gaze drifted back to Samian. “If Hale says he wants our aid, I believe we should help him.”
Samian groaned, sitting on the chaise. “Fine, I’ll talk to Kieran.
However, don’t blame me when he comes after you for doing something stupid, Sybil.
He may not show it often, but his temper has been an issue in the past, and with his need to protect you, it’s slipping from his grip again.
” He sighed deeply, reluctance hardening into resolve in his eyes.
“Did you promise him anything? Did he say anything else in return?”
Shaking my head, I relaxed in the chair, hope blooming in my chest. “I told him I could only talk to Kieran, but that I would push for us to help both him and his brother. He did mention having Aster tell Ambrose about a blood flower, though. He said that she needed to tell him she needed more of it or something.”
“The blood flower?” Ivara asked suddenly, surprise rippling across her face.
“That’s what he said,” I shrugged. “I tried to ask him why, but Samian busted through the door like a brute and scared him off. He said that Ambrose wouldn’t refuse if Aster said that. Well, that he couldn’t refuse.”
The room went quiet again, everyone lost in their thoughts. Finally, Samian nodded slowly, a plan forming in his eyes. “Daelan, go to Aster and let her know. Then visit Ambrose and get his permission for all of us to go.”