Page 146 of The Thief and the Traitor Bride

“I imagine we’ll have more time to discuss the details,” Celestine said, “but unfortunately, your husband will not. At your instruction, I have scheduled his execution for the morning after next.”

Two days. That was not a lot of time—and she had even less time if Celestine decided to investigate the medallion more thoroughly.

She tried not to let any of her thoughts show on her face as Celestine said, “Of course, Finch, you get spousal rights—if you choose to make use of them. We can finish our discussion in privacy at a later date.”

Nore smiled tightly. Spousal rights allowed partners the last chance to say goodbye, semiprivately, before execution. Her heart thrummed in her chest. “I thought that if we returned successful, Mr. Khari would be rewarded. I see no reason to kill him now that he has proven his usefulness.”

Celestine turned a sympathetic eye to Nore, laying a hand over hers. “Surely you see the error in that, darling,” she said. “If Mr. Khari had his way, you never would have come home.”

“Still—”

“It is not a negotiation,” Celestine said. She put the medallion around her neck, then held it to the light, admiring it. If Celestine had done even an ounce of the study Nore had, she would recognize that the runes weren’t even from the correct language class. Nore bit the inside of her cheek. “He is too dangerous.”

Nore no longer knew what danger was anymore.

“I will send Sparrow for you when the time comes,” Celestine said. She gripped Nore’s hand as she rose, squeezing tightly just once. “You have outdone yourself in trying circumstances, Elinore. I will not forget it.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Nore said quietly.

Celestine filed out with most of the guards, leaving only two behind. Only when the door shut did Nore turn to Caspian. Their conversation would be heard and reported—so she could not say any of the thousands of things she wanted to.

“Nice try,” Nore said in Nadiran.

Caspian snorted. He switched, briefly, to Idistran. “She will find out the truth.”

Nore shrugged. “That’s a problem for me to solve, then.”

“You could’ve sold that and fled. Karathak artifacts always catch a high price.”

Nore got up; they both knew she was not going to flee. She moved to stand in front of him, looking down. His hands were tied behind his back, straining his shoulders, but his gaze traced up her like they were the only two people in the room.

“I’ll never trust you again,” she said, returning to Lindle. I would trust you with my life.

Caspian smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You won’t get the chance, it seems.” He sighed, his eyes slipping closed. “This is what you wanted, Finch. My execution. I imagine you feel only relief.”

She knelt in front of him, gripping his chin, searching his face. “You’d be correct,” she said, forcing her voice to remain steady.

He said a sentence then—it took Nore’s brain a fractured moment to realize what it was: every word was in a different language, the tenses mixed and incorrect. She frowned at him, putting the pieces together—

“Save yourself and forget me, red bird,” Caspian had said.

Nore drew a breath through her teeth. “But I have so many lies left to tell you,” she said back in the same structure. She switched to Lindle, “As they say in Idistra.”

His brow quirked. Nore’s fingers tightened on his chin.

“One last kiss,” he whispered, “before my death?”

Nore nodded. If she spoke, she would cry, and she could not allow herself to do that.

She was still angry at him—angry she’d learned the truth so late, angry that he’d told Locke about their plans, angry that he’d broken her heart, angry that he was just going to die—but if she did not do this, she would regret it for the rest of her life.

She leaned down, her nose nudging his, before she lowered her mouth to Cas’s. There was the lingering trace of drugs on his tongue, used to dull magic in prisoners. Nore slipped her hand around the nape of Caspian’s neck, threading her hands in the soft curls, cradling his head as if she could break him. Her lips moved against his, trying to convince him of all the things she could not say.

I’m sorry. I believe you. I’ll let you go.

She broke away, leaning her forehead against his.

“Will you watch the execution?” Caspian asked. “I’m sure it would make an enlightening afternoon.”