Chapter 40 #2
I covered my face with my hands, half groaning, half laughing. “I can’t believe he—”
“Oh, I can. What I can’t believe is that you didn’t melt into a puddle on the rug. He got down on his knees.” She frowned. “I don’t think Derren’s done that yet, though he should. I’ll tell him.”
“I don’t melt.” I dropped my hands into my lap.
“You might tomorrow night. What is going on between you two?”
“I don’t even know myself. I thought I hated him.”
“And now you don’t?”
I shrugged. “I came here for one reason.”
She slowly nodded. “I understand. We all did. We weren’t sure we’d make it through the Rite, but we have, which means we can sit back and enjoy our bonds…” She blinked. “I’m sure your minxpip will be back soon and things will go smoothly for you two after that.”
I didn’t share her confidence, but I also didn’t point that out. “I came here for more than just the Rite.”
She glanced my way. “Oh?”
The truth that had been pressing down on my shoulders for days. Someone killed my sister, but it couldn’t have been one of my friends.
Well, maybe Maddox, though I doubted he’d done it.
It felt unfair not to share with people who trusted me.
“Lexie, there’s something I haven’t told you,” I finally said. “Not any of you.”
Her expression shifted, still relaxed, but her gaze sharpened the way it did before a fight. “And now you want to tell me.”
“My name isn’t Isi Barlowe.”
Her brows rose, but she didn’t speak.
“It’s Amarissa Marlane Caldrith, Crown Princess of Caldrith Court.” The words felt heavy, like I was stepping off a ledge without knowing if there would be ground beneath me when I landed. “I came here because…” My throat tightened. “Because someone here murdered my sister.”
The flicker of shock on her face was quickly replaced by something fiercer. “Your sister—”
“Adelaine. Addie. She was three years younger than me. Smart. Braver than she should ever have to be.” I blinked back tears, but I couldn’t blink back the memory of her bright laugh, the feel of her hand squeezing mine when we slipped out of formal dinners to sneak to the kitchens for something simpler instead.
“Our father sent her to marry the king of Velmire Court. Five weeks later, she was deposited on my father’s ballroom floor.
Murdered, with all the evidence pointing to Syllavar Court. ”
“How?”
“A magical bird delivered her body in a sack and dropped it onto the ballroom floor. Blood.” My voice croaked. “So much blood.”
Lexie swore softly under her breath and slid her arm around my shoulders.
“That’s not the only reason I came here.
” I dragged in a breath. “I think this court also has children from Caldrith. Stolen. I need to find them and make sure they’re alright.
” I met her gaze, grateful to find only understanding there.
“But not before I find out what my sister was doing here and who killed her.”
Silence settled between us, the kind that weighed more than noise ever could.
“Does the king know who you are?” she asked.
“He does. I…” My laugh contained no humor. “I broke into his office—”
“No,” she breathed, her eyes sparkling with the laughter I couldn’t find. “Let me guess. He caught you.”
I would tell her what I could, but I wasn’t sharing the secret passage. That was between Trew and I, and no one else.
“He was a touch angry,” I said.
“You’re still alive, and you’re not in his dungeon, so I’d say he forgave you.”
I shrugged. “We came to an agreement. He actually knew who I was all this time.”
“And you stabbed him when you arrived. What an introduction. He forgave you for that. He’s in love with you.”
Was he in love with me? I didn’t want to admit to myself how much I wanted it to be true.
“As for your goal here.” She nodded pertly. “We’ll find the children and the truth about your sister. You’re not doing this alone.”
A lump formed in my throat. “Lexie—”
“With your permission, I’ll bring Derren and Kerralyn in on it. Maddox can… He’s been released. Told to be on his best behavior, but I think that’s dead, don’t you? Anyway, I might give him my own introduction similar to what you did with our king.”
“Trew is your king, not mine,” I pointed out.
“Ah, yes.” She reeled back, truly looking at me. “Princess, huh? Do I need to bow to your magnificence?”
I did my best to look down my nose at her like a princess would, but it fell apart when we both laughed. “I’m Isi. That’s what my sister always called me.” Tears stung in my eyes, and my laughter was gone in a flash. “I miss her so much.”
Lexie dragged me close and gave me the best hug, speaking by my hair. “I’m sorry. I have little sisters, and I can’t begin to imagine how you feel.” Leaning back, she met my gaze. “We need to find out what happened to her. If it was me, I’d be all over it.”
“I have a few leads.”
“Good. We’ll work on it together after classes. Do you trust me to tell the others?”
I hesitated. I didn’t doubt Derren’s loyalty and Kerralyn’s mind could untangle knots most people didn’t even see. But trust was a luxury I hadn’t had in a long time.
As for Bryson, he’d recently announced he was going to the front. They needed his prior experience, and he was eager to do all he could to help stop the Skathes.
How could I not tell them?
I nodded. “I do trust you. All of you.”
“Good. We’re a team, and if anyone can solve this mystery, it’s us.”
“Thank you for understanding. For not being mad.”
“I’d do the same thing. You didn’t know me, and now that you do, you’ve told me. All’s good.”
I hugged her this time, and it felt amazing to have a friend.
“We’ll get started after the ball,” she said. “As for that, I’ll do your hair tomorrow, if you’d like. I already offered to help Kerralyn. With all those little sisters, I’ve gotten good at it.”
“How many sisters do you have?”
She huffed. “Can you believe five?”
“Oh, my.”
“Right? I’m glad my parents stopped there. Anyway, when we get ready, Kerralyn can join us. We’re going to make the entire ballroom stare.”
“You’re ridiculous. I don’t care about anything like that.”
Although…I did want to look nice.
“For now, you need to rest.” She cupped my face, holding me still. “You look exhausted.”
“I slept.”
“You were drugged. That takes time to get over.”
I shrugged because she was right. Despite sleeping all day, I was tired.
She slid off the bed and went to my wardrobe, tugging out my sleep shirt and tossing it my way. “You’re drooping. Go in the bathroom and brush your teeth.”
“Yes, mother,” I said with a sigh that I followed with a little smile. It was nice to have someone I could confide in, someone I could be with while we got ready for a ball. I hadn’t appreciated that with Addie.
And now…
Trew said he’d be there. He might even want to dance. And then we could walk in the…
I stopped myself there because my heart was flipping and my pulse was galloping in my throat.
I liked that man much more than I should, but I wasn’t going to think about it now.
When I returned to my bedroom, Lexie had folded the covers down and stood beside the bed.
She pointed. “Lay down. I’m tucking you in.”
I grinned and did as she asked, even lying still while she drew the covers up to my chin and secured the blanket around my shoulders to make sure I stayed warm.
“Don’t even think about creeping to the king’s suite tonight,” she said sternly.
I huffed. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Actually, if I wasn’t so exhausted, I might.
Leaning over, she gave me a kiss on my forehead, and my eyes started watering again. Addie hadn’t tucked me in, but my mom did when I was small.
I missed that very much.
“Sleep,” she said, stroking my cheek. “Tomorrow, we plan.”
The door clicked shut behind her, and I got up and locked it normally from the inside.
Back in bed, I stared at the ceiling, my sister’s laugh and Trew’s golden gaze chasing each other through my mind until sleep finally claimed me.
One brought grief, sharp enough to cut.
The other brought temptation, hot enough to burn.