“If you need to speak to me in private, use that.” Tran said and started walking back into the crowd with a little tray floating behind him.
“Wait,” I called after him, “You can’t just…go.” My last word dropped in a whisper.
I patted my pocket holding my gifts.
Well, whatever he had given me, he had said I could use to talk to him later. I sighed and went looking for my father.
As I passed, people bowed at me and hurried to step aside. Many of them smiled at me, which was something I wasn’t used to—particularly the young men.
I needed to get out of this room. Too many staring eyes…
My dad stood near the exit, laughing and smiling with a very rotund man, who had a flaming red beard he was scratching with a jewel-covered hand.
“Daria!” Dad beamed.
“Have you seen Fleck?” I asked as I approached.
Dad shook his head. “The guild still hasn’t arrived, but I imagine it won’t be much longer. Here, Tosca, meet my daughter.” He nodded to the broad man beside him, who extended a thick, hairy arm.
So, this was Lord Tosca, the man Alex had gone to serve.
“It is a pleasure, princess,” Lord Tosca said in a gregarious tone and bowed his head. “Lord Tosca, at your service.”
“Princess, what’s wrong?” Dad pulled me away. “Is this about Fleck, because I promise you he’s perfectly safe…”
I dropped my voice. “No, I’m not feeling very well.”
Dad searched my face and pressed the back of his hand to my forehead. “You do feel clammy.”
Thank you, nervous perspiration.
“I was wondering how long you’d last.” He glanced down at my scarf-wrapped arms. “I can get one of the healers—”
“No,” I interrupted, “I’d like to go to my room, if you don’t mind. Rhea can take care of me…as long as I’m not needed here for anything else?”
“No.” Dad studied me a moment. “Are you sure? It’s nothing to—”
“Dad, I’ll be just fine, and if I’m not better in the morning, you can find one of your healers, okay?”
At last, he sighed. “All right. Your grandfather will be disappointed, but he’ll have to manage.” He smiled and wrapped his arms around me, holding me close. “I’ll walk you to your room.”
He started to reach for my arm and I said, “No, my room isn’t far and the entire guard is standing watch between here and there. Besides, you’d better stay and keep an eye on things…like Stefan.”
He hesitated, but I saw the smile on his lips. “Good point.” He arched a brow. “In fact, maybe you should take him with you.”
I made a face, and Dad laughed. “On second thought, I don’t like the idea of my only son dying at the age of twenty-one, so I think it best he stay here with me.”
I grinned as he leaned forward and kissed my forehead.
“You’re sure you don’t want someone to go with you?” Dad pressed. “What about Thaddeus, or I thought I saw Sturgis around here somewhere…” He started searching the crowd.
“Dad,” I said firmly.
“All right,” he said at last, “but straight to your room, understand?”
I couldn’t stop my smile, and he smiled back.
I pushed through the doors, out of the room, leaving the noise behind me.
Silence.
I took a slow, deep breath.
The castle was empty and the echo of my shoes tapping along the stone floor seemed lonely and out of place. After having come from the bright ballroom, the halls were exceptionally dark and cold. I shivered and pulled my scarf tighter. Unfortunately for me, the scarf was more of a fashion accessory and less a piece of functional clothing.
Rhea had been wrong. This was ridiculous femininity at its finest.
A draft of cool air blew threw the halls and right through my permeable scarf, and I shivered again. But it was better than being back there, at the dance, dealing with them. Dealing with him.
I could still see his face, smiling at her. I could still see her in his arms, comfortable and happy like she’d belonged there. My stomach turned and my throat squeezed around the lump.
Why had he even bothered coming over to talk to me? Did he get some sort of sick pleasure out of knowing that I still cared for him?
“—was too close!” hissed a voice in the darkness.
I stopped dead in my tracks.
“Shh!” hissed another.
Where are the voices coming from?
I craned my neck down the nearest hall, searching the shadows.
“Tiernan wants it now!” said the first.
There, just beyond a statue, a shadow moved. I slipped out of my shoes, careful not to make a sound, shoved them in a corner out of sight, and crept down the hall.
“Patience,” said the other. “You must have patience, or it will all fail.”
They were just around the corner from me now. I pressed myself against the wall beside a drapery.
“I understand what’s at stake, Ambrose.” Ambrose? “Lord Eris has made that quite clear”—Who is Lord Eris?—“and he says the boy is coming into his powers. If Darius takes them now, we’ll lose our opportunity.”
They were talking about Fleck. My hands clenched, fisting the drapery.
“The king isn’t planning to take his powers, not yet, anyway. He’s merely holding him under observation. In this instance, his arrogance works in our favor.”
But who is Ambrose talking to?
“What about the box?”
“Lord Tiernan assured me the princess didn’t know of its existence. Unfortunately, that knowledge died with her mother. The boy is our only assurance that Eris’s power won’t be challenged.”
“I say we take him now,” growled the other.
“We can’t,” Ambrose continued. “There are too many people watching. We must wait until after the games. Then it’ll be safe and Eris can drain the boy of his power.”
My world stopped.
It didn’t matter what my father had said—what anyone had said. Whatever these two were planning, whatever was about to happen, they were planning to take Fleck, and it didn’t sound like Fleck was coming out of it alive.
The bar supporting the drapery bent, suddenly creaked, and I fell forward.
I held my breath, landing on my hands, leaving me bent in an uncomfortable position over the floor.
Silence.
Sweat beaded down my temples as I strained to hold my position.
“What of the dark rider?” the man continued. “Where is he?”
I sighed. That was close.
“Lord Eris said that he…”
One of the silver pins slipped from my hair, and I watched in slow motion as it fell and clattered to the floor.
Oh, no.
