Chapter Twenty-One
Serin
My uniform for public events seemed to be, well, black.
So I was wearing another black gown as I was led across the expansive grounds of the palace toward an area I’d never explored before.
The severity of the black was broken up by an elaborate beaded embroidery design in white and light blue across the bodice and around the hem of the skirt.
There was a crown on my head and a small vial of my poison up my sleeve.
I’d done my little test on the redcaps. I’d taken a few mushrooms from my lunch, coated them in the liquid, and dropped it down from our bedroom window to where a few of the redcaps were standing around.
Unsurprisingly, a few of them gathered them up to eat.
I hadn’t gotten to see them get sick as they’d wandered back into the palace afterward.
But I’d heard from Vishen and Jet that some of the redcaps had to be carried out on gurneys because they were so sick.
No one thought anything of it. Apparently, redcaps weren’t smart enough to avoid berries and mushrooms that weren’t safe to eat.
I hoped that meant no one would draw a connection to what happened to them… and what might happen to someone else if it came to that.
“Wow, it’s huge,” I said as we reached the clearing in the woods.
The trees cleared to a massive round area where the ground was cleared of grass.
Around one-third of the circle was a raised area with seating and tables. On the remaining two-thirds, there was a rope to keep the common fae out of the arena while they observed.
Nira and Vishen moved to our sides as some of the crowd turned and saw us approaching.
But the palace guard moved forward, creating a living wall between us and the people as we made our way to the steps up to the dais.
Most of the important guests were already seated, making us need to pause at each table so Jet could greet everyone. I stood there silently, watching the contestants in the games chatting with each other.
It was a mix of men and women, but definitely male-dominated. I couldn’t help but wonder if Nira had ever competed, if she ever wanted to.
With just a look, I could tell what events each was there for.
The jousters wore their steel protective suits.
The sword fighters each had protective leathers on and massive swords—some with ornate hilts.
The ax throwers were, by and large, the giants of the groups with their broad shoulders and corded arms. Archers had their quivers and bows, and this seemed to be an event many of the women were there to compete in.
All this left me to assume that the men, who had no actual uniform but several small weapons on them, were there for the melee. While none of them looked the same, there was a strange, almost crazed look in their eyes. Like they were itching for the pain, for the bloodshed.
A shiver moved through me, making Jet give my hip a squeeze as we moved to the next table.
That was when I spotted him.
Grimwood.
As if sensing me, his head lifted and our eyes locked.
“My daughter!” he called. Then, looking at Jet, corrected, “My Princess.”
The way his arms were spread as he got to his feet made it impossible for me to continue to stand there like I hadn’t heard him. People were looking. But Jet was deep in conversation with someone I recognized as one of his allies.
Damn.
I moved away from Jet and approached my kidnapper, surprised by the way my nerves jumped.
Memories from the trip to the lake surfaced, threatening to make me want to turn and run. But Nira moved closer to my side, whispering, “He can’t hurt you here.”
Right.
Unless he had enough allies to attempt a coup in the middle of a crowded event, there was nothing he could do to me.
And, I reminded myself, I was the one with the power. It was right there up my sleeve, pressed against my wrist.
That had my chin lifting as I approached, my spine pin-straight as he leaned in to press a kiss to my cheek.
Nira fell back against the wall to make way for another guest to pass, and Grimwood took the opportunity to shoot me a dark smile.
“I had a little visit from an old friend yesterday,” he said, making my stomach clench. “And I learned something interesting about the Prince. Something very interesting. And you can’t tell anyone…”
So he had gone back to Grimwood. Or Grimwood summoned him. Either way, Grimwood knew about Jet. And that couldn’t be permitted. Especially because he also now knew Jet was willing to use it for me. Which would make him a tool just like he would be to his own wicked father.
Discreetly, I reached with my other hand to free the tube from my sleeve, hiding it in my palm and carefully uncapping it.
“What? You have nothing to say?” he asked. “Oh, that’s right. You can’t. Don’t worry. I’ll put you out of your misery soon enough. My King!” he said, looking past me to plaster on a big smile as he bent forward to bow.
I took the chance, with everyone distracted by Cass’s arrival, to pour some of the poison into Grimwood’s wineglass.
