Setting it in The Safe.
Listening tohimscale the stairs. Open the tiny wicket door. Close it.
A full-body shiver scrapes across my skin, and I suck on the wound, open my eyes, look at the door to my suite … mind dragging back to the way he pressed against me.
To his words—a cold grate against my ear—poised to strike that raw, vulnerable part of me I’m trying so hard to hide.
But there is no door between us anymore. He made that perfectly clear last night.
There’s nothing for me to cower behind. To shield myself with.
Snarling, I fling the blade toward the door. At the same moment, it swings open, and Kolden and a woman I’ve never met before barely dodge the whistling weapon.
I gasp, heart hammering as it thuds into the lobby wall behind them.
Both sets of eyes sway from the wobbling dagger to me—cross-legged on the bed, hand cupping my mouth.
“I … ahh … apologies. That wasverypoor timing.”
“I did knock, Mistress … then got worried when you didn’t answer.”
I wince, looking at Kolden.
Didn’t hear a thing.
“So sorry … maybe a little louder next time?”
The woman smiles—a bright, confident embellishment to her exotic beauty.
Young with golden skin, her honey hair is pushed back over her shoulders, eyes a dark shade of purple with a burst of blue rimming the pupil. She’sstunning,swathed in a blue silk dress with gold trim—modest, yet clinging to all her shapely curves.
She looks me up and down with a sweep of heavily lashed eyes. “I like you.”
The woman steps back into the lobby, grips my blade, and yanks it free.
“Who are you?” I call after her.
She turns to Kolden and says, “Thanks. I’ll take it from here,” before closing the door on his startled face. “Happy to be alive,” she chimes with a wink, gliding into the room and handing me the dagger. Hilt first.
I think I like her, too.
“Name’s Gael.” She sits beside me on the bed and grabs the end of my heavy, sodden braid still dripping down the front of my shirt from my early morning stab at The Bowl, removing the band and untangling the plait with deft fingers. “Mother received a sprite from the High Master instructing me to come to the palace and give you a tour of the city. My family owns a monopoly of trade ships that we use to import glass blocks from the outskirts of Arrin, so I know my way around.” She stands and invites herself deeper into my suite, opening my dressing room door before disappearing into the bowels of it. “There’s a carriage waiting out front. Oh! I like this dress!”
My brows almost jump off my face. “There is?”
“Mm-hmm.”
I leap to my feet and sprint across the room, pulling the balcony doors wide and dashing outside, peering over the balustrade.
Sure enough, there’s a gold-brushed carriage in the courtyard below, strung to a pair of white horses pawing puddles from last night’s rain.
Nice to see Cainon stuck to our deal.
A burst of anticipation electrifies my veins, and my grip on the handrail tightens.
I might find Madame Strings today.
Gael emerges onto the balcony with a frilly gown draped over each arm. “Blue or blue? Personally, I like the blue.”
