50. Annalise
Chapter fifty
Annalise
Afew miles from town, Tyr keeps a lookout as I change my clothes and morph my features, taking the appearance of a mid-twenties girl with dirty-blonde hair in a white summer dress with heels.
My legs tingle as I grow a couple of inches, my boobs go down a few cup sizes—though there’s still enough to be enticing in my gown tomorrow night, and my eyes change to a hypnotizingly deep blue.
“How—” I clear my croaking voice, needing the changes I made to my vocal cords to settle before trying again.
“How do I sound?”
“Annoyingly…peppy. Please don’t use that voice in your mind; it’s worse than a squeaky hinge.”
“You don’t like it?” I tease aloud.
“I’m leaving now,” he chuffs in annoyance, but I feel his amusement sitting just below the surface.
I run back to him, throwing myself against his chest.
“I won’t be more than a few minutes' flight away at any time. Say the word and we leave. Okay?”
“I have a mission, Tyr.” I take a step back, letting him feel my determination. “We need this information, and we need their future king out of the picture.”
“They could have sent someone else! Our magic isn’t for them to use to send you on a suicide mission.”
Steam rolls from his nostrils, nearly knocking me over. His reaction probably would have sent me into a dissociation spiral a few months ago, but I know he’s still furious that we’re here.
“I won’t get caught. If it gets too dangerous, I’ll tell you, and we’ll leave.
He’s still tightly wound, and I know that he won’t relax until this mission is over and we’re back at Scion.
“I promise,” I say out loud and into his mind, wanting to reassure him in every way possible.
He doesn’t say anything else before he steps back and launches into the air.
As much as I wish I could run the few miles from where Tyr just left me and my hotel in the capital city, I need to get to town to get settled. Pulling out my burner phone, I call one of the taxi companies listed in my dossier.
“How did you get stuck all of the way out here?” The driver asks as I buckle into the backseat of his cab.
“My boyfriend and I were coming to the city for a little getaway, but we got into a big fight,” I lie, making my voice a tad shaky.
“He pulled over, told me to get out, and sped off without even letting me grab my suitcase. Luckily, I had my purse on me, so at least I still have the really important things.”
“You’re kidding me! Anything could have happened to you; it’s not safe for a lady such as yourself to be this far outside the city walls alone!”
Despite probably being in his seventies, he looks mad enough to beat up my fake boyfriend for me.
“I’m so thankful you were able to get to me as fast as you did.”
His weathered lines and soft eyes bunch up, smiling in the rearview mirror at me. “Now what are you going to do? Where can I take you?”
“I was lucky and got the last room at the StoneBridge; everywhere else said they were sold out.”
He whistles as the tires start to roll, “I’m not surprised with the royal engagement party tomorrow night. The city has been flooded with people just hoping to see the rich and powerful of Clowess.
“I don’t even want to ask how much that room is costing you, young lady. That hotel isn’t cheap on the slowest weekends.”
“Let’s just say this will be the last trip I will be able to afford for a long time.”
“I believe that!” he snorts.
The rest of the drive, he talks with me like I imagine he talks to his grandkids, of which he has eleven!
“My oldest grandson, Kam, is probably about your age…Any chance you’re looking to move to the city? He’s not always the sharpest, but he’s easy on the eyes, and he makes decent money in the military.”
“Sounds like a glowing recommendation if I’ve ever heard one.”
We laugh together like old friends, until I have to physically force my jaw from dropping to the floor when we drive into the capital city.
Everywhere I look, there is beautiful architecture.
The buildings aren’t towering or suffocating, the tallest only being nine or ten stories tall, and there are only two of those that I can see.
Most of the city seems to be built from brick, but the ivy and lavender that climb the sides of walls soften the dark, steep roofs.
Every street feels welcoming and timeless, and I can’t help but wonder how a kingdom that has caused so much pain can be home to a place so peaceful.
The sidewalks are bustling with people, shop doors propped open, and Clowessian flags and banners flying everywhere.
“Oh my gosh,” the words come out as a whisper, my awe no longer able to be hidden as we turn a corner and the StoneBridge hotel comes into view.
While only four stories tall, the white-washed limestone walls and iron balconies with swirling designs on their railings make the hotel an art piece all its own.
Large, rounded windows adorn the main level.
Raised flower boxes filled with pink and purple flowers that I have never seen before are set between the windows, while bright green twisted trees in identical boxes line the circular driveway and frame the front door.
“All the city cleaned up for the Royal Party, but Stonebridge always looks like this. You should come back next Winter Solstice when the lights are up, that’s the real showstopper.”
“I would die to see that.”
“Did I mention my grandson is a great tour guide, too?” He tries again. “He’s lived here all his life. Plus, he knows better than to leave a lady on the side of a road. If his mama or sisters ever caught him disrespecting a woman, they’d be chasing him around with wooden spoons.”
I laugh. “Well, if I decide to make the move, I promise you’ll be the first person I call so you can introduce me to this strapping grandson of yours.”
