Chapter 26 #2
“We’re attending a council full of lords,” I said, trying not to remember the sight of him naked. “You could stand to dress nicely, for once.”
“Oh, there’s no need,” Phaedrus waved a hand idly. “I only need you and the psyche to come.”
“Are you sure?”
“More faces will draw more eyes. You will pose as my advisor, and the psyche as a steward. The two of us will focus on sweet-talking the council, while our psyche reads the room and feeds us cues.”
My shoulders tensed. Phaedrus’ voice sounded familiar. Why?
Eleos and Percy joined us, freshly cleaned. Percy appeared to have found a new cloak, its vibrant red color matched the feather in his favorite hat.
“Bringing only Lady Aethra and me makes the most sense,” Eleos said, tying his blue scarf around his neck. “We don’t want to arouse suspicion. Obviously, it won’t be Seraphim we suggest sending across the border.”
“Oh, no.” Seraphim agreed, mouth half-full.
“Who, then?” Percy asked.
I thought for a moment, considering various angles of approach. “The Red Bluffs outpost.” I blurted out. “We share the tale of its tragedy to incite urgency, insist an envoy be sent to Duath Nun to restore relations and beg their aid, should we need more land in the near future.”
“Hm.” Phaedrus stared at me with sage green eyes. Familiar sage-green eyes. “That could work. What do you think, sister?”
“She’s the con woman. I trust her.”
Dipping my head, I tried to shake the sense of nostalgia. The masked nobleman had sage-green eyes, yes, but his hair had been much darker, his voice lighter. Why would Seraphim’s brother have been in Serifos?
Besides, she would know if her brother was a psyche and chthonic, and would have recognized his magic. It was a coincidence, nothing more.
Phaedrus drifted to the center of the table, where a beautiful ivory chessboard sat on a raised display. He pushed the pawns forward, forming a circle. “The lords have been called. When they arrive, we will entreat with them, insisting someone be sent to Duath Nun. Who?”
“Themis?” Seraphim suggested.
“Hm.” Phaedrus raised an eyebrow. “Do you think she’d agree? If I’m to offer her as a sacrificial lamb, I’ll need her to be present.”
Eleos cleared his throat. “Mistress Seraphim is Lady Themis’s twin, no? Could she not stand in for her sister?”
Phaedrus stepped back, holding back a laugh. “We’d need a talented hairdresser for that. And even then. . .” He scanned his sister, grimacing. “It would be a challenging task.”
Shoulders slumping, Seraphim cradled another honey cake in her palm. “I’d hate every moment of it, but I could probably play a decent Themis.”
“Then it’s settled,” Phaedrus said, pushing the queen pawn to the center of the chessboard. “We cannot predict how the lord’s will react, but expect resistance to the idea. And there’s, of course, the matter if they refuse. . .”
“Right.” Percy tilted his head. “What do we do, then?”
“The only ship that can safely cross the Lethe strait is under lock and key, guarded by the border lords.” Phaedrus shrugged. “But every lock can be picked, every vault robbed. It would be taxing and time-consuming, but possible.”
Seth rubbed his forehead. “It would be nigh impossible.”
“Much like stopping the Empty.” Phaedrus agreed. He stood straight, head snapping toward the hall.
The sound of heavy knocking carried from the foyer, followed by a steward rushing to answer.
“Hide,” Phaedrus ordered, straightening his cloak and departing the room.
Everyone scrambled. Seth grabbed my arm and dragged me down the opposite hall into a broom closet, shutting the door behind us. Darkness trapped me in a tiny corner with him standing across from me.
“Ugh,” I whispered. “Are you intent on finding every opportunity to shove me in a tiny hole?”
“Sh.” Seth hissed. “Would you rather hide under the table?’
Tensing, I felt my breasts brush his chest, my knee graze his leg. His body heat radiated over me like a furnace, and the hairs on my neck stood on end.
Ignoring his own command to remain silent, Seth leaned forward. “Did you and El work things out?”
He reached past me, pressing his hand against the wall by my shoulder. Trying to ignore that, I stared at his collarbone. “No.”
“Did you not talk?”
“We did. But I haven’t convinced him to tell me the truth.” I looked up at him. “Why? Did he talk to you about it?”
“Rather freely, yes.”
“What did he say?”
“That he’s torn apart by guilt for hurting you.”
I pursed my lips, finding his red eyes in the dark. “It feels like you want us to end up together.”
“I do,” Seth said quietly. “It would make everything easier if you were taken.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“No romantic falls in love with a woman they know is married.”
I furrowed my brow, trying to read his expression. Hadn’t he claimed romance was for fools? Now, he professed himself a romantic?
“Sh.” Seth hissed. “Listen.”
Falling silent, I pressed my head against the wall, uncomfortably aware of his body across from mine.
From here, I could barely make out what was being said at the door. I heard a familiar, harsh voice, but his words were mere murmurs. Seth sucked in a breath.
“Percy’s father.” He murmured.
They’d already found us? I tensed, listening, but Phaedrus’ tone was even and calm. The heavy thud of armored boots didn’t race down the hall toward us. Perhaps they intended to warn the city lord and request permission to disseminate orders to the local guard.
Leaning toward the door, I strained to make out the words. My head brushed Seth’s chest, and he shifted closer to me, laying a hand on my back.
Seraphim’s words returned to me. Seth was attractive, and I liked him. His lingering gazes shattered any doubt that the attraction was mutual. But did I want this?
Eleos insisted we couldn’t be together, and the heartbreak from his refusal still throbbed in my chest.
But last night. . .
I’d wanted nothing more than for Seth to kiss me.
He turned his head, chin brushing the top of my hair. “You really do look beautiful in that dress.”
“. . . Seth?”
“Yes?”
“You’re confusing.”
He sighed. “I know.”
A door slammed in the distance, and a single pair of footsteps returned. Feeling for the doorknob, I hurried outside.
Lord Phaedrus strolled back into the dining hall, running a hand through his fiery locks. “The hounds are on your tail.” He placed a hand on his hip, eyes falling on me. “They seek a band of thieves who’ve stolen away the Bloodstone. I doubt they’d imagine finding you here.”
Percy emerged from the pantry and slumped against the wall. “I thought my father had already sniffed me out.”
“Not quite yet.” Phaedrus’ eyes lingered on me. “I’ve given them permission to use my men. Within days, they’ll have scoured the city and will return here.”
“Well,” Percy rubbed his neck, “I say we get these keys and leave.”
Phaedrus nodded. “You’ll need to wear new faces at the meeting, to diminish any possible suspicion. I’ll tend to my sister, dire as her condition is, but you look like a woman of class. Think you can manage a new look?”
“I can.” I nodded, looking over as Seraphim and Eleos entered the room, returning from wherever they’d hidden. “Think you can transform Eleos, Perse?”
“Easily.” Percy stood straight. “I’d rather dress him up, but I can also turn him into the most mundane steward you’ve ever laid eyes on.”
“How long do we have?” I asked.
“A day and a night,” Phaedrus smirked. “I did say you were late. The border lords will arrive tomorrow.”