Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
OMENS
Nothing happened that night.
No handprints, no creepy giggles, no abductions. That said, I was basically unconscious and could have been dragged down to the gates of Hell themselves and not awoken.
Clement snuck out early, presumably resuming his position with the prince. He kissed my hair softly, but I pretended to be asleep, foggy memories of what I’d said to him threatening to resurface along with the cherry concoction churning in my stomach.
I moved along the stone walls gently tapping each join, scratching my nails down the chalky mortar until Lilyanna’s door whispered open.
She studied me with her hands on her hips, blonde hair in its usual wild morning state, but still beautiful.
I’m sure I looked like I’d been dragged through the walls and partied all night with the gargoyles.
“Nothing happened last night because Clement was here.” She stifled a yawn, pulling the cream robe around her. “And he controls them.”
I rolled my eyes at her, pausing mid-tap. “It’s not him. If it’s anyone, it’s the prince. When is it ever the loyal, humble, and dare I say it, very sexy, servant?”
She scoffed. “This time.”
I grunted and resumed my search for vents, peep holes, or anything that shouldn’t be there. “I did have an epiphany last night though.”
She plopped down on the chaise, swung her legs up, and nodded.
I held her gaze. Both of us were too astute, too suspicious by now to glance at the ceiling or indicate the hearth, but a silent message of agreement passed between us.
“So, perhaps we should venture out into the city at some point. We’ve been cooped up here for weeks. Some fresh air would do your complexion a world of good. If we go through the servant’s door at night when the kitchens are empty, there shouldn’t be a problem.”
She laughed. The natural glow that had filled her cheeks a few weeks ago was now replaced by a pale matte. “I think that’s a great idea.”
“I’ll need to fix,” I waved generally in her direction, “all of that first.”
“You’re the worst maid I’ve ever had, you know that, right?”
I curtseyed and went to retrieve the hairbrush. I’d barely finished taming the unruly mess when a smart rap came at the door. I went to open it, finding the prince, flanked by an unimpressed Bryn, and Clement with a wicked sparkle in his eyes.
“Good morning, Tam,” the prince said.
I nodded and ushered him inside. Clement walked through with him, keeping his body between us like a shield, barely managing to fit abreast. I sighed at him and the corner of his mouth twitched in response.
He glanced his finger down my hand as he passed, sending warm currents through me. Goddessdamn him.
I left the door open, content to have a quick escape route if Clement mentioned a word about last night.
“Lilyanna, my love.” The prince walked to where she perched daintily on the edge of the deep purple chaise. He kissed her hand. “You look beautiful, as ever.”
She smiled coyly, and I gagged. She stifled her snort of laughter by reaching quickly for a glass of water from the small end table.
“I’ve come with something I hope you both shall like.” The prince moved back toward me and held out his hand. “Come sit with us.”
My blood froze.
“Everyone always acts so formal around me, but I like you, Tam. You’re real.” He raised his hand again. “Come.”
I raised my arm robotically, but Clement grabbed my wrist.
The prince straightened. He and Clement were evenly matched, both medium height and lean with every muscle perfectly carved. Or so I had discovered when I straddled him last night. My blood began pumping again. He barely needed to touch me, and in my mind, I was already sprawled naked in his bed.
“Clement.” The prince’s voice was light, but the warning was clear.
Clement’s fingers dug into my flesh, the bangle trapped between his hand and my wrist bones. Did he think I’d use it on the prince? And if so, why did he bother giving it to me?
Silence sectioned the room, all of us trapped in our own parts. Clement’s gaze plummeted to his shoes, but his jaw clenched, his body firmly blocking mine.
“So, my dear.” Lilyanna jumped up, her voice light and melodic despite the ashen face and frown she tried to conceal. “What news did you have for us?” She hooked her arm around the prince’s elbow, and they returned to the chaise.
Clement unwound his fingers, and I tugged my arm back, rubbing the sore skin with a glare at him. He steadfastly ignored me but let out a shaky sigh. His chest deflated, and his taut body relaxed. I stalked to the opposite end of the room and folded my arms over my chest.
“Well.” The prince too seemed slow to recover. “You both said you were in need of some fresh air. To get out of the castle.”
