Chapter 14 #3
Isa didn’t speak, their unblinking stare a hot poker.
Leila took in a steadying breath, clinging to what remained of Her poise.
“My servants are as pleasing as anyone within these walls. Rid them of their royal garb, and no one will be able to tell the difference. The only threats to your staff are Tobias and Me. And I assure you, if you do this for Me, we will make our time here scarce. You will be safe, paid, and in no lack of competent workers, happy to do their part because you liberated them.”
The promise was heavy, a weight to replace the coin She’d relinquished.
Her staff’s asylum in return for Her own.
Of course, it was necessary. She couldn’t stay in the brothel forever.
But it had been comforting, having warm sheets, a hot meal, a roof overhead.
If Isa agreed, She and Tobias would be on the run again—without shelter and coin.
She’d never wanted such a fate so badly.
Isa’s eyes danced between Leila and the coin, their decorated fingers rapping against the table with aggravating slowness. They looked Leila in the eyes.
“No.”
Leila’s heart raced. “You understand, this exchange was a kindness. I have a sworn duty to protect My people, and My word is law.”
“And my word is no.” Isa scooted the bags to the edge of Her desk. “My staff has extended themselves sufficiently. No further risk will be taken.”
“The coin was a gesture of good faith. You have no say in this decision.”
“Then bring forth the mighty hand of Your will, Your Holiness. Punish me with imprisonment or death. It seems like something Your father would do, after all.”
Leila bit down on Her tongue just to keep Her composure. “Prepare the rooms.” She turned on Her heel, heading for the door before Her emotions could overtake Her. “The refugees will be arriving shortly.”
“You’ve forgotten Your coin.”
“And you’ve forgotten your duty to your realm.”
Leila slammed the door behind Her, the malice of Her words stinging Her throat.
Charging down the hallway, She cursed to Herself.
My command is binding. That was a lie, as it had never proven such, not even within Her own palace walls.
What soldiers did She have to enforce Her word?
Her power was holy light and little else, useless in matters such as these.
Shame and fury waged war in Her gut, eating at Her from the inside.
Was this to be Her legacy? The Savior who couldn’t save Her family? Her people? Herself?
She came to a hard stop, lungs heaving as Her eyes misted with angry tears. Tell Tobias. She had to. Then She glanced out an adjacent window, taking in the sky—a swath of black dotted with stars. Her stomach sank, but still She channeled the heat of Her light.
The watchtower.
Her power surged and ebbed, leaving Her with the warm smell of night.
Delphi leaned against the cracked stone sill, bouncing her knee and picking at the raw skin of her cuticles.
Even with her hood slung overhead, Leila could make out the bags under her eyes.
Delphi was never like this—drawn and on edge, a shell of the woman Leila knew and loved.
She had failed her.
Delphi looked Leila’s way and exhaled. “God, there You are.” She ran to her sister, flinging her arms around Her. “I thought something had happened to You.”
Leila cringed, small in Delphi’s embrace. “I know. I’m late again. I’m sorry.” Blinking back tears, She pulled away. “How are you faring?”
“Well enough.” Delphi raised a single brow. “I see You eyeing me over.”
“You’ve lost weight.”
“My ass is still the finest in the palace, thank You very much.”
“Your face is gaunt.” Leila’s words nearly caught in Her throat. “Your color, it isn’t the same.”
“Fine, I look like hell. But that is a trivial byproduct of our cause. I’m safe in the tunnels. I have plenty to eat, a place to sleep. You don’t need to extend Yourself on my behalf.”
Something jagged tore through Leila’s gut. She bit down on Her lip, fighting to still Herself. “I told you I’d find a way out.”
“And I’ve told You it’s a sacrifice You can’t afford.”
“Living here is a sacrifice you won’t survive. You told Me dissenters have already been killed. How long until one of our own is hurt?”
Delphi opened her mouth to speak, then stopped short, the light in her eyes dimming. Leila’s throat became thick.
“Something’s already happened, hasn’t it?”
Delphi stiffened, picking at her cuticles once more. “It’s Hylas.”
Leila choked. “Oh My God, he’s—?”
“He’s all right. He’s resting. You have nothing to worry about.”
“Tell Me what happened.” Leila’s voice cracked. “You have no right to deny Me. It’s My realm, it’s My burden. I need to know.”
“He’s fine—”
“Tell Me now.”
Delphi nearly shrank beneath Leila’s order. “Your father’s need for control pushes him to great lengths. He tests everyone, demands obedience.” She paused, ruminating over her words. “Yesterday, he turned his attention to his Senate. Made them prove their loyalty.”
