I let out a gasp as the sharp sting from the knife wound dulls, then vanishes entirely. Some of the lachrymortis must have lingered on Fox’s lips.
Fox drops his hands to my waist once more, reeling me closer, banishing any remaining space between us. I think about the first time I saw him. I think about how often I’ve thought of him. I think about how long he’s haunted me, running circles in my mind.
Then he slips his tongue into my mouth and I forget my own name.
He backs me slowly into a tree, pinning me gently to the trunk, kissing my jaw, my throat, nipping at the spot where my neck meets my shoulder. A small sound escapesmy lips, and any lingering restraint shatters. My hands move instinctively, running over his body as though committing its shape to memory – my fingers gliding across his blood-slicked chest, digging into his back, tangling in his hair. He tastes like blood and salt and summer rain.
I want to lose myself in his touch, in the soft slide of our mouths. But I’m worried that if we don’t stop now, we won’t stop at all. And I barely know what I’ve started.
Fox must be thinking the same thing. He groans softly. Then, with what seems like considerable effort, he pulls back, breaking the kiss.
For a moment we just stand there, panting, staring at one another, our faces flushed and smattered with blood.
I blink, dazed.
Fox leans against a tree. His voice cuts through the silence, low and rough. ‘For what it’s worth,’ he says, ‘I rather like your bad ideas.’
38
Elva
I’ll never forget the masquerade ball after the second trial.
I’d got ready in Blaze’s rooms once she and Spinner had left, marvelling at the dazzling gold-silk gown and delicate mask adorned with tiny crescent moons – a subtle nod to my homeland. Hal had picked them out specially.
My disguise gave rise to a different kind of anonymity than the one I experience as a serf. I didn’t go unnoticed but rather blended in, just another masked, gold-clad courtier gliding gracefully through the crowd, gazed upon and admired, yet unidentifiable.
I met Hal in the gallery overlooking the ballroom, too high for prying Eyes. I remember how beautiful he looked, leaning against the wall, waiting for me.
Since I had never been taught, it came as little surprise that I was hopeless at dancing. But Hal only smiled. Lifting me into his arms, he set my feet atop his and danced for us both. And I forgot about his looming betrothal, and the scarsof my past, and our uncertain future. We were unburdened, happy. There was nothing else in the world but him and me.
We’re going to kill the emperor.
The memory shatters as I recall Ingra’s words, broken shards slicing my heart to ribbons as I relive what happened the night before in the broom cupboard. I was frozen in place, unable to move, or think, or form a sentence. The others seemed to interpret my horror as stunned exhilaration, for they all grinned conspiratorially at me.
At long last, when I’d finally regained the ability to speak, I looked straight at Ingra and asked the first of three questions: ‘Why?’
‘Seriously, Elva? Do you really have to ask?’ Ingra snorted derisively. ‘Because the Castellions are tyrants who’ve been enslaving our people for over fifty years. And because the political climate in this Gods-forsaken empire is already so fragile that taking him out will cause it to topple like a house of cards. Killing him will incitechaos.’ Her dark eyes flashed and her tone grew feverish with excitement. ‘His death is exactly what we need – the spark to fuel an uprising decades in the making. Besides, everyone knows he’s sickly. I don’t imagine he’ll live long by the looks of him. Why waste the opportunity to have his death pave the way for anarchy and revolt? If he’s going to die, let it be forourcause, not theirs.’
Everything she said seemed to tear me apart, right down the middle. More than ever before, I became agonizingly aware of my own duality – that I am made up of two warring halves, forced to conceal one part of myself to preserve the other. And I realized in that moment that I could no longer be one of themandbe in love with Hal.
My voice was small as I uttered my second question: ‘How?’
Ingra understood what I meant. ‘Seth made a copy of the key to the armoury, so I’ll have my pick of the bunch. Though Ty’s right – the weapon should be something long-range.’ She smiled, a little sadly. ‘My father taught me how to shoot back in Veridia. I don’t miss.’
‘Let’s hope not,’ said Seth. ‘Because you’ve only got one shot at this.’
‘Literally,’ added Pip.
Ingra only smirked at them. ‘When it’s done, I’ll slip into the serf tunnels, where the others will be waiting.’
My eyes widened. ‘You mean …’
‘That there’s more of us in on the plan than just this lot?’ Ingra finished. ‘Of course. But we couldn’t risk meeting in large groups.’ She gave me an apologetic look. ‘I was going to tell you tonight, and ask you to join us.’
Guilt hacked into me like a blunt axe.
‘The Etheri have their magic but we have the numbers,’ she continued. ‘We have weapons and the element of surprise. And most importantly, we have nothing to lose.’
