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“Why do you think you shouldn’t have done it?” I said, evading his question. My cheeks burned. “I agree with you, but I’m interested in your reason.”
His violet eyes cut to mine. They weren’t angry but firm. “I surprised you,” he said. “And you made it clear to me in Aralinth that you hated it.” He pushed his long hair out of his face and rubbed his neck. I could smell the scent of dew and birchwood on his skin. “I’ve never touched anyone that way who didn’t want me to. I regret putting you in that position. Even if you had been trying to kill me.”
My heavy lids widened at his admission. He’d never been so honest with me before.
“It was a bit unorthodox,” I said with a shrug. “But everything is fair in a fight, Riven. A fight that I asked for, you should remember.” His mouth twitched into a tiny smirk.
“And I wouldn’t say Ihatedit,” I added with a yawn, nuzzling my head into the softness of the pillow.
I expected Riven to scowl or say something smug in return, but he didn’t. His wide eyes fluttered at my words before he turned onto his back. I watched the rise and fall of the blanket on his chest for what felt like centuries. My body relaxed into the mattress to the steady rhythm. Just as I closed my eyes, finally feeling sleep wrap around me, I heard him whisper one last thing.
“Good night, Keera.”
It was the first time he’d used my name. I fell asleep with a soft smile on my face. Maybe I was gaining more of Riven’s favor that I thought.
ILEFT RIVEN WITH HIScrew the next afternoon. I told them that I needed longer to get ready for the ball, which was mostly true. I wanted time alone.
There was a chance we would be discovered tonight. I’d stretched over the line many times before, used my position to funnel help to the Halflings, but nothing as daring as this. Once Lord Curringham’s key was stolen, it would only be a matter of time until the theft was discovered. The lord would search the stores immediately and find them empty. Grabbing the key was the first part of the plan, but it would set a timer on our backs. And if we didn’t blow a hole through Silstra before time ran out, then we would be dead. Or worse.
I wouldn’t let that happen. We would succeed. I would make sure of it. Lord Curringham was an oaf. Stealing a pendant from him was nothing in the face of everything I’d done as Blade. No mistakes. No changes to the plan and we would leave Cereliath with our heads.
My dress was waiting for me when I arrived back at the inn. The nosy wife of the innkeeper seemed much too interested in why a package from Wilden’s Threads had been delivered. I didn’t give her the courtesy of an explanation and pulled my gray hood lower over my face. Irregularities were the easy details to remember. And they’d be the first thing the Shades sought out if we didn’t slip through the night unnoticed.
I ordered hot water to my rooms and left the woman at her desk, mouth hanging open. I tossed the package from Wilden on the bed, not ready to open it, and began drafting a letter to Victoria.
It took me longer than usual, since I had to write in code, but I wanted to ensure she would have access to funds for the Halfling refuges even if our plan failed. I left her the location of three burial spots where I’d hidden contingencies. Chests of gold and jewels that would buy the safety of hundreds of Halflings. I knew Victoria had the connections to fetch them and the network to make sure the other refuge houses stayed open. At least until the money ran out.
If I failed, there would be no one left to fund them.
Dark ink stained my fingers from where I had pressed too hard against the quill. I didn’t notice until I looked down at my tunic and saw that the sleeve was full of ink. I had been tracing the scars on my forearm again. Over and over, like I was carving them anew.
I couldn’t stop thinking ofher.
I hadn’t dreamed about her again. Not since that night Riven woke me.
But thoughts of her filled my head at every waking moment. I saw her face in the strangers we passed. Someone laughing in the distance would sound like her. A glimpse of blond hair and I couldn’t help but turn, hoping somehow she’d be there.
Maybe she was.
I was finally doing what I’d promised. Taking down the king and his kingdom just as we had sworn to do together. But now I would do itforher. I’d fulfill the oath I had spent so long running from, so long trying to forget.
And if I didn’t, I would join her.
These were the thoughts that filled my mind as I bathed, scrubbing off the dirt from my hair and body, the ink from my hands. When I was done, I brushed my hair and let the air dry it in soft waves behind my back. I borrowed some hair oil from Nikolai. It smelled like a faegarden. I recognized a hint of dew rose, but also the myriad of floral tones that wafted through Aralinth. Something in me longed to return to the Fae city.
Nikolai pulled up in the coach shortly before the seventh hour. He was dressed in the plain garb of a coachman, his disguise to get close enough to the House of Harvest to keep watch for trouble and act as our escape if things went awry. Beneath his uniform, I spotted the chain of his glamour pendant. It would keep the Mortals from noticing him as long as everything went to plan.
Nikolai jumped down from the bench of the coach. His eyes traced over my body in confusion.
“Please tell me that isn’t your dress?” he asked, his lip raising slightly.
Wilden had given me an overcloak to shield the dress during the journey to the manor. It was black, finer than my usual cloak, and trailed down the entire length of my torso to the floor. I held the mask in my hand. There was no need to put it on until we exited the carriage.
“I was willing to be the driver and have you distract the lord,” I reminded him. Dressing up as a plaything for the wealthy men of Elverath was the least appealing part of the plan.
“Yes, but somehow I think they’ll findyoumore eye-catching. Even ifmyoutfit would’ve been superior.” He opened the carriage door with an exaggerated bow.
I stared into the empty cabin.
