Chapter Fifty #2
“Seeing that he took my hand.”
“Well, yes—of course, of course. And I hope you know that he has been riddled with guilt ever since. He…you see, he was not in a good place, as this is the week his mother died about a century ago. As you know, this time of year is extremely difficult for him, and I think he—and the kingdom as a whole—truly could use your kindness once more.”
He can’t be serious.
“The king has banned me from Reign,” Lila murmurs.
“I can invite you back—”
“He does not want to see me. He made that very clear last time.”
“Like I said, he has been struggling.”
“So have I.”
Hector clears his throat. “How much?”
“What?”
“How much do you need in your account to convince you to enter the Pith again?”
My nails dig into my palms.
“No amount. I am not for sale.”
“I can’t force you because Maxian will know it is Reign magic. I need for you to go willingly.”
“I will never go willingly.”
Hector lowers his voice. “The king has stabbed Lord Dominik.”
Lila gasps, and this is a real, genuine reaction. I have not yet told her—and I never will. No one will ever know the truth but Kassandra and me.
“We cannot bring it up to him, of course,” Hector continues. “It could’ve been a member of the Reign servants, but Lord Dominik heard Maxian’s voice, and no one else has been in and out of those rooms. We believe it was retaliation for bedding Rose Tunes.”
“Rose Tunes?”
“The king’s—well, as of last week, the king’s betrothed. I believe that arrangement has not yet been broken.”
“Apologies, Lord Hector, I meant to clarify—this was over Lady Rose Tunes?”
“Yes,” he says. “What else could’ve caused this?”
“I heard from Lord Eli how particularly brutal the Silver Slaughter was.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stand. No, I think. Lila, for once, please do not dig into this. Please let this go.
A cough again from Hector. “Yes, it was a true shame. But what is to be done about it now?”
What is to be done about it now? His mistress was killed that night, potentially his child, and this is his response?
“What would you like me to do?” Lila asks.
“Just sit with him, talk with him. Name your cost.”
My mind screams at Lila to decline, that no amount of money is worth it. Yet my friend hums, thinking.
“I’d like information,” she says.
“Anything.”
“Who is at the center of the Pith?”
I press my forehead against the armoire, forcing myself to unclench my jaw.
Hector laughs. “The Reign House, of course.”
“No, sir. What resides at the very center of the palace?”
The plane around us halts, stumbling, as if Death has entered. Yet he has not. Hector, it seems, has gone mute.
“There is something there, then,” Lila reiterates.
Still no response.
“Tell me, or I will not go to the king.”
Then I hear the strangest noise, subtle at first, a sound I never expected from a High Fae, never mind the advisor to the king himself.
The sound of gurgling. The sound of a blood oath.
“You have sworn an oath of silence.” My friend’s tone picks up. “I will think on this and get you my response tomorrow.”
Hector lets out a breath. “Thank you. Thank you, again.”
Once the advisor leaves, I tumble from the closet, glaring at my friend. She sips her tea, smiling. I yank a pink scarf off my shoulders.
“Why?” I ask. “Why would you do that?”
“Because I wanted to know.”
“Why?”
“Why would the second-highest-ranking High Fae in all of Amyria take a blood oath? You say that something is alive beneath the palace. I say it’s something powerful, too.”
I point to her arms. “Why’d you risk your safety? Your debt—”
“Has been paid off.”
“What?”
“My debt has been fully paid off,” she repeats.
My knees sink to the carpet, and I catch her wrist.
“May I?” I ask. She nods, and I roll up both her sleeves.
Deep umber, untouched skin. A miracle. It’s a miracle. She’s free, and with legal protections from Illusion, she could stay free. I brush a thumb across her wrist.
“Why didn’t you say?” My voice cracks.
“You’re skeptical of Eli, and I didn’t want you thinking I was trapped here. He’s a friend but nothing more. I don’t think he’ll ever be more. And it’s not because of sex,” she laughs. “It’s just that, well, he’s a High Fae.”
“But—but you’ve—”
“I’ve been busy. Who do you think gave Kassandra the idea for the faerie artist-in-residence?”
I marvel at her, not for the first time.
“I still have one hand.” She smiles. “I can write letters, you know.”
“So you—”
“Lady Kassandra seemed the most logical fae to approach, anyway. Illusion patronizes all the halfling and fae artists. Why can’t they sponsor a philanthropic cause like that of elevating the faeries?
” My friend grins. “I told her to tell the council that it can be Illusion’s attempt at civilizing us. Those stupid fools loved that.”
“But—why didn’t she say anything?”
Lila shrugs. “It was our business to conduct.”
“Why didn’t you? I could’ve helped—”
“You would’ve meddled.”
“What did you give her?” I ask, my heart racing. “What was the cost?”
“Besides that of the program?”
“Yes, why did she agree? Kass is…she’s…”
But I don’t have the words because I don’t know what Kassandra is or who she’s become. How did such change happen in only a season?
“I don’t understand,” I say, my hands clasping hers. “Where did this come from?”
Lila smiles. “From you.”
“But I haven’t done anything.”
My friend leans forward, eyes glinting as she whispers: “You’ve folded her into your heart. Isn’t that everything?”
“I—” I shake my head, voice cracking. “But I could only do that because you brought me into yours.”
My friend’s grin grows wider. “And I wanted to be your friend the moment I saw your and Briar’s connection. I thought, Now, that is someone admirable. That is someone I want in my life. I’m just happy you felt the same way.”
My chest swells. Little sparks of kindness, all beginning with a faerie who sought a family. Does she know that in her waiting and wanting and willingness, she has created one? I stand, blinking, wiping my eyes.
“Are you staying here?” I ask.
“No, I’m applying to the artist-in-residence program.”
“Please don’t go to the Pith,” I beg.
“I don’t think I will.”
I pause, assessing her, seeing her glowing and happy. It has never been so clear to me as now that I must return to the king to fulfill this favor, whatever it may be. For if I don’t go to him, he might come after my friends.
The question is: How much time do I have before he calls in his due?