AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I could have sworn I told the three of you to make yourselves scarce,” she says in a voice that carries.
Silence falls again before the portrait is swinging open, revealing a hidden panel in the wall.
“Oh, was that for right now, Maman?” Gisele asks in a deceptively innocent tone, peeking around the secret doorway.
The queen only shakes her head as two more heads appear around the frame. She turns back to me before her daughters invade the space entirely.
“For whatever it’s worth, I am gladthe monkeywasn’t killed.” Her eyes meet mine with far more warmth than they offered earlier. “Whether it’s innocent or not, its loyalty is admirable. I can imagine we might grow quite fond of having it around.”
CHAPTERFORTY-ONE
AIKA
That night, Remy prepares to go out into Bondé.
I do my best to ply him with information on who to look into and how subtle he needs to be about it.
“Do not draw attention to yourself,” I order before he leaves. “Especially nothers.”
“I’ll be fine,” he says, kissing me goodbye, like we’re an actual married couple, before disappearing with Lawrence through the passageway.
And I…sit. Uselessly. Doing nothing. Waiting for the moment when Madame calls me back to the estate or we’re ready to pick a target for thevigilante’snext fire.
Meanwhile, I eye the liquor cabinet, suddenly understanding why Remy always has a drink in his hands when I return in the mornings.
In some ways, this is worse than being in Madame’s crypt. The waiting. The endless hours.
Or minutes, rather, as a glance at the grandfather clock tells me that scarcely half an hour has passed since he left.
A sigh escapes my lips. I can’t go after him and risk someone seeing me, connecting me to him, but I don’t have to sit here and do nothing. I exchange a look with Pumpkin before heading toward the secret passages that lead to Zaina’s suites a full hour before I told her I would come.
My sister doesn’t look particularly surprised to see me when Helga lets me into the main room.
“You said you needed a list,” I say without preamble, stepping past her.
“Yes, do come in,” she says sarcastically.
Einar is already seated at the table, books and parchment spread out before him. I wrinkle my nose at the idea of doing research tonight, or ever, glad I have something else to offer to the cause.
“Find anything interesting?” I ask, setting Pumpkin down to greet Khijhana.
She chuffs as he climbs onto her head, playing with her ears and whiskers.
“Not particularly,” Einar answers. “Dragon parts are useful in a number of tonics, including those to stall aging, but it’s safe to assume she already has something for that.”
I take in the man who doesn’t look a day over thirty. His face is every bit as unlined as Madame’s, and he doesn’t have a single gray hair.
“Unless she’s part Jokithan,” I offer.
Zaina looks up sharply, settling into the seat next to me.
“No.” Einar shakes his head. “Jokithans’ longevity is tied to the land, not genetics, and fades as you spend time away.”
“So, what?” I furrow my brow. “Does that change our timeline, then? Are we going to watch you turn into a grandpa in truth?”
He glares at me, arching a silver-blond eyebrow. “No, it would take a lot longer for that to happen, and I would just start aging like the rest of you.”
“How very plebeian,” I remark.
