The wordcockyresurfaced unwanted memories from the ball, and I shoved them down along with Analleia’s voice, reaching a new level of irritation.I rose from my chair.“You know, I’m running out of ways of getting the point across—”
“I’m both your uncle and your elder, boy,” he interrupted.“I don’t care if you’re the lord over a hundred kingdoms—you’re not going to speak to me like that.”
“Just wait until I’m king.”
He chuckled.“But that’s the issue isn’t it, Valeris?You’renotking.And you’re not any closer after last night.”
I scowled and shoved a finger at him.“That was Ezrielle’s doing.”
“Which is why I’m here.”
I flopped back into the chair, propping my feet up on the desk.“Well, unless you have some good dirt on her, I’m afraid I’m not interested and will have to refer to the statement I already made several times earlier.If you’ve already forgotten, the phrase wasget out.”
“Enter a role of leadership with that attitude and the people will destroy you in less than a year.Lose the act and the sulking and behave like an adult.The world doesn’t revolve around you.”
My jaw ticked.I didn’t like the way his words sliced through me.
He continued, “Ezrielle is up to something.”
“Yes, I already know that, in fact—”
“Quiet, Valeris.I’ve never dealt with someone who liked to hear themselves talk so much.”
I glared up at him.Everyone else had let me sulk, why wouldn’t he?
“I checked the registry,” he started again.“She’s leaving palace grounds tonight, staying somewhere in the city.If you want to search her rooms without being caught, tonight is your best bet to do it.”
I let a smile slip through my sour extorter.
It was the perfect opportunity.
Too good of a chance to pass up.
This was why my uncle could say whatever he wanted to me and get away with it.
––––––––
ITOLD ANALLEIA TOmeet me on the rooftop of the palace after dark.
Ordered, really.
I didn’t need her.I could do it alone—at least that’s what I kept telling myself as I scribbled out the missive my page delivered to her—but I needed her expertise.This mission had a higher chance of success by including her, which probably held more truth than I wanted to admit.In reality, I should push her as far away as I possibly could.Part of my foul mood was rooted in the fact I had never spoken about my family’s dysfunctional dynamics to anyone, and the way I had laid it all out for her scared me.She had given me no reason to trust her, yet in her presence the words had come pouring out of my mouth unbidden.
That was dangerous.
“I thought you wanted me to go home.”
I spun.Darkness cloaked her like magic, camouflaging her in the night.Her long white-blond hair was pulled into a loose ponytail that spilled down her back, and her bright blue eyes bore into mine, piercing.Threatening.Captivating.
It took me a moment to respond.“That was yesterday,” I snapped, trying to bring myself back into focus.“We have less than a week before the finale.”
She quirked an eyebrow.
“Ezrielle is out tonight,” I said.“I need to search her rooms for evidence to use against her.”I peered over the edge of the roof.“How did you get into her suite?”
Analleia took a hesitant step closer, looking over the ledge with me.Apprehension clouded her face.
She was afraid to do this.
