Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
The next morning, there are two orange-glazed, chocolate-drizzled croissants accompanying my usual breakfast tray—from the king himself, I presume.
It feels oddly like a taunt.
Like he’s discovered my weakness for bread and sweet treats, and he knows I won’t be able to resist these decadent gifts, even though the last thing I want to be reminded of when I first wake up is him.
But here I am, reminded of him, reaching for one of the baked goods and taking a bite, begrudgingly chewing while thinking about our encounter last night. About how close he’d gotten to me. How his breath had smelled faintly of the same citrusy glaze I’m now swallowing.
“…Fuck me,” I mumble around a mouthful of the flaky goodness, because it’s delicious, and I’m annoyed at the fact that he’s apparently a gifted chef in addition to being wealthy and beautiful and powerful and gods, how is it fair for him to have all of these weapons at his disposal?
Annoyance doesn’t stop me from devouring both of the croissants and leaving no crumbs, though. He doesn’t have to know I ate them.
I’ll just tell him I threw them into the fire.
After finishing breakfast, I drag myself into the washroom and ready myself for what the day holds—whatever that may be.
I’m torn between plans; I want to pick up where I left off yesterday, after the triumphant moment I shared with Blight.
I’m still not thrilled at the idea of bonding with one of the creatures I’ve hated for so long, but the urge to further understand them, to find out what this one in particular is truly capable of. ..it’s undeniably strong at this point.
But I meant what I said last night. I can’t continue to play the role of dutiful servant to the crown—while plotting sedition or otherwise—unless the king holds up his end of our bargain.
So what am I supposed to do next?
This early, and my head is already starting to hurt from thinking about it all.
When I open the door, however, the decision is somewhat made for me: Princess Kestrel is waiting outside.
She’s hugging her arms around herself, her brow furrowed uncertainly. She looks as though I’ve caught her off guard—like she’s been standing in the hallway for some time, debating whether or not to knock on my door.
She composes herself quickly, her dark eyes hardening to their usual cold steel. “Come with me,” she says, beckoning.
Her tone doesn’t invite any questions about where we’re going or why. And, considering I was still debating where to go, anyway, I decide it can’t hurt to follow her.
We make our way up to the next floor, down a narrow hall with plush carpet the color of dried blood. Eventually, we stop outside a door that features the Mouren crest alongside an open hand holding a flame, which seems to be a symbol of hospitality in this kingdom—a guest room.
“I’ll give you a few moments alone,” Kestrel says, reaching for the door knob.
“But mind the time. Gareth will be expecting you within the hour.” With that, she pushes the door open and then retreats farther down the hall, pausing at the corner and leaning against the wall, hugging her arms around herself once more.
She looks troubled again, unsure of how she ended up in this place, undecided about whether she wants to stay in it.
I don’t dwell on whatever is bothering her, though.
Because when I look into the room, I see Briar standing by the window, waiting for me.
She flashes a crooked, tired little smile, the way I’ve seen her do a hundred times before—the look that always comes after we’ve somehow survived yet another questionable job assignment.
I stumble toward her in a daze. Emotions swell. My breath hitches. I’ve thought about this reunion every day since we were separated, but now I can’t get out any of the things I’d planned to say. “Are you…you’re…”
“Still here,” she says.
The quiet sob that’s lodged in my throat breaks free, and there’s no stopping the ones that follow it. My body is shaking from the force of them as I throw my arms around her hard enough to send us both tumbling into the wall.
Briar laughs as she hugs me back and tries to balance us both, but soon there are tears shining in her eyes to match my own.
Finally, I take a step away, catch my breath, and look her over. She seems tired, but otherwise in one piece. I exhale slowly.
“You’re okay?” A question clings to the words, even as I decide she looks okay; I still can’t believe she’s actually standing here.
She flashes another crooked smile. “It hasn’t exactly been a vacation.
But they didn’t torture me too badly. Although, I was…
” She trails off. Struggles to find words.
Her voice is quieter when she finally continues: “I was in the dark. Literally. Figuratively. I didn’t know if you were even still alive, I…
” She swallows several times, her gaze sweeping over me as mine did over her, noticing all the scrapes and bruises I’ve collected.
Between the two of us, I’m definitely the rougher looking one—which may be why her voice cracks slightly as she asks, “What about you? What the hell has happened to you this past week?”
I look to the door, half-expecting Kestrel to burst through it, to tell me this is a cruel joke before hauling Briar back down to the dungeons. But the princess doesn’t appear.
