Page 116 of Fate of the Sun King

“Sorry,” Tristan says. “But you need to be careful.”

“I am,” Willow says.

“You were supposed to be getting a map of the palace,” Mael points out, his mouth half-full.

“And I’ve done that,” Willow says, standing up and retrieving a bag from the corner where she dropped it earlier. She pulls out a rolled-up piece of paper. “I’m not completely finished yet, but you’ll see I’ve got a rough outline.”

She unrolls the map in front of her, spreading it out on the floor as we clamber around it. She points to where she’s marked out the throne room and the king’s and queen’s quarters.

“This is good,” Nadir says, dragging the paper closer. “Do you know where this leads?” He points to the door at the back of the throne room.

“I thought Lor could use this as an exit. There’s a spiral staircase that descends to the lowest levels of the palace,” Willow says. “If you look here, I’ve mapped out a route through these tunnels should she need it.”

“This is amazing,” Amya says with admiration in her tone. “Maybe you have a future as an artist or a mapmaker.”

Willow gives Amya a soft smile. “Maybe.”

We eat in silence for a few minutes, everyone baking in their thoughts.

“So, what is Gabriel, or more likely Atlas, hiding?” I ask eventually. “And do you think it has anything to do with all of this?” I wave my hand around in a circle to encompass the Trials and my liberation from Nostraza and everything that’s happened between.

Nadir shakes his head.

“I’m not sure, but it might be important to know, just in case.”

“I’ll see what else I can find,” Willow says, and Tristan and I are about to protest when she raises a hand and silences us both. “I’m going to find out,” she says firmly enough that I stop pushing. We both snap our mouths shut. Old habits die hard, but I’m trying to do better.

“Good,” Nadir says. “The more information we have, the better.”

“So, what’s the plan now?” Mael asks.

“We go to see Cloris,” Nadir says. “You and me.”

“And me,” I say, and I know he’s about to list off all the reasons I should stay behind. “I’m coming. Don’t even bother.”

“But if she tells Atlas…”

“She would have already done so. If she recognized me, then she already knows I’m here. I need to confront her myself.”

Nadir gives me a defiant look, and I return it.

“Fine,” he says. “We’ll go tomorrow afternoon.”

“Good,” I say, folding my arms with a glare.

“Good.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

NADIR

SIXTEENTH DISTRICT

The following afternoon, Lor, Mael, and I stand outside the Priestess of Payne. Though I wish Lor had let me take care of this, there was no dissuading her. Not that I really thought I could. She can handle herself. I know that. But the idea of Atlas getting his hands on her makes me seize with breathless fear. If I understood what he wanted from her… Well, maybe we’ll find that out today.

“Why haven’t I been here yet?” Mael asks, scanning the ornate facade in between exchanging smiles with a handsome High Fae male wearing nothing but the scantest bit of fabric covering the bulge at his hips. Which, even from a distance, is very impressive.

Lor is scrutinizing him, too, with a hint of mild curiosity, and I resist the urge to pick her up, carry her over my shoulder, and remind her that I’m the only man who will ever touch her again. Her gaze meets mine, and she narrows her eyes as she hears my possessive thoughts.