“You just let me know, darlin’, and I’ll come help you pack. Now wait right there a minute,” he says as he puts the car in park and rushes around the car faster than I would have imagined a man in his seventies could move, and opens my door.
“Better believe he knows to open a lady's door too,” he winks as I climb out.
I try to hand him the fare for my ride, but he shakes his head, “I think you’re paying enough for this hotel, you save your money.”
Guilt immediately hits me, and my stomach sinks. “Please, I insist.”
“What kind of story would that be to tell my great-grandbabies about the first time I met their mama? You save that money and treat yourself to some dinner and live music a couple blocks over at Tam’s Place. Tell ‘em Barney sent you.”
“Thank you, truly, for everything,” I say, waving at him as he walks back around the car.
I can feel Tyr laughing in my mind.
“Don’t even start.”
“Two boyfriends, two different kingdoms, fighting in a war against each other. What could go wrong?”
“Yeah, yeah. What was I supposed to say? I’d just told him my boyfriend deserted me. I couldn’t say I was going to keep dating the douche.”
“I wish we could tell Hunter he’s now being referred to as a deserting douche!”
“Not Hunter! Just the man who left me in the middle of nowhere. Which now that I think about it… I guess would actually be you…”
“You’re going to pay for that.” he snorts.
Stepping through the doors, the air is filled with the lush, creamy-sweet scent of the gardenia tree growing in the center of the lobby and the low chatter of people at the lobby wine bar and couples bustling around the open lounge.
“Hi, I’m checking in.”
“Name for the reservation?” The clerk asks, wearing the perfect customer-service smile on her face.
“Sophie Beaumont,” I say, sliding my new ID and credit card across the counter.
After a few seconds of looking in her system, she smiles back up at me.
“Welcome, Ms. Beaumont. You’ll be in room 309. Should you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to call down. Elevators are around the corner to the left,” she says, handing me an intricate brass key.
My room is quiet when I close the door behind me. Sunlight spills across crisp white linens and pale wood furniture. Everything is opulent.
Walking across the room, I head to the bedside table and type my code into the built-in safe.
The contents seem simple, but I can’t breathe as I pick up two envelopes, a drawstring bag, and two boxes.
Opening the smaller envelope with the hotel crest in the corner, I read over the simple note from my handler:
Ms. Beaumont,
Welcome to the capital city, or Ambrial as it’s known by the locals.
As requested, your hair and makeup team will be to your room tomorrow at noon. Your ride will arrive at precisely four in the evening.
Should you need any additional assistance, please dial “0” and ask for Kahli.
Thank you for being our guest at Stonebridge. We hope your time here is a success!
Sincerely,
Your Stonebridge Team
Next, is the cream-colored envelope, embossed with the Clowessian Royal Seal.
The invitation.
I gently pick it up and, for the first time in my life, use the letter opener on the nightstand to slice the envelope open.
The expensive texture of the invitation and the elegant script have me kicking my feet with momentary excitement.
I never, in my wildest dreams, would have dreamed of attending an event like this—but then I remind myself that I’m not truly a guest, and my mission is to kill the very man I’m coming to celebrate.
Get it together, Annalise.
Sophie Beaumont,
By decree of the Crown, you are cordially invited to attend The Royal Engagement Celebration honoring the betrothal of His Royal Highness, Prince Lockwell, and Lady Everleigh of Ashbourne.
A smaller insert falls from the envelope with the details for the event, including an emphasized “Masquerade masks not optional”.
A snort escapes me. Who has a masked engagement party? Are they really that unhappy with what the other looks like that they will make everyone wear masks?
Setting those together on the nightstand, I peer into the bag, already knowing what I will find.
The smallest glass vial, clear and unlabeled.
Poison.
Not the crude sort that burns or causes the unsuspecting victim to convulse, but a spell cast poison that slips through the body undetected, until it’s too late.
Within minutes, the blood vessels around the brain will tighten, a sharp headache will last for mere seconds, and then the unfortunate soul will be gone before their body even hits the floor.
And when that happens tomorrow night, I will have the smallest window to get away before the castle goes into full lockdown.
Grabbing the boxes, I walk to the closet, gasping when I see my gown.
The midnight blue gown with small crystal embellishments that mimic the night sky has a halter neckline that will wrap gently around my neck, drawing the eye up.
At the same time, a narrow vertical keyhole cutout runs from my collarbone to the bottom of my ribcage, adding to the drama.
At my waist, the smooth, sculpted silhouette falls into a fluid skirt with a thigh-high slit, showcasing a dagger, as fashionable in upper society here.
Every detail of the gown was made to flatter and disarm. Noble enough to pass without question. Daring enough to invite the attention of a potential suitor, just like every single lady out in society will be out to do.
Locking everything back into the safe, I touch up my makeup using just a few of the extensive options already set out for the makeup artist tomorrow, and decide to walk to the restaurant Barney recommended.