Page 37 of Fate of the Sun King

“Did you see Halo or Marici?” Lor asks. Since we arrived, she’s been wondering about seeing her friends in the Sun Palace.

“I didn’t,” Willow says, “but once I’m working there, I’m sure I will.”

“I wish you could tell them I’m thinking about them.”

Willow gives her sister a sad smile. “I’m sure they know.”

“Okay, so Willow will get inside and find out more about the palace,” Lor says, turning to face the rest of us. “What else can we do?”

“We should use the ceremony as a distraction,” I say, just as Hylene enters the kitchen.

“Won’t the bonding happen in the throne room?” Lor asks.

“Yes, but there will be days of pomp and pageantry. Plus, the castle will be full of people from the other realms for at least a week beforehand. This is an occasion everyone will be expected to attend. We might be able to blend in better amongst the crowd.”

“But you’re not getting an invitation unless Atlas had a change of heart about your banishment,” Mael points out. “Do you think he’d still invite your father? Or Amya?”

“I doubt it,” I say, my gaze sliding to Hylene. “You up for a task?”

She’s leaning against the counter and smiles with her fist propped under her chin. “Always.”

“You think you can get yourself invited? We’ll need someone who has permission to be inside and who’ll be privy to all the most exclusive parties. Then gather whatever intel you can.”

Her smile stretches. “I’d be terrible at my job if I couldn’t.”

“What exactly is your job?” Mael asks and she glares at him. One of these days, she’s going to rip off his balls, chop them into pieces, and feed them to a bear with a smile on her face. And he’ll deserve it.

“It’s to mingle with those of society who wouldn’t touch a brute like you with a hundred-foot pole.”

Lor laughs at that as Mael grins.

“Anyway,” Hylene says, checking her bright red nails. “I’m sure there’s some lonely minor noble looking for a piece of arm candy he can bring as his date. It’ll be like shooting fish in a barrel.”

“How will you get the attention of an Aphelion noble?” Lor asks, and Hylene winks.

“I have my ways.”

“Okay, can we go to Heart then?” Lor asks, directing the question at me. “We can’t do much else while we wait for these pieces to come together, right? I still think it’s important we understand who was sharing our secrets before we speak to the Mirror.”

I rub the arch of my eyebrow, feeling an ache build. I was hoping she’d let this go, but I understand why she can’t.

“I’m just waiting for word from Etienne that my father’s soldiers have left entirely.” I pause. “He knows someone who was close to your grandmother and wants to speak with you.”

I debated sharing this with her ever since receiving the message yesterday, but I know keeping it from her wouldn’t be right. Also, it would do nothing to earn the trust I’m trying so desperately to win.

She sits up, now on alert.

“Who?”

“I’m not sure,” I say. “He didn’t want to put her name in writing, just in case.”

“Okay, so when can he confirm it’s safe?”

If Lor wasn’t going to let this go before, then she certainly isn’t now.

“Within the next day or two, I hope,” I say. “We can’t risk them getting wind of our presence.”

Lor chews on her bottom lip, and I wish I could go over and take her in my arms and promise her that everything is going to be okay. I wish I knew how to make everything okay.