“How?”
Delphi swallowed. “Pain.”
Nausea seethed in Leila’s stomach. “He tortured them?”
“Mildly.”
“There’s no such thing as mild torture, Delphi.”
“Just a few cuts and bruises. Many have survived far worse.”
Leila turned from Her sister, gripping the watchtower sill. “God, I think I’m going to be sick.”
“He held firm, didn’t speak a word of our alliance, and thus has earned Brontes’s trust.” Delphi’s voice rang out behind Her. “You see? We’re handling ourselves. We have no need to escape.”
Leila winced. No need for escape—while Her sister wasted away underground and Her allies endured torment.
Who knew how Her servants were faring, how Pippa and Talos were handling the madness.
A sob threatened to tear from Her throat, but She swallowed it, gazing vacantly at the stars.
This couldn’t be Her legacy. She wasn’t Her father, and She wouldn’t stand idly as bodies piled around Her.
My command is binding. More than ever, She needed that to be true.
“We have a place for you,” Leila said. “A place to stay.”
She spun toward Her sister, who simply blinked. “What?” Delphi asked.
“There are plenty of rooms. It’s close quarters, but if we do two, maybe three to a chamber, I’m sure we can manage. But everyone has to work for their keep. Cleaning, cooking, mending . . . other things . . .”
“Where is this place?”
“It’s a brothel.”
Delphi tipped her head back with a roaring laugh. “Are we to be courtesans now?”
“Only those with a taste for it. There’s no coercion by any means.”
Delphi’s laughter calmed, her eyes drifting to the realm below. “I always wondered what it was like. Seems like more of a holiday than a job. Coin and cunt? Where’s the downside?”
A soft smile graced her lips, pulling Leila in opposite directions. It was decided. She’d circumvent Isa and enact Her power through sheer force of will. Something about it was ugly, a beast mindless to all but its hunger.
But how beautiful it was to save Her sister.
“The staff is welcoming and kind. The holder is . . . honest.” A twinge pulled within Leila, but She pushed past it. “You’ll have food, clean clothes, a bed to sleep in. And the chambers are paid for. There’s nothing to worry about.”
Delphi furrowed her brow. “Paid for?”
“Tobias has his allowance from the Sovereign’s Tournament. We covered your board for the foreseeable future.”
“I hate that you’ve extended yourselves just for—”
“For you?” Leila said. “For My family? For countless innocent people? We understood the costs.”
Delphi rested her chin in her hand, skepticism etched across her face. “You’re sure the brothel is safe?”
“About as safe as any other place in the realm.”
“Which means not safe at all.”
“It’s a refuge outside the palace,” Leila said. “Somewhere for you to blend in, at least pretend to be a part of the staff, courtesan or cook, servant or summoner.”
“It’s not the brothel I’m worried about. It’s You.”
Leila forced a smile. “Well, soon enough, you’ll be able to worry about Me in close quarters. Because you are coming. I won’t accept any other answer.”
Delphi’s expression remained worn, but the air around her was littered with flecks of orange and yellow that twinkled like the stars above. Her relief was palpable, fueling Leila’s resolve. Isa’s wrath be damned. Perhaps that was what it meant to be queen—learning when to release the beast within.
“Tell Hylas to gather the others,” Leila said. “Anyone who needs to escape. You’ll give Me the final tally tomorrow at sunset.” She paused, sifting through Her frenzied thoughts. “How much time do you need to coordinate?”
“I don’t know. A few days?”
“Spread the message that in three days’ time, at nightfall, you will climb the steps of the watchtower, hand-in-hand. I will arrive and shadow walk you away.”
“Leila, that’s at least forty people. Brontes will notice.”
“We only need a few moments. It doesn’t matter if he notices when we’re already gone.”
Delphi didn’t look convinced, but she nodded along anyway. “So, in three days . . .”
“You arrive here,” Leila said. “Hand-in-hand. That’s the important part. It won’t work otherwise.” She squeezed Her sister. “I’ll take you away. Free you from this place.”
Delphi’s eyes drifted back to the blackened sky, the fragility in her gaze raw and cutting.
“It’ll work. I’m sure of it.”
Delphi’s shoulders lowered with an exhale, and her colors returned—the beautiful shine of hope, a gift Leila had delivered. She wrapped Leila in another hug, speaking against Her hair. “I love You.”
“Love you too.”
Their embrace was longer than usual. They had shared a similar moment before, when Leila first fled the palace. But this time was different.
Her sister was coming with Her.