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“Because every citizen knows of the royals’ connection to the land,” Nava explained, rubbing her tired eyes. The weight of this truth being out in the open was frightening for both of them. “Which means that, as Ark’s soulmate, I’m just as important to the kingdom’s prosperity as he is.”
“How can you both trust this girl after all the betrayals you’ve been through?”
“Girl? She’s older than us.” Arkimedes scoffed. “And I choose to trust, because the day I stop believing there is good in this world will be the day I become the monster you thought I was back at the safe house.”
Devon clenched his teeth and faced the window. Outside, the storm still raged, with high winds slamming loose debris against the building. “I still think we should leave for one of those abandoned buildings—save ourselves the trouble.”
Arkimedes shook his head, although he appeared to consider it for the briefest of moments. “You won’t make it that far in this state. And even if Leela wants to tell my father where we are, she won’t do it tonight.”
“Is that the reason you’re staying in the downstairs room?” Devon asked. “To block her way out?”
“We all need to rest, so let’s take tonight to do that. How many potions do you have left?”
“Six.” Devon coughed into a linen napkin. He quickly shoved it inside his pocket, but not fast enough for Nava not to notice the traces of blood on the ivory fabric. He reached for another potion, and as soon as the liquid hit his tongue, his skin regained some of the color he’d lost. “Call it five…”
Somewhere between their escape from Grey Island and Devon helping her rescue Arkimedes from his father, he’d become someone that she cared about. Nava hated seeing him this ill, even if it was his own fault for being so irritating.
Devon shuffled toward the door, following Leela’s path, only to pause at the entrance to the hall. Darkness bathed half of his body, throwing the sallow angles of his face into sharp relief. “I respect that you can trust people after everything. I couldn’t do that now. I will never forget what the Society did to my family—or the little girl in the cellar. I don’t need to heal. What I need is revenge.”
Leela hadn’t been lying when she’d told them the room was tiny and disused. Nava’s eyes prickled with the dust gathering on the sewing equipment and broken mannequins in the corner. Gauzy curtains did a half-decent job of covering the small window, which overlooked a dark alley.
The bed, which was considerably smaller than the one she had shared with Arkimedes at the safe house, had fresh linens and a patchwork quilt draped over the top.
Leela strolled out of the washroom, drying her damp hands on the skirt of her cotton dress. She jumped, barely suppressing a scream as she spotted Nava in the narrow, arched entryway. “Miss! You almost scared me to death!”
“Sorry.” Quite the opposite of her intentions. She’d come downstairs so she could chat with her friend without the pressure of Arkimedes being in the same room. “I know it must be difficult to welcome us here, especially after Fael’s sister visited you.”
Leela walked over to a set of drawers, which leaned crookedly against the wall, and pulled out a nightgown. “My home is not fit for royalty, Miss Nava.” She gestured at the surrounding mess. “Even less so this room.”
“Ark—Orion and I have camped in a Neem-infested forest before, Leela. This is perfectly fine.”
“Perhaps so, but I hate to make you both uncomfortable.” The rain poured outside, and it was hard to hear her whispered words. “I—I can’t believe you’re the prince’s soulmate. I mean, it makes so much sense now, why he looked at you the way he did. Why he defended you against our own, again and again, even though you’d only just met.”
“What we told you today might put us in danger. Orion and I trusted you with our secret because helping us also puts your life at risk. But it’s not something others should know.”
It was still so strange to call him by his given name, but now that she’d been in this kingdom for a while, she was getting used to the idea of him being a royal and his connection to the land.
“Of course…” Leela shifted from foot to foot. “I’m afraid for you. What if the guards come while you’re here? I’m—I’m not sure whether Nora has been watching over my house and waiting for you to come. She stays in the castle most of the day with His Majesty, so perhaps if we are lucky, nobody saw you come in…”
It was something that worried Nava as well—but surely if someone had been lying in wait and spotted them, they would know by now.
And even if the guards attacked them here, they would not hurt Arkimedes. After what she’d told the king before she’d left through the portal, he probably wouldn’t hurt her either. Not if he knew the queen’s tree was alive because of her.
The Crows were another problem entirely…
Leela laid the clean, lacy garment over the bed, before turning to Nava. “Mr. Black—is he cursed?”
Nava nodded and strolled toward the washroom. It was tiny, with limewash walls and a candle flickering on top of a rustic table. A barrel tub took up most of the space, and it was steaming with water full of salts and oils that made everything smell wonderful.
She almost moaned at the mere sight of it. Her aching muscles demanded she strip off her clothes and get in immediately.
“I used lavender oils to soothe your sore muscles. It seems like you need it.” Leela hadn’t commented on how battered they all appeared after their fight with the spirits, but they smelled and looked like death. “I also brought you my favorite soap from a local seller. I hope you enjoy it.”
“This is perfect, Leela.” Nava pulled the shirt she’d borrowed from the Crows over her head. She was itching to get out of these clothes. “Do you have anything I could wear tomorrow?”
“I’m sure I can find something for all three of you in Renna’s shop. I’m afraid my clothes won’t quite fit you,” Leela said.
It was true. She was lithe and tall, while Nava had wide round hips and narrow shoulders.