I blinked in surprise. Lilyanna’s smile faltered; the words too perfect a match to what we’d just said to be a coincidence.
“That would be lovely,” she managed. “What did you have in mind?”
He looped his arm around her shoulders, and they settled back into the plush buttoned upholstery.
“A tour through my city, our city. My people are excited for the upcoming royal wedding and want to put a face to the wonderful descriptions that have been circling about you. I think they do not yet believe you are real, my dear.”
She smiled and rested a hand on his chest, angling her body into the crook of his. But her leg jiggled.
Clement shot me a warning glare, knowing the words floating through my mind. They really just want to see that you’re still alive. I smirked at him. Even from across the room, I could feel his sigh in response, and my chest tingled as the air warmed me.
The prince glanced between us before clearing his throat, drawing attention back to himself. “And then I have a surprise for you. Something that I know you will love and should put your mind to rest. Have Tam help you get ready. We’ll depart in an hour.”
* * *
The town had caught wind of Prince Bellinor's spontaneous idea to take Lilyanna for a tour. We stuck to the long, central street, walking so slowly, I kept tripping over Clement’s boots. Lilyanna was wedged between the prince and Clement, with Bryn on his far side.
People spilled out of the crushed houses lining up alongside the cobblestone path to wave, cheer, and shout gratitude at him.
All the upstairs windows were flung open despite the heady chill, and those who couldn’t see on the streets were waving banners or flapping scarves, anything they could find to catch his attention.
No matter how hard I scanned, there were no scowl-faced people standing with arms crossed and feet planted, cursing his presence. Nor furtive figures, pressed back inside the alleyways, plotting some kind of retribution.
It hadn’t been like this that day at the market. He’d almost gone unnoticed. I hoped Lilyanna didn’t believe in the sham.
Her face turned as she caught sight of a young girl jumping up and down at the side of the road.
She waved back. It was cold enough that I’d persuaded her to wear a knitted scarf, wrapping it gently around her sore throat, the bruises completely hidden.
The only sign of her discomfort was in the hesitancy with which she turned her head.
She smiled widely at the small girl, her eyes crinkling, cheeks lifted, but the light didn’t fully evolve in her face, sparking but not catching.
Good. She wasn’t sure either.
The prince turned back to see that I followed. I dipped my head, willing him to focus elsewhere, my skin crawling.
My magic chose that moment to stir.
“A word, Your Highness.” A wizened man stepped forward, his back bowed, hand clamped around a cane.
A hunk of crystalized diamond made up the tip, its multiple facets glittering in the sickly sunshine.
“Your imposed clamp down on magic use has been highly successful.” He tapped the cane on the ground at the end of every sentence.
“The people are also very grateful for your tolerance.
Your ability to forgive and send those who are guilty out of the walls for a second chance has not gone unnoticed.
“That murder,” he shuddered, the cane vibrating against the ground, “was one of the worst these townsfolk have ever seen, that I have ever seen. And to befall my very own inn! Generations. It has been in my family for generations, and nothing of the sort has happened like that before.”
The Sheriff forced his way back to the forefront of my mind. Splayed on the bed, body painted in red and black slashes.
“Yes,” the prince said, “it was by far the worst crime we’ve ever had.
I pride myself on keeping this town safe.
Two of the men rounded up for magic use were not involved, so they were released, but you can inform the townspeople and visitors to your establishment they are quite safe.
Nothing of the sort shall happen again. My investigators are close to capturing the culprit. ”
The innkeeper nodded. “It was more than fair, Your Highness, and far more lenient than the queens would have been.”
The prince chuckled. “Don’t let them hear you say that. We all have our spies and theirs are everywhere, even this far north.”
The man ducked his head again and returned to the crowd.
The prince tightened his grip on Lilyanna’s arm, and she flashed him a small smile.
He turned from the main street down one of the alleyways.
The crowd dispersed, doors closing, windows snicking shut as life resumed its efficient bustle behind us.
He recounted the town’s history as we walked, from the very first stone placed in the wall to the expansion of the maze of alleyways.
I closed in, waiting for a natural pause so I could tug Lilyanna aside to discuss what I needed to say to her, before we returned to the listening walls of the castle.