Silence stretches between us, taut as a bowstring.
“You’re remarkable,” he says quietly. “You know that?”
I roll my eyes. “And you’re still not forgiven.”
A flicker of a smile. “Right. Logistics, then. You need access to the queen’s documents, private quarters, sacred vault of doom…”
“And you’ll need time. Time to go through it all before anyone notices.” I start pacing the deck, momentum pulsing through my limbs. “Which means I have to distract Alder.”
He frowns. “Gemma, that could be dangerous.”
“I know him. He’s arrogant and smug, and I’m sure he’s convinced I’m still halfway in love with him. If I pretend I want his help, if I make it look like I’ve come crawling back so he can play the hero, he’ll bite. He won’t see it coming.”
Alderic’s jaw ticks. “If something goes wrong—”
“He won’t hurt me.” I glance up. “Not physically, anyway.”
The hush that follows is a little too heavy.
“Bernice told me there’s a banquet tonight,” I say, shifting the subject. “Delphara’s making a big show of her new priest. It’s perfect. Everyone who matters will be there.”
“I’ll need one of my outfits he’s stolen,” Aldericmuses, “and a sword. Just in case.”
“You’re not stabbing anyone.”
“I might stab Alder. Lightly.”
I shoot him a look. “No stabbing. No improvising. No grand gestures. Get proof and bring it to me.”
His grin falters. “And after?”
My throat tightens, and I turn away.
“Gemma—”
“After doesn’t matter yet,” I say. A lie I wish I could believe. “First, we save the kingdom.”
Twenty-Seven
The sun slants through the tall castle windows, gildingthe dressing room. Linen shirts and embroidered jackets spill from the open wardrobe like molting feathers as I dig through them, muttering to myself.
Whatever I choose has to be perfect. It has to say,I’m the same manipulative ass you’ve come to know and love, and yes, you can totally trust me even though I’m clearly awful. Because if we’re going to pull this off, Alderic has to be believable. He has to become Alder.
Which is ironic since this whole thing started with Alder pretending to be Alderic.
I hold up a double-breasted velvet coat with gold buttons, wrinkle my nose, and toss it aside. I reach for a deep burgundy jacket with gold trim and a high collar when the door creaks open behind me.
“I didn’t expect to find you here.”
Alder’s voice curls through the room like smoke, dark, thick, and uninvited. My spine stiffens before I turn, carefully schooling my expression. The man whothought he owned me, then carved out my heart like it was payment.
He doesn’t know it yet, but I’m about to rip the rug out from under him.
I lift the coat from the wardrobe like it’s any other garment, not the costume for the lie I’m about to wrap around Alderic’s shoulders. “I needed to grab something.”
He leans against the doorframe, casual in that carefully sharpened way of his. “For me?” He’s so calm. So self-assured. It makes me nauseous.
“For the banquet,” I reply coolly, draping the coat over my arm.
