Chapter 57
Yvette
And now?
Those two words followed her back to the camp as she snuck quietly into her bed. They lingered as she lay there, unsure if Knox was actually sleeping or simply ignoring her, unsure if Florian would come to claim his bed just beside her at any moment.
And now?
Of course, she didn’t love him still. She’d always thought that she was above his games, his lies, but she was more tangled in his deceptions than she ever knew.
Victor had lied and kept secrets, kept a weapon to use against her all the while whispering promises in her ears.
Was any of it real? Yvette didn’t know what he was capable of anymore after what he’d put Keira through, the cruelty of it.
And worse, he’d twisted her into it all, made her a part of it.
How could she love him anymore? Victor had hurt her…
She could still feel the shock that had run through her body, shattering her heart as he’d pushed her back against that bedpost.
But she could feel his soft hand on her cheek too.
She could remember all the freezing nights in the streets, willfully forgotten by the world before he took her in.
Even though at first he hadn’t had a choice, she knew that Victor had grown to truly love her.
He’d been there every day to check on her as his staff nursed her back to health.
He’d given her gifts, stood between her and his wretched father, whispered in her ear all the things she’d been longing to hear all her life.
Victor had remade her until she was his, until she didn’t know what she was without him.
Of course she loved him.
Yvette had no memory of falling asleep, or where her dreams had taken her. But as Knox began to move about the tent, packing his bags, she was awake. She opened her eyes to see only the barest hints of dawn seeping in, leaving a trail of light over Florian’s undisturbed bed.
Guilt settled like a stone in her gut. He hadn’t even come to bed? She shouldn’t have run off like that. Yet she just couldn’t stand to let him see what his simple question had done to her, to see her fall apart.
Knox did not acknowledge her at all as she stood or even when she left.
Apparently she had slept in, as everyone else was already in motion.
Rhea and Gareth were breaking down their tents.
Lilith was burying the firepit as across their camp, Florian was watering the horses.
As always, Yvette was torn between offering her help and staying out of the way, between seeming like a nuisance or willfully unhelpful.
In the end, she made her way to the horses.
She could help there, and she needed to talk to Florian, to apologize for everything last night, for the running, but also for the flirting and the dancing…
Clearly he was the sort of person who took such flirtations lightly.
That much had been clear upon their first meeting.
But it was also clear that he didn’t understand that for her it was more.
She didn’t mean to make him think… otherwise.
Her fingers were twisting themselves in a knot by the time he caught sight of her. Florian gave Rhea’s horse a pat on the neck before purposefully striding toward her.
Yvette took in a breath. She just had to clear up any confusion about last night and apologize so that they could focus on the day ahead, on everything they had to accomplish. What lay before them was already impossible enough without-
“I am so sorry,” Florian said the moment he reached her.
What? That didn’t make any sense. Sorry for what? Yvette shook her head clear. “No, I shouldn’t have run off, you didn’t- I was-” She took a breath. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“I had no right to ask you- well anything,” Florian pressed.
She searched his features and found one feeling louder than the rest. Regret.
Relief flooded through her. He regretted last night too.
That’s why he felt he needed to apologize.
He knew they’d gone too far, and he wasn’t mad that she’d run off.
He was probably glad she had ended things before they had gone any farther.
Her shoulders relaxed, fingers stilled. “Of course. We shouldn’t have-” Yvette stopped herself. There was no good in bringing it up again. “We should focus on today.”
Florian’s brows pinched before he nodded and sighed.
He was about to speak when Rhea’s voice sounded behind them, calling for him to help Knox break down the largest tent. Florian mirrored her tight smile as he left to help. They’d be moving out soon, and then closing the last miles to Deepgate Prison.
The morning sun had yet to cut through the dense fog rolling in from the channel. Through the mist, Yvette could just barely make out the blunt stone tower rising from the cliff side overlooking the waters.
“There it is,” Florian said quietly. Though she could not see him, she could feel his hand tighten around her own. Even more, she sensed the shroud of magic stretching from herself to cover his form as well.
Deepgate didn’t look so menacing, certainly not enough to warrant the dread that had crept into even Florian’s words.
But she knew better than to judge at first sight.
As Rhea had explained the night before, the majority of the structure was underground.
The visible portion held petty criminals and debtors.
It was also home to the guard barracks and offices, the kitchens and armory.
It seemed even the stewards of the prison did not wish to spend any more time than necessary in the levels below.
According to Rhea, the prison descended all the way to the sea line where there was a small hidden cove used to receive supplies, and also smuggle cartel goods.
This was of course meant to be a secret, but whatever the Blades’ previous experience with Deepgate had been, it had at least been educational.
That hidden bay would hold the key to their escape.
Yvette let out a slow breath as she recited the plan to herself once more. So much of it hinged on her. If it went wrong, if they failed to rescue Keira, if Florian was captured as well… it would be on her conscience. She didn’t know if she could handle her guilt if it grew any heavier.
They wordlessly resumed their trek up the stony hillside. Soon enough, chilled flecks of rain began to sting her cheeks. There was little she could do about it. One hand was already holding her cloak closed around her as the other held onto Florian.
Turning herself invisible required little effort or focus, but extending the magic to another required her constant attention, like tensing a muscle.
She worried she might not have the strength to maintain it for as long as they would need.
But as they approached the gate, a massive iron portcullis that towered three times her height, it was too late for doubts.
The spell would have to hold. Once they were passed through, it would be their only hope of seeing the outside again.
Entering the prison was fortunately simple.
They waited well away from the guards, who stood just inside the gate.
The sound of the rain hid their breathing until a cart made its way up the road.
Yvette found herself trying in vain to still her body as it shivered against the cold.
They would have to make their way inside within feet of the guards and the cart.
Passing undetected would not be a simple matter of spellwork.
Truly passing without a trace was an art of focus, grace, and, more often than she would have it, luck.
Even on her own, this would of course have been difficult, among so many bodies in a confined hall, but adding in the complication that she could not release Florian’s hand, or see what he was doing, well… Perhaps this would not be so simple after all.
A shaky breath left her, too loudly. Thankfully, it was covered by the guards calling out greetings to one another as the gate raised above them, creaking reluctantly.
“I’m here,” Florian breathed, only inches from her ear. His hand tightened slightly on hers. “Right behind you.”
Yvette squeezed back, hoping the acknowledgement would silence him, but at the same time, strangely thankful for his reassurance.
In her previous exploits, she had often been alone, left to her own devices, her own fate.
Suddenly, Florian’s hand in hers was more of a comfort than an obstacle.
She pulled him gently, leading him closer to her, feeling his weight shift as he stepped until his side was brushing against hers.
Only a heartbeat more passed before the gate was high enough for them to pass under and Yvette went into motion.
It was better to move quickly, staying to the edge of the hall, before it filled.
The entryway was wide enough that two carts could have passed side by side, giving them just enough room to slip by the waiting guards as they approached the driver, continuing to complain about the poor weather and other mundane matters.
Her movements were quick and light, keeping the pressure of her steps on the balls of her feet, heels hardly touching the ground as they absorbed the shifting of her weight.
Florian was keeping an easy pace, not too closely as to trip over her, but not so far he was dragging behind.
His steps were quiet, but not silent. In an empty hall without all this noise to disguise them, he would be heard.
Yvette filed this knowledge away. If a guard were to find them deeper within, they would have to remain still until they had passed.