AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The motes tickled my nostrils, almost eliciting a sneeze from my nose, but I didn’t let it out as I hurried across the surprisingly large quarters to the door. Again stopping, I listened for noises in the hallway, but when I looked, I saw nothing but the sleeve of one of the guards in the neighboring corridor. If I was quick about it, I could disappear down the maze without anyone knowing I was gone.
And I intended to be gone and back before anyone was the wiser.
In a pair of gray, silky pajamas, I stole along the wall, keeping an eye on the angle of the security cameras, my movements even and slow as to not arouse attention. I winced at every noise my slippers made until I was out of the passageway and heading down a lesser-used hall that the servants typically favored.
I only hoped that no one was watching the cameras.
I kept my head down, not wanting to call attention to myself, but at this hour, there were very few bodies around, most having retired for the night, and I took advantage of the quiet to sneak off toward the closest stairwell, this one leading to the far end of the back hallway, close to the kitchen.
But when I headed toward the kitchen, I paused at the double doors, hearing voices near the patio doors, a gentle breeze wafting in from outside.
“… to be tonight. She almost caught us downstairs, Coraline. Why did you let her go there?”
“I didn’t have a choice!”
“You should have stopped her!”
“How? Jumped on her? She’s a stubborn bitch, in case you haven’t noticed.”
There was a rumble of laughter. “Oh, I’ve noticed.”
I drew closer, the familiar voices pulling me outside and tightening my chest as I instinctively understood they were talking about me.
“Now we have to move things along. It’s only a matter of time before she comes back down and starts looking around again.”
“It’s too soon, Stralia,” Coraline grumbled, and I almost tripped, the realization slapping me in the face. “We haven’t gathered enough forces, and the King is on high alert. The Royal Guards are walking around like they’re just looking for a fight.”
“We have enough support,” Stralia insisted. “I’m tired of waiting.”
The darkness I had sensed since my first day at the palace—and the darkness that Shay had sensed hanging over me—was coming from Stralia.
Unable to hold back, I slipped forward to hear better and see who else stood with Stralia, my body running both hot and cold simultaneously.
Stralia. Of course it was Stralia. It had always been Stralia, a threat to me, to Cade, to us and the kingdom. And my baby. That two-faced snake.
She stood with the head chef and two other faeries whom I recognized from the household, ones who had cast me sneaky smirks over the past weeks. I hadn’t been paranoid. There truly had been an uprising happening under my nose.
But what were they planning? What was this?
“We should have handled her before…” Stralia’s voice cracked, and Coraline put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“You should have been queen, Stralia. Everyone knows it. But once she’s gone, nothing will stop you from marrying Cade.”
“It won’t be so simple,” one of the males piped in worriedly. “Queen Zephyrine has gained some support of her own. We have to make it look like an accident, and she has guards watching her. If we don’t, King Cade will tear down the kingdom. He’s already on a tear because of the poisoning. Thank all the gods for that weirdo warlock.”
There was another mutter of agreement as gooseflesh raised the hairs on my arms painfully.
Stralia shook her platinum strands. “No. There’s no more time for decorum and pretenses. We need to take it all over and reclaim what’s ours. They are either with us or against us. Those who sided with Zephyrine should be eliminated, too. Tonight, we cast a mass spell over the palace and kill all those who have shown loyalty to her.”
Coraline paled at the suggestion, and I gasped aloud, giving away my position from behind the wall.
“Who’s there?” Stralia barked, striding toward me, but I didn’t hide, my fury overtaking my common sense.
Without thinking, I jumped out, startling the blonde fae. Coraline recoiled in horror, her companions falling back in fear. For half a second, Stralia appeared stunned, as if she could not believe I was standing there.
“This is my palace, Stralia,” I said coldly. “Why do you seem so surprised to see me here?”
“Luna,” she squeaked, painting a demure expression on her face, but it was too late.
