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Tristiana’s eyes widened. “You left the castle? When?”
“I moved out yesterday,” I sighed. “The day you came to visit. I told Nyx I couldn’t stay anymore.”
Shame flooded Tristiana’s face, and she lowered her eyes. “Mare, I never said all that to hurt you. I’m just looking out for you.”
“I know,” I agreed. “And you were right. All the staff were talking about me and the guards. I didn’t belong there. Nyx and I are still seeing each other.”
Tristiana’s head jerked back up. “You are?” She seemed surprised by the revelation.
“We care about each other, Tris. As unlikely as that seems…” I shrugged. “I can’t explain it, but it’s working… when we’re alone, anyway.” Suddenly, I groaned aloud. “Jergin knows, then,” I sighed.
Tristiana shrugged. “Probably. That’s all anyone’s been talking about the past two days.”
I shook my head and turned back toward the mirror to start with my hair and makeup for rehearsal. We had a show that night, and I needed to get back into the groove and out of my own head after losing myself under Nyx’s spell for so long.
To my surprise, the steps and moves came back easily, and I found myself getting my cues without much effort. I didn’t overthink the dances or songs as much as I had before I’d gone, and I wondered if something inside me hadn’t changed.
“Have you been practicing while you were living it up in the castle?” Jergin taunted me after rehearsal, his eyes still gleaming with too much suggestion for my liking. He was rank with something I couldn’t put my finger on, and his nearness made me edgier than usual.
“I’m not living in the castle,” I muttered, brushing past him to change.
“That’s not what the Royal Guard in the audience suggests.”
I didn’t respond, but Jergin didn’t wander off this time, following me backstage, where the rest of the cast moved in various stages of undress. “That’s good, though,” he added. “It’ll confirm what’s already out there.”
I arched an eyebrow as I sat in my seat to wipe the sweat from my brow. I had a few hours to kill before the show, and I didn’t intend to spend that time in the theater.
“I don’t pay attention to gossip,” I told him firmly. “And neither should you.”
He whooped. “Are you kidding me? This is the best thing that’s happened to Maximo’s since that dancer offed her lover afew years back. You couldn’t book a ticket less than six months in advance back then.”
Aghast, I gaped at him. “That’s a horrible thing to say, Jergin,” I chided him. “Making money off others’ misfortune isn’t a virtue.”
He waved his hand dismissively and pulled up a nearby stool as I finished wiping down my face, but I stood, not eager to spend another second listening to him.
“That’s show business, baby,” he chortled, and I rolled my eyes. “You’re going to make us a killing, too.”
I froze, pivoting back toward him. “Why do you think that?”
He stared at me like I was an idiot. “Are you kidding? Everyone’s going to want to come out and see the king’s mistress dancing. You’re my new golden goose, Maren.”
Blood drained out of my face, and I shook my head vehemently. “No one really knows. It’s all just talk.” I was probably lying to myself. “And no one cares.”
“Oh, they know,” Jergin laughed. “I’ve been doing marketing on you since you said you were coming back. We have the next three weeks sold out already.”
My knees weakened, and I reached out a hand to steady myself. “Are you stupid?” I heard myself ask. “The king will kill you!”
Jergin’s smile faltered, but only slightly. “The way I hear it, he’s been flaunting you around town like you’re a new car, so you can’t be a secret. But on the other hand, the fact that you’re back here has to show that he doesn’t care much about you. I don’t think he’ll mind at all.”
Every word he spoke cut into me like a thousand knives.
“He does care,” I insisted angrily. “And he won’t like you using me as a mascot.”
Jergin shrugged indifferently, standing. “If he says something, I guess I’ll have to stop, but right now, I’m going toget my money’s worth out of you. You owe me after all that time you took off, don’t you?”
He chucked me on the chin and sauntered off, pausing to slap one of the dancers on her bare butt cheek before vanishing toward his office inside the theater.
“What was that about?” Tristiana asked, joining my side as I struggled to regain my composure. “You’re white as a sheet!”