I was smiling to myself as I straightened.
Until I realized not everyone was distracted.
Nira’s raised-brow gaze was on me.
My heart flipped.
But it wasn’t like I planned to keep this a secret forever.
I was always going to fess up to Jet.
So, Grimwood would get sick.
It wasn’t like anyone would suspect anything.
I moved over toward my guard as Cass passed us, wishing I could say something to her, to tell her that I knew what I was doing, that it was necessary.
“I noticed,” she said as Cass passed us, “that we keep collecting the Stillwater on our walks… but that the flowers never end up in the vases in your room like the others.”
I glanced at her, finding her already inspecting me. “I’m going to assume this wasn’t petty revenge—though we both know I fully support that as well—but was necessary because of whatever he said.”
I gave her a slight nod.
“Make sure you look surprised and worried when something happens to him,” she reminded me.
With that, Jet led me to my seat as the announcer’s voice filled the arena.
I was a mess of nerves—excitement over the games we were about to watch battled with my anxiety over if Grimwood would drink his wine, if he would taste the poison, if he would get sick so suddenly that it would be clear that he was poisoned.
Jet grabbed my leg under the table before pulling my empty glass down, filled it with the water from a flask in his pocket, then handed it to me.
He was so attentive.
And I understood from some things Vishen and Nira talked about that it wasn’t exactly characteristic for him. It seemed as though, before I came to the castle, all he thought about and cared about was the throne… and finding his way onto it.
Maybe I should have felt guilty for splitting his focus. But I couldn’t help but think it was for the best that his entire life didn’t revolve around nothing but ambition.
What about what brought him joy and peace?
I mean, not that I was claiming to bring him those things, but I hoped I helped him be able to unwind a little and think of something other than his relentless aspirations.
Once the announcer was done with his speech, the sword fighters lined up to get ready for their turns.
Jet leaned over, his lips near my ear, “You okay?”
I gave him a small nod as I reached for my water and tried not to watch Grimwood, to make it obvious I was observing him. I didn’t want anyone to be able to point out my behavior as suspect.
So I sipped my water, I watched the sword fighting, I occasionally glanced around at the crowd and the people gathered in the tables around ours.
Grimwood’s wine remained untouched, even as the last sword fight finished and the archers lined up with their bows in front of targets.
Eventually, servants milled around, bringing trays of fresh fruit, vegetables, and nuts around to each table.
Anticipation sizzled as I watched Grimwood reach to put some rations on his plate, picking at them.
He would reach for that wine eventually.
If only—
“Problem,” Vishen said, leaning between mine and Jet’s faces so no one else could hear him.
“What kind? This is not a good place for this,” Jet said, barely moving his lips.
“She’s gone.”
“Who is gone?”
My pulse stuttered at Vishen’s next words.
“The laundress. Nira went to give her more Bellhush… and she was gone.”
“That’s not possible.” Jet’s demeanor hadn’t changed, but I could hear the tension in his voice. “It was barred from the outside.”
“Which can only mean someone on the outside freed her,” Vishen agreed.
My stomach flipped as my gaze slid toward Grimwood, only to find him already watching me.
Did he know?
Had he made one of his men go into the palace while everyone was distracted and snatch the laundress back? Had her Bellhush worn off? Was she talking? What did he know?
“Send Nira to look around for her. But tell her to be careful. And to check back every twenty minutes. If she doesn’t, go find her.”
“I can’t leave—”
“If she doesn’t come, find her,” Jet cut him off.
With that, Vishen stepped back.
There were a million things I wanted to say to Jet, but I couldn’t be caught with my lips moving. Not when things were so tense. When there was so much left to lose.
I glanced again at Grimwood, but he was deep in conversation with the man seated next to him. To keep myself from being too obvious, I forced myself to watch the archers take their turns showing off their skills.
It felt like hours stretched as the archers moved away and the ax throwers stepped into their places.
I was just starting to really get into the displays of strength and skill when Vishen leaned in toward Jet again. I thought nothing of it for a moment. But then I felt Jet stiffen beside me.
“Go,” he demanded, his voice a harsh command.
My heart lurched.
Nira?
I patted Jet’s leg to get his attention.