When I’m convinced we truly have this moment to ourselves, I take a deep breath and say, “We should probably sit down for this discussion.”
We settle on the bed, and I recount the past days to her as quickly and clearly as I can. It takes a few tries. A lot of starting and stopping.
I don’t think I even realized all the hell I’ve actually been through—not until I’m trying to put it into words. Surviving is like that, sometimes; just one foot after the other, until you make it to the other side and can finally look back at the distance you’ve covered.
Briar is quiet for a long moment after I’m finished talking, her head tilted toward the ceiling in thought. “So, the king at least took you seriously when you confronted him last night. That’s more than I would have expected from him.”
“He listened this time, yes…it hardly feels like we’re on even footing, though.
He needs me, but he’s not being entirely clear about why.
Or about the threats his city is under. He claims it’s just rebels trying to interfere with the bond Blight and I share, but…
I don’t know. It feels like something bigger is building.
And nothing about the royal family is clear.
Even after spending all this time with them, I don’t trust any of them. ”
“Well, obviously we don’t trust them.”
I stand and wander toward the door, again checking to make sure the princess isn’t lingering close enough to overhear us.
We still seem to be alone, but I lower my voice as I step back to Briar and say, “This is a rare opportunity—to be standing inside of these walls, in a position of power, instead of outside just trying to survive under the crown’s shadow. I don’t want to waste it.”
“Which means we need to better understand the inner workings of this palace and city…”
“Exactly.”
“So you need to get closer to the king and his secrets, somehow.”
“A thought that makes me want to vomit, honestly.”
“But the path to that closeness is clear, isn’t it?”
I settle back on the bed beside her, bracing a hand against the silk bedspread.
“You just need to keep working on your part of the agreement,” Briar continues. “The stronger your bond, your magic, your…whatever else you can gain from that dragon, the more leverage you’ll have in this palace. Which means freedom to explore and everything, right?”
I let out a sigh.
She arches a brow. “You were thinking the same thing, weren’t you?”
“Against my will,” I admit. “I was hoping you might have some other genius, alternative plan.”
“I am the genius between us, that’s true.” She yawns. “But I’ve got nothing this time. Sorry.”
In spite of her words, I feel a small smile curving my lips. “It’s okay. I’m just glad you’re here.”
“Me too. Though it feels a bit strange to say I’m glad to be anywhere near this damn palace.”
It does—but it also feels familiar and safe, sitting here with her like this. Like we’re sitting back at the Soot and Cinder, discussing our plans for another routine job over our usual drinks.
The normalcy shatters as Kestrel appears in the doorway and informs me that time is up, reminding me that I have obligations to see to.
And, unlike during our routine jobs, I find myself hesitating. I’ve rarely worried about whether or not Briar could take care of herself, but the shifting, treacherous currents of this palace make me reluctant to leave her alone.
“Sometime today,” Kestrel snaps at me.
Briar and I exchange a look.
“I’ll be fine,” Briar insists, quietly. With a nod toward the pillows, she adds, “I’m looking forward to getting some rest in a proper bed, actually; so the quicker you get the hell out of here and let me sleep, the happier I’ll be.”
I know she’s just trying to make me feel better about leaving, but I go along with it. “You look like you need a week’s worth of beauty sleep, so this is probably for the best.”
She flashes me a rude gesture.
I blow her a kiss, we share a quick hug, and then I force myself to stand and walk away from her, even though my heart feels like it’s cracking, getting closer to shattering with every step.
Kestrel is silent until we reach the main floor. “You know, I have to applaud you for confronting my brother about releasing her. Most wouldn’t have been so bold. Or stupid.”
“I would have confronted far worse for Briar. She’s my sister, essentially. You’re close to your siblings, so you understand what that’s like, don’t you? I imagine you’d be willing to kill for either of your brothers.”
She glances at me, as if to gauge how serious I am. Her eventual reply is chillingly casual. “I have,” she says. “And I would do it again.”
A shiver shoots down my back. I can’t seem to think of a reply, so we walk the rest of the way through the palace in silence.
She leaves me at the back door, facing the path to the coliseum, but not before pausing to adjust her ruby-adorned circlet in front of one of the decorative mirrors hanging in the entryway.
“Your sister will be tended to,” she says, cutting one last glance toward me. “You don’t have to worry about her.”
But as is so often the case with her and the king, I can’t tell if she means it as a promise or a threat.