“If you won’t answer our questions, then I’m afraid I must insist you accompany us back to the Solis Court. King Lucanus has given orders to collect any citizens who refuse to comply.”
I shifted, moving toward the hatch when her words filtered through the ceiling.
“You do realize you never asked a question. I’ve complied with the intrusion in my own home, as not one, not two, but five guards rifled through my personal effects. I’d be more than happy to answer any questions you have, should youactuallyask one.”
I didn’t need to be in the room to know the tension was rising, most likely far faster than my starlight anticipated it would.
I need to get down there. Need to protect her. Need to?—
I nearly growled aloud as I realized the extra push to put her in more danger was coming from the starbound mark on my wrist.
“Have you been approached by the two guards suspected of being members of the elite division of the Aurelian Guild?”
“Yes,” I heard her answer, and my blood ran cold.Why was she answering yes when she went through the measures to hide us in her attic?
Unless, perhaps . . . had this all been a trap? Had she lured us here just to turn us in for the bounty?
Every fiber of my being tensed, the air heavy around us as Axel reached for his weapons as well, preparing for the attack.
“The two guards approached me during the Festival of Brumalis and the other night, they also appeared in my parents’ tavern. You know the one—the Tilted Tavern—just north of here, on The Wall.”
“What did they want?”
“What exactly do youthinkthey wanted?” Her voice was aseductive lilt, and I nearly growled at her implication. “They wanted what all angelswantafter they watched me perform for the Solis Court. I sent them on their way, informing them that I only provide private shows to the king himself, as per my agreement with His Majesty. And should they be seeking a more private dance, that they might perhaps have better luck on the far side of the Nox District . . . the side usually known for their nightly activities.”
“You’re going to need to come with us.”
“Why?”
I froze in the attic as her demand carried up toward us, once again ready to hurl down the hatch should I need to, because I swore to Aeternus that this particular female had a death wish. Either that, or she had absolutely no regard for her own life.
“He will want to corroborate your story,” the guard stated.
“I have complied with every one of your requests—answered every one of your questions. And now you insist that I bother the king by sharing a story I just told you? A story in which I explicitly stated how I told the twoguardswho appeared at my family’s tavern that I was not interested in entertaining them and that they should try their luck in the Nox District instead. You wish to waste the king’s time having me restate that?”
I nearly huffed a laugh at the audacity of the female as she rephrased the guard’s orders in such a way. The pause that filled the silence stretched on for far too long, and my worry over her response grew with each passing moment.
I was seconds away from breaking the damned hatch, just to ensure she was still unharmed, when the guard finally spoke to Raelyna. “Very well. But should the king need you, youwillobey his summons.”
“I have no other choice,” she responded, a note of sorrow to her tone that I didn’t like one bit. The footsteps began to recede, and I heard Axel exhale a slow breath beside me as we both waited for the front door to shut.
26
RAELYNA
I closedthe door behind the guards, hearing the electronic lock click into place, securing the space as I sank to the ground where I stood and let out an exhausted sigh. My head was still pounding, heart racing, as I thought of the two males still hidden in the upper attic of my apartment.
What had I been thinking? Hiding two Aurelian Guild spies? But at the same time . . . something deep inside me trusted them—trusted him. Despite the fact that he’d lied about his job and hidden his identity from me. It was like a part of me knew he wouldn’t hurt me.
Closing my eyes, I counted to four, breathing deeply with each number as I pushed the panic from my body. Looking up toward the ceiling, I simply stared ahead, wondering what I was doing.How had I ended up in this situation in the first place? We didn’t even know what we were doing? And now I was . . . what . . . ? Colluding with the enemy? Conspiring against the King of Solis Quarter? And what good would that do me . . . ? I still lived in Solis. Orela was still bound to a life in servitude at the temples.
My gaze drifted to the mark on my wrist . . . thebrokenbargain mark. That, I guessed, was the only upside to everything. I was no longer bound to Luc. No longer obligated toobey his every command. Well, that’s partially true. Unfortunately, he’s still the stars-damned king of Solis Quarter. But the worst had already happened. He’d already discredited our bargain, labeling me as untrustworthy. Not that it mattered either way what he labeled me as, because Lucanus currently had Orela imprisoned in a life of servitude at the temples.
A loudthud, followed by an angryyip, sounded from the far room, and I was lurching to my feet. Racing across the tiled floors, I skidded my way into the room, only to find Callum and Axel carefully closing the hatch to the attic door, Loxl sitting patiently at Cal’s feet as he worked.
“You—” I started, but was cut off as Callum’s hand wrapped around my mouth, silencing me. I tried pulling back, frustration rising in me at the audacity of the male’s actions, when he raised a finger to his lips, warning me to stay quiet.
I nodded my head slowly as he removed his hand, then the two males began walking through the room, their eyes assessing.
