“I didn’t look, I swear.”
He looked lovely when he blushed. The thought startled her, and she turned away before he could see the look in her eyes.
“Come on,” he said and tugged her down a side alley.
Colors stained the stones. Ahead, a boy flung crimson powder at a young girl, who squealed and ran, red flying from her hair. They passed an open restaurant where the waiter popped a champagne bottle, and the people at the table laughed and raised their glasses to catch the spray. A hovercar beeped, and Elena slunk along the wall to let it pass.
“This way,” Yassen said, ducking into another alley.
Elena pulled the cloak closer as she followed him. She wondered if Ferma had realized their deception by now. She must have. She had probably sent guards to track them down; Elena imagined Ferma stalking through the streets, her hair prickling behind her.
Already, the city had begun to build large fire pits for the coronation. She spotted one in the middle of a square where people piled dried azuriwood on high, the white branches clawing the air as if to escape their fiery fate. The smell of ash permeated the streets.
Yassen drew close as a group of gawking tourists passed.
“Back there, you confirmed that Jangir was a Jantari spy,” he said.
“No.” She sighed. “I made those fake reports.”
“So you’re spinning tales, just like Leo.”
Elena turned away, mouth tight. “He spins talesforthe gold caps. But I am using one, just one, to stop them.”
Yassen nodded, his voice quiet. “But how do you feel about it?”
Like I swallowed sand, she wanted to say.
“I’ll bear it,” Elena said grimly.
“You know, in another life, you would have been a dangerous Arohassin agent.”
Elena laughed. “If so, then you’d be a king. Hunting me.”
“But I would be there, with you,” Yassen said. His eyes met hers and a thrill went through her body. “Even if we’re on opposite sides again, I’ll still find you.”
“I prefer you as a guard,” she said, and her voice lowered. “You don’t look so bad in the palace uniform. I think serving the Crown suits the infamous Yassen Knight.”
He threw her a look, but a smile played across his lips.
They came up to another alley. This one was so narrow that Yassen had to walk sideways to get through, his back and chest touching the two walls. Elena waited for him to pass before she followed.
They turned a corner and another, and then they were at the square. Jasmine’s Tea Garden stood quiet, its windows dark. But as Elena followed Yassen, he froze.
Two guards materialized from the shadows under the awning. Yassen held up his hands as they raised their guns.
“Where is the princess?” one growled.
Before he could answer, Elena pushed past him, drawing back her hood so that they saw her face.
“Lower your guns,” she said.
After a tense pause, they did.
The square was empty of urchins, merchants, and even stray shobus. As Elena glanced around, she saw the palace guards in the corners. The hilt of their slingswords glinted above their waists.
The door of the tea shop opened. Elena sighed, knowing who waited inside.
Ferma sat at a table with a cup of tea. She looked up as Elena entered, her tawny eyes burning with anger.
