“Any favorable place I should aim, just in case?”
“You’re an ass.”
I drowned out the growing chatter of the crowd. Focusing as sounds cancelled out, one by one. Voices, clanging silverware, chewing, rustling. Until only two things were tracked in my senses: the intermittent creak of the spinning wheel and Astraea’s breathing.
When she was upside down, I threw one, knowing where her braid hung as she came back around. It cut the tie at the bottom. The last dagger wasn’t in my hand much longer when I threw it to land right above her head when she was straight again.
The gathering gasped loudly… and I didn’t hear the thump of the blade into the wood where I was certain my knife had struck precisely.
Swiftly untying my blindfold, my spike of fear that I could have actuallymissedwas quickly smothered by pure, blazing pride.
Astraea had managed to undo one of her wrist bonds andcaughtthe last blade by the handle. Trevor and Silvia had stopped spinning the wheel, gaping at her. A slow smile of triumph stretched across her face, and I would have kneeled for her right now were it not for the banquet attendees around us who erupted into applause and jeers.
I stalked toward her, undoing the last binding of her wrist when Silvia and Trevor released her ankles. With an arm around her waist, I lifted her down, taking a moment longer than necessary to squeeze her because of the madness she riled in me.
“An exciting show indeed,” I purred.
Astraea was beaming so beautifully as our equipment was swiftly taken away. Her sight caught on something over my shoulder, and I glanced back to find Vermont hardly attentive to us but his son having straightened, staring right at us with a deep frown that held more scrutiny than boredom now.
I pulled Astraea along to exit before he switched his intense gaze from Astraea to me and found a possessive threat in my eyes.
“Now what?” Astraea asked when we passed the doors.
“There’s one more group performance, then you’re back up. Meanwhile, under the excuse of needing to relieve myself, I’ll be taking myself on a tour.”
“That doesn’t seem fair.”
She pouted, folding her arms, but now that we were no longer the center of attention, I tugged her to me. She caught her balance against my chest, and I crashed my lips to hers. Her soft moan ached my cock, and it was becoming clear she was far too much of a distraction for serious missions. Then again, I hadn’t felt this alive in a very long time. Having Astraea with me to infiltrate, lie, steal, spy, and possibly commit other crimes made an old pastime thrilling instead of deliriously routine.
“Trust I’d rather be watching you dance, and the thought of everyone else getting that privilege instead is making me antsy with jealousy.”
She smiled, so delicately I wanted to capture it.
“No murder, remember.”
“Unless it finds me.”
“Then best remain very hidden.” Her hand reached up my chest with a switch of concern. “How are you feeling? Having to alter so many minds must be taxing.”
Her care would never fail to surprise me. When I’d spent centuries being used as a weapon that never seemed to be good enough anyway, but never did anyone inquire as to how the power affected my own wellbeing.
“I’m just fine,” I said quietly, twirling a lock of her hair around my finger.
In truth, the small pulse in my head I’d arrived here with was starting to become an intense drum, but I wasn’t at my limit yet. Keeping our appearances changed in so many minds in the banquet hall was the biggest challenge.
“Final showtime,” I murmured, catching the signal of a performer behind Astraea indicating that she would be called back to the stage soon.
“Be careful,” she whispered.
I kissed her forehead and reluctantly slipped away.
The palace guards at the door were less than impressed with anyone needing to take a piss. I must have been the biggest inconvenience of their miserable day, but they let me pass. Before they could turn to follow, they’d already forgotten the encounter entirely with my quick erasure of their thoughts.
The first guard I came across immediately stormed for me, but his marching steps faltered when I slipped into his mind, twisting his outraged intention to detain me, violently so, into a kind eagerness to take me wherever I needed to go.
“There must be a room where Vermont keeps prized possessions. A trident, perhaps?” I inquired.
“Of course, he takes great pride in his collections of the world’s most coveted items. I believe I have heard mention of a trident that grants control of the sea. Though none of us are allowed in that room, oh no. He has a few very carefully selected guards for that room.”
