Chapter 30
Practically swaying with exhaustion, Aurelia falls asleep almost immediately and naps throughout the rest of the afternoon. I lie on my back next to her, close but not touching, and stare up at the ceiling of the silver canopy bed.
I can’t sleep.
I wouldn’t sleep, even if I wanted to, but I truly can’t.
I don’t feel safe enough for both of us to sleep at the same time, and I’m sure as hell not going to wake Aurelia up and ask to swap.
My entire body is tense, the hair on my arms standing up, my ears catching every creak and muffled sound from the palace. I’m doing such an excellent impression of a guard dog, I might as well shift and pace in front of the door.
My mind won’t settle, circling the same thoughts over and over. I don’t trust the queen. I don’t like it here. Something is wrong.
I reach out with my mind for Kai or Luka, or even Runa, but I can’t hear any of them.
I don’t like it here. Something is wrong.
Of course, I know it could mean nothing that I can’t contact the others. Maybe, like Aurelia, they’re sleeping—it wouldn’t be that strange to need rest after we walked all night long. Otherwise, they could just be on the other side of the castle and out of my range.
I want to believe it’s nothing suspicious. Still, I would have felt better if we’d seen Jett when we arrived. I don’t like being separated from the others with no way to know where they are.
Something is wrong.
A sharp knock sounds at the door, breaking through my racing thoughts. I’m on my feet before the sound even fades, hand already reaching for my sword, as I make my way over to the door.
A servant stands on the other side, arms laden with a pile of clothing so tall that it obscures her face.
“What?” I demand, more rudely than I intended.
The servant’s voice is muffled by the fabric. “Her Majesty requests your presence at dinner and provides these garments for her sister.”
I snatch the bundle without a word, and close the door in the servant’s face.
Aurelia stirs, her hair mussed from sleep, eyes still heavy-lidded as she pushes herself up on one elbow. “Who was that?”
“A servant. The queen sent these.” I drop the pile of clothing on the end of the bed. “Looks like enough gowns to last you a week. She must think we’ll be staying a while.”
Aurelia cocks her head, first at me, then at the clothing. I think she’s wondering if it’s safe to speak out loud. In my opinion, it doesn’t matter much. Even if someone’s listening, discussing the clothes won’t raise any suspicions.
Seeming to come to the same conclusion, Aurelia relaxes, and presses her hand to her mouth to stifle another yawn. “How long did I sleep?”
“A few hours.”
She nods, blinking rapidly to clear her eyes. “I feel a little better. Did you sleep at all?”
I shake my head once. She frowns, her eyes narrowing with concern. “Sorry. Thanks for watching over me.”
I blink, startled. “Did you just…”
She frowns. “Did I, what?”
I shake my head, unsure how to answer—partly because it sounds absurd, and partly because if we are being listened to, I don’t want anyone to hear us. Talking about the clothes is one thing, but about this?
“Nothing,” I mutter.
Aurelia sits up fully, and her eyes light up when she gets a good look at all the silk gowns, and she reaches out to run her fingers over an embroidered sleeve. “Is it shallow that I’ve missed clothes this clean? I would kill for a real bath—not that the hot springs aren’t nice.”
“Just nice?” I echo, eyes flashing.
She flushes, but doesn’t drop her gaze. “I think there’s a bathing room through there,” she says, jerking her head toward a door on the other side of the room. “Want to join me?”
I bite back a groan, my body responding instantly to the offer and the heated look in her eyes. “I can’t,” I mutter bitterly, eyes darting toward the door. “Not here.”
Aurelia’s lower lip juts out, pouting, but she doesn’t argue about it. We both know I’m right—If I joined her in the bath we’d both be distracted, and it would be even worse than if we’d slept at the same time. Still, knowing I’m right doesn’t make me hate the situation any less.
Aurelia stands and walks over to the bathing room, shutting the door behind her. Seconds later, I hear the tap turn on, and water splashing against porcelain. I let out a long breath, watching as steam seeps under the door.
Thinking about her wet and naked on the other side of the door might be distracting, except that now my mind is racing with a thousand other things.
I know I heard her voice in my head just now. I’m positive I heard it, and it’s not the first time it’s happened.
Thinking back to the time in the tent when I first thought I might have heard Aurelia’s thoughts, I try calling out for her in my head. “Aurelia?”
I stop breathing and listen, but I can’t hear anything except the water still running in the adjoining bathing room.