I leapt to my feet and ducked behind a statue just as the crimson robes of the headmaster appeared, and beside him, the long, black cloak of another.
My heart beat so loudly I was certain they’d hear it.
They whispered something to each other that I could not hear, and then after what felt like an eternity, the pair walked down the hall. I held my breath as they passed, careful not to make a sound, and then I saw the other man.
It was Lord Commodus.
For a long moment, I stood there bewildered. Lord Commodus and the headmaster were working together, and I could’ve sworn they’d mentioned Tiernan. But who was Lord Eris?
I didn’t know anyone named Eris, except for the name on that portrait in the lower library…
I shuddered.
My first thought was to run and tell my father, but what would I say? What proof did I have? It would be my word against Lord Commodus’s and the headmaster’s.
Fleck.
He was the accessory in all of this.
I had to see him. I had to see him and get him out of here.
Now.
Chapter 11
Desperate Measures
Rhea was
bent over a chest when I ran into my room and, hearing me enter, she glanced up, surprised. “What are you doing back—?”
“I have to get Fleck out of here.”
Her eyes widened as I explained everything—what I’d seen, what I’d heard—and all the while she stood there, breathing deep and even.
When I finished, she was quiet. At last, she said, “I’ll do everything I can to cover you, but they’re keeping a close eye on Fleck. I can’t help you get past the guards. You need someone more powerful for that, preferably someone that doesn’t have any vested interest in his powers, and right now, I can think of no one.”
I smiled. “I can.”
She raised a brow. “Who?”
Someone pounded on the door, and Rhea and I jumped.
“Do you want me to answer it?” Rhea asked.
“No, let me.” I wanted to make sure whoever was there would promptly be going away.
I ran to the door, then let my shoulders sag and eyes droop, and turned to Rhea. “How do I look?” I whispered.
She smiled, understanding. “Exhausted and feverish.”
I inched the door open until the person on the other side shoved it in all the way.
“Thad?”
“Knock, knock!” He grinned. There was an arm draped over his shoulder, and that arm belonged to Stefan, whose head hung low while he dragged one foot on the ground, sort of hopping on his other.
“What in the…?” My voice trailed as Alex appeared right behind them. He wasn’t looking at me, though; he was watching the shadows in the hall with mistrust.
“I know you’re not feeling well,” Thad said, “and I’m sorry to bring you into this, but seeing as you and Rhea are the only two people in the entire castle not at the ball…”
“What happened?” I asked
“You should probably close the door,” Thad grunted as he and Alex dropped a mumbling and laughing Stefan on my sofa. “Oh, and Rhea? Would you mind keeping an eye on the hall?”
“Certainly,” Rhea said, then looked at me. “As long as that’s all right?”
I nodded and she left, closing the door behind her.
Alex had disappeared into my bathroom and Thad was busy propping Stefan’s head up on a pillow. I suddenly heard the sound of water running.
Just make yourselves at home.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Well,” Thad started. “Goldilocks here had a little too much to drink, not that you didn’t know that already, and soon after you left, got himself into a fight with a Nordic. Not the sort of thing a skinny prince should ever do.” Thad glanced at Stefan and wagged his finger with a tsk-tsk-tsk. “Over a fraeling of all things.”
Alex returned with a bowl of water and a rag and walked straight to Stefan.
“A fraeling?” I asked.
“The twins. You know, the pretty ones you…”
“Get on with it,” I said, folding my arms.
“Well, they’re daughters of the Arborenne—magic folk. Goldilocks, here, was stupid enough to think himself in love with one”—Thad batted his eyelids—“and of course she grew bored, as they usually do, and found herself a Nordic boy to make out with. By then, Stefan was so drunk on faerie wine he probably would’ve gone hand-to-hand combat with a gorilla. Though, I’m not sure there’s that much difference between a Nord and a gor—“
“Thaddeus.” Alex fixed a hard glare on Thad. “A little help.”
Thad grinned and hopped to Alex’s side.
“We need to take off his boot,” Alex said lowly.
Thad grabbed Stefan’s leg and Stefan immediately stopped laughing in order to scream. “OW! Oh, it hurts! Please don’t take off my foot! I only have two of them.” Stefan started laughing again and hiccupped in between.
“Careful!” Alex said.
“I am being careful! Stef won’t stop—hey, knock it off, would ya! I’m not Sedi!” Stefan had reached over and was stroking Thad’s cheek affectionately.
I glanced down and gasped. Stefan’s foot was the color of an eggplant and about as big as a watermelon. I jumped to his side, eyes wide. “How did that happen?”
Alex crouched beside me, not taking his eyes off of Stefan. “The bones in his foot are shattered.”
“Shattered?” I gasped. “Did he kick a rock?”
“Might as well have.” Thad laid the wet rag over Stefan’s purple foot. “Fighting a Nord is like…well, fighting a block of ice. Come to think of it, they’re about as smart as a block of ice, too.”
Stefan yelled in pain and sat upright, grasping for the rag, but within seconds Alex had both hands against Stefan’s chest, pushing him down. “Lie down.” Alex’s voice was firm.
“But it—“ Stefan hiccupped “—hurts!”
Alex shot Thad a look, and then a smirk stretched across Thad’s face. “I like how you think, Del Can’t.”
“Hurry.” Alex’s features were tight. “We don’t have much time.”
“Time for what?” I asked.
“And make sure no one sees you.” Alex kept his hands on Stefan’s chest, making sure he stayed down.
“What’s going on?” I demanded.
“This is me we’re talking about.” Thad jumped to his feet and headed for my door.
“Wait…where are you going?” I asked.
“Be back, princess.” He started to leave and paused, glancing between Alex and me. “Now, