Chapter 5
Sebastian: A Spy Mistress Most Fair
After a quick stop in the kitchens for the promised snack, Sebastian led the way to a quiet, out-of-the-way section of the palace.
Despite having lived at the palace for the past five years, Sebastian had never met Lady Quinn in person.
He’d heard the stories, of course. The woman was supposed to be a master of disguise, able to get in and out of the tightest places, not to mention a capable fighter and an engaging conversationalist. However, she wasn’t often at court, and when she was, she usually remained closeted with King Alastair, far from prying eyes and ears.
Sebastian told himself that the fluttery way his wings were beating against each other was that he was going to be one of a handful of people who would meet with Lady Quinn during her current stay. It wasn’t because Lucy was only a few feet away. That would be madness.
Still, he couldn’t help but shoot her covert glances as they moved through the palace. She had changed little over the past two years. She was a little shorter than he remembered and she’d grown out her wild red mane, but she was still Lucy. Bold, beautiful, brash…
Stop it, he sternly commanded himself. She’s not here for you. She’s here for the mission. Get your mind where it belongs, soldier.
“So, who exactly is Lady Quinn, anyway?” Lucy asked, breaking the silence.
“Er, she’s the king’s spy mistress,” Sebastian said, chewing on his bottom lip.
“A spy mistress?” Lucy frowned. “I thought you were a soldier, not a spy.”
“I’m not,” Sebastian admitted. “She wanted people for the job who aren’t spies. She thinks they’d have a better chance at protecting the emperor. Or, at least, that’s what my father said.”
“And what do you think?” Lucy pressed.
“I…er…think I’d rather get out from under my father’s thumb for a few days, and if this mission gives me the opportunity, I’ll take it,” Sebastian said with a rueful smile.
Lucy shook her head. “Is your father still—”
“A raging control-freak? Yes.”
“Well, I was going to say a pain in the you-know-what, but I suppose that description works, too,” Lucy said. “You don’t have to prove anything to him, you know. If you wanted, you could leave the service. Go open that shop you used to dream about. He couldn’t stop you.”
Sebastian sighed. “Yes, he could,” he muttered.
“No, he really couldn’t,” Lucy insisted. “Your father is many things, but he isn’t all-powerful.”
Sebastian shot her a pained look. “Do we have to do this now?” he asked. “Can’t we just get through this briefing without getting into a knock-down, drag-out fight? I’ll give you all the free shots in the world if we can just put a pin in this situation.”
Lucy squinted at him. “Do you remember the last time you asked me to ‘put a pin’ in a conversation?”
Sebastian felt the blood leave his cheeks.
The last time had been right before she left.
She’d asked him to come with her to meet the pack, to meet her father, and he’d been reluctant.
He’d heard his father’s voice in his head, telling him that he would make a fool of himself.
Telling him that a werewolf would never accept a fairy as a mate.
They’d had a fight, and not long after, she'd left, and then his meeting with the werewolf beta had proven Xander—
“Forget about it,” Lucy sighed, stomping ahead. She was so angry she didn’t seem to notice the puddle of water on the stone floor ahead of her.
“Lucy, wait!” Sebastian surged forward.
She looked over her shoulder, still stomping ahead.
“No, Seba, you can’t just—” Before she could finish the sentence, her foot slipped in the puddle.
The world around Sebastian slowed as she flailed, trying to regain her balance.
He leapt forward and pulled her into his arms. For a second, everything around him stopped, and he was hyper-aware of the scent of fresh pine and honey on her skin, the warmth of her touch, the silkiness of her scarlet curls.
He reveled in the differences between their frames, her small, curvy body against his hard, muscled one. It just felt right.
Lucy rested her hands on his chest, sending sparks coursing through his blood. “My hero. Thank you.”
“No big deal,” Sebastian replied, his voice rough even to his own ears.
“Ah-hem.” They started at the cough that came behind them. Sebastian released Lucy and turned to the newcomer, a tall woman with neatly platted scarlet hair and sparking green eyes.
Sebastian’s eyes widened, and he bowed. “Lady Quinn. A pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise,” the woman said, her generous lips curving into a smile. Her eyes swept over Sebastian’s face and lingered on Lucy’s. “And I presume you’re Sir Sebastian and Miss Savage, correct?”
Lucy gawked at the spy mistress. “You know who we are?”
“I take pride in knowing many things about the citizens within the palace walls,” Lady Quinn said.
“Come. We have much to discuss.” She led them into her parlor.
It contained little in the way of furniture, other than a threadbare sofa and a chipped tea table, on top of which lay a plain brown tea service.
A desk sat in the room’s corner, but it was bare, revealing no information about its owner.
Lady Quinn went to the desk and dragged the chair attached to it to the couch.
“There. I’ll sit here and you two can take the couch. Then, everyone can sit comfortably.”
“Will anyone else be joining us?” Lucy asked, as she gingerly sat down where the spy mistress had instructed.
“No. I have a pair of tailors who are going to meet you in Umber and I’m sending along a physician just in case there are any unexpected complications, but neither party will have any additional information about the mission.
Larger teams get more scrutiny, which is what I’d like for you to avoid, if possible.
” She openly studied the pair, her face unreadable.
“I’ll be the first to admit that I was a little surprised when Sir Xander suggested that you two take this mission. ”
“You don’t think we can do it?” Lucy asked, bristling slightly under the spy mistress’s inspection.
“I didn’t say that,” Lady Quinn said. “Sir Sebastian, you have risen through the ranks quicker than any soldier I’ve ever met, and it most certainly isn’t because your father is the captain of the guard.
If you can keep the grand duke out of trouble, I have little doubt you can manage any challenges that may arise on this mission.
And Miss Savage, you have…hidden talents.
Talents that you might not even be aware of yet. ”
Confusion crossed Lucy’s face. “What do you—”
“But you’re rather young, if you don’t mind me saying, which can make other people distrust you,” Lady Quinn forged on without stopping. “And neither of you have much experience with clothing design.”
“That’s not true. Sebastian is one of the best clothing designers I know,” Lucy said, leaping to her feet.
“Lucy…” Sebastian winced.
Lady Quinn sat back, regarding the pair. “Is that true? You have some experience?”
Sebastian ducked his head. “Not a lot,” he admitted. “My father…he doesn’t like me to—”
“I have no doubt that your father has made his opinions on such a subject quite clear,” Lady Quinn said, hiding a small grin.
“But your experience will be a boon. I’ve always felt that diversified skills have helped me in ways I couldn’t imagine.
And based on Miss Savage’s quick defense, the pair of you may make a good team for this mission. Only time will tell.”
“What exactly is this mission?” Lucy asked. “Sebastian said it was to take place in Umber, right?”
Lady Quinn nodded. “Correct. One of my top informants has come across some intelligence that someone from Moyar is being paid to kill the emperor during the kingdom’s five hundredth anniversary celebration.
Every year for the kingdom’s anniversary, the emperor hosts a clothing competition. He is well-known to be a dandy.”
“That’s a bit of an understatement,” Lucy muttered. “So we’re entering the competition as tailors?”
“Correct. This year, the clothing produced during the competition will be worn throughout the celebration.” There will be four teams. One from Moyar, one from Zaffyre, one from Feldgrau, and, of course, the one from Umber.
The team from Umber is the favorite to win,” Lady Quinn warned.
“The two tailors that are attached to the Moyar were a last-minute entry.”
“Wait, so they’re from Moyar and they weren’t originally supposed to be competing. Wouldn’t it make sense if they were the assassins?” Lucy guessed.
“It’s possible,” Lady Quinn admitted. “But not likely. From what I’ve gathered, the two are just terribly unorganized, and, if we’re being perfectly honest, a little inept. They forgot they needed to sign up.”
Sebastian made a face. “Great…so we’re putting the success of this mission on them?”
“We have a backup plan in place,” Lady Quinn assured him. “But, I will admit, having another person with some design experience on the team will make this a little easier.”
“Do you have any idea who the assassin or assassins are?” Lucy wondered.
“Not yet,” Lady Quinn said. “We’ll be relying on you to discover their identity or identities and put a stop to their plans.”
“Do you have any clues or suspects?” Sebastian wondered.
“We know that they’re being paid by someone from Coleur, and we’re fairly certain that they have some knowledge of the Umberian court. But other than that, we’re sending you in blind,” Lady Quinn said.
Lucy crossed her arms. “So, let me get this straight: you’re sending us in with no real clues or suspects, a team of inept tailors, and no backup?”
“You’ll have backup,” Lady Quinn said. “I’ll have a few of my informants embedded at the imperial palace to give you extra support and to be your eyes and ears.”
“Why not just send them in as members of the Moyaran team?” Lucy asked.
“It took me quite some time to get those informants in the palace, and they’d never be able to get close to the emperor.
Emperor Zoun is far too trusting, but other members of his court are not.
We needed people who have no ties to my informants.
All eyes will be on the members of the design teams, so each member will have to bear up under scrutiny,” Lady Quinn said. “Are you two up to the challenge?”
Sebastian and Lucy shared a glance. “I think we can do it,” Sebastian said. Suddenly, he remembered his discussion with Lucy in the alley. “But one thing: Miss Savage needs her payment for this job up front because of a family situation.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem,” Lady Quinn said. “Will 5,000 gold pieces suffice?”
Lucy’s mouth opened and closed like a goldfish. “Will…5,000….”
“You’re right, I am asking you to do this on short notice.
7,500 would be more appropriate. And I’ll ensure that Avelar, your team’s healer, stops by your grandmother’s cottage on the way to the competition.
” Lady Quinn got to her feet. “Now, then, I’m sure you have much to do to prepare for this mission.
You leave at first light tomorrow morning. ”
“Thank you, m’lady. We won’t let you down,” Sebastian promised as he and Lucy also stood.
“I’m trusting that you won’t,” Lady Quinn said. “Good luck to both of you.” With those words, she swept out of the room, leaving Lucy and Sebastian alone.
“Well…that was…interesting,” Lucy said after a moment of silence.
“That’s one word for it,” Sebastian agreed. “One thing: I don’t remember you telling her about your grandmother. How did she know?”
Lucy bit her lip. “I’m not sure. There’s something about her…” Her voice trailed off as her brow furrowed. “She reminds me of someone I met in a dream. Or maybe in a dream of a dream.”
“Or maybe a nightmare,” Sebastian said. “Come on. We should go work on our preparations.”
Lucy nodded and twisted her fingers through her tangled mane, apparently lost in thought.
Sebastian shrugged and left the room, and, after a moment, she followed him.
As they walked, Sebastian watched her out of the corner of his eye.
Something was bothering her, and he wasn’t sure what it was.
But, he reasoned, he’d have plenty of time to figure it out.