If this was the first time I’d thought I heard her, I would give up now. I’d chalk it up to exhaustion or paranoia or even wishful thinking, just like I did all the other times. This time, though, I’m determined.
I take a seat on the bed and close my eyes. “Aurelia?”
Nothing happens.
Fuck, maybe I’m not being specific enough. “Aurelia, if you can hear me, come out of the bathing room.”
I wait, holding my breath this time, but nothing happens. Then, I hear the tap turn off. My stomach leaps, and my heart starts racing. I sit straight up staring at the bathing room door.
But seconds tick by and the door doesn’t open. After two minutes, I relax, slumping back onto the bed. She probably just turned off the tap because the bath was full.
Fuck me.
I can’t think straight. Maybe I am exhausted, and that’s all there is to it.
Later that evening, Aurelia and I follow another servant back down the gleaming white hallway.
I shift uncomfortably, tugging at the tight silk sleeves of the jacket I let Aurelia talk me into wearing. I hate this place.
I didn’t notice until Aurelia started sorting through the dresses the queen sent her that I’d been given dinner clothing as well.
None of it fit correctly; every jacket was too tight, and the seams strained across my chest and upper arms. The trousers were laughably short, barely reaching my ankles.
“Wear your own trousers and leave the jacket unbuttoned,” Aurelia said, doing her best not to laugh at my bare ankles. “Wearing armor to dinner makes it look like you’re expecting to be attacked.”
“I’m always expecting to be attacked,” I growled, tossing aside a blue silk doublet. “It doesn’t matter where we are, here or back in Vernallis, I’m expecting to be attacked.”
“I don’t think that’s healthy,” she said lightly.
I ignored her, and picked up another jacket—white this time, with ugly gold buttons. “Where am I supposed to put a sword if I’m wearing this?”
Aurelia rolled her eyes, and lowered her voice to a whisper so low that I could barely hear her standing two feet apart. “I don’t think we’ll be attacked, but if we are, it wouldn’t be with a sword. This is one situation where magic actually is the best way to fight.”
I snorted in disbelief. Maybe she was right that Silvia would attack with magic, if she planned to attack at all, but I’ve fought fae with powers before. A sword is always the answer.
It’s pretty fucking hard to use magic without hands.
Still, somehow I let Aurelia talk me into wearing a too-small black jacket, and bringing only one sword to dinner. I regret it now as the tight fabric strains across my chest with every breath.
Aurelia also brought a weapon, but hers is better concealed.
You’d never know it from her serene expression as she floats down the hall beside me, the train of her gown dragging along the floor, but she has one of the daggers I gave her last year for her birthday shoved down the front of her bodice.
I hope she won’t have to use it, but like I told her, I always expect the worst.
The servant brings us to a formal dining room, with a long table large enough to seat twelve, all laid out with silver plates and goblets.
At the far end of the table, Queen Silvia is already seated, waiting for us. She stands up when we arrive, her lips curving into a bright smile. “Welcome! Please, join me. I’m really so excited that you’re here.”
Aurelia steps forward, but my boots remain rooted to the marble floor, the weight of my sword suddenly more noticeable against my spine. “Where are the others?”
Silvia’s fingers lace together under her chin. “I thought we might enjoy a more... intimate setting.” Her gaze slides from Aurelia to me. “Just sisters. And you, of course.” The corner of her mouth lifts. “Though your companions are dining in the eastern hall, if you’d prefer their company.”
My hand finds the small of Aurelia’s back before I even realize I’ve moved. “I’m staying.”
Aurelia and the queen flash identical grins, and a shiver travels down my spine.
Their smiles are the same, but their eyes aren’t.
I wasn’t lying before when I told Aurelia I would be able to tell them apart in a dark room.
As far as I can tell, they’re nothing alike—which is exactly what worries me.
We take a seat on the far side of the table near the queen. As soon as I sit, I close my eyes for a split second, focusing on that familiar pathway in my mind that connects to Kai. There’s nothing. Just hollow silence where his presence should be. My pulse quickens.
Before I can descend into further panic, a crowd of servants glide into the room. One carries a wine casket, others baskets of bread or fruit, and two are balancing a large platter between them, which holds a large roast pheasant.
My mouth waters. I love pheasant, and the scent makes my stomach clench despite my suspicion.
The servants place the pheasant on the table in front of the queen, then the servant on the right leans over and cuts a small piece off the breast. He brings it to his mouth and chews deliberately for a moment, then swallows.