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“I’d expect nothing short of it,” Poet quipped while studying me. “What can I do for you lovelies that I haven’t done thus far?”
“I can name a few things,” Cadence purred. “I thought jesters had a reputation for finishing what they start.”
The implication crawled across my ribcage. Poet’s eyes swerved toward her, their wordless exchange hinting at a previous rendezvous. Perhaps she had been a guest in his chambers before. It would explain her death glare when Poet offered me a candle at the wisteria arbors, not to mention her impertinent attitude tonight.
“The princess wishes to explore,” Vale announced.
Shifting his attention and challenging me to a face-off, Poet inquired, “She’s developed a case of the naughties, has she?”
“I would not go that far,” I declared.
“You’ll never guess where I found her,” Cadence said, dismissing my wide eyes. “She was in the pleasu—”
“Wine cellar,” Posy cut in, registering the mayhem on my face. “With me and Vale.”
Truthfully, she should have stopped atwine cellar. Giving superfluous information never sounded honest. Moreover, the jester was a master of deception, able to sift through wordplay with the perception of a bloodhound.
His shrewd features contorted. His eyes ticked over to Posy, then slid back to me. He knew these ladies, as he surely knew about the vault’s existence, since he possessed such comparable items. Also, he’d understood the words Cadence had been about to voice.
I folded my hands in front of me and weathered his scrutiny, though my nostrils flared.
Something keen—and aware—ignited his visage. Damn him.
I couldn’t decide whether to be grateful or annoyed as Cadence’s voice leaked into the silence. “We need a man to protect us,” she flirted, her words oozing like sap. “You know, from the ghouls and incubi who roam these hallways, intent on stealing a virgin’s maidenhead.”
“As if you need to worry about that,” Vale quipped.
“Whose maidenhead?” another voice yawned.
I clenched my eyes shut. This could not be happening.
Eliot shuffled toward us while scratching through his mussed blond waves and blinking in drowsy astonishment at our group. Presumably, our stupidity had woken him up.
My friend halted upon seeing me. “Br—Your Highness.”
“Forgive us if we woke you,” I murmured.
He hadn’t spoken to me since Poet rejected him. Unaccustomed to Eliot’s withdrawal, I had missed him and worried how he was faring. Even now, meeting his gaze caused my stomach to clench with guilt and longing.
Speaking of Poet, Eliot’s eyes darted the jester’s way and plummeted into misery.
Cadence noticed—everyonenoticed the minstrel and jester watching one another warily. I swore, if this woman commented on it, the consequences would involve my fist and a trip to the infirmary.
The web tightened before my eyes. Eliot, in love with Poet but thinking the jester was in love with the Seven. Cadence, in love with Poet but thinking the jester was in love with Eliot. Posy and Vale, in love with each other—and with Cadence. Me, in love with nobody. And Poet, in love with himself.
Despite Eliot overhearing us, the remote location of Poet’s room gave us an advantage. We bickered freely. Posy and Vale nagged a queasy Eliot to come exploring with us. In turn, Eliot rambled excuses. Cadence ordered him to go to bed if he was going to be a killjoy. I told her there was no need to be rude, to which Eliot told me—as formally as possible—that he didn’t need a defender.
Defiantly, he changed his mind and accepted the invitation. He and the trio of ladies piped over where to go next. I attempted to fence in the argument by shushing their overlapping whispers.
Poet snapped his fingers. The sound cracked through the hall.
Everyone stopped. Witnessing their reaction, my jaw tensed.
I hated him. I hated that he achieved what I could not. I hated that he hurt Eliot and enabled Cadence.
Most of all, I hated the multitude of catastrophic emotions he made me feel.
“Now, now,” Poet vouched. “There’s plenty of me to go around, however I believe the princess is in charge.” He glanced my way. “Your Highness, fresh air shall do this whiny troop wonders. I propose we explore the fabled labyrinth. Would that please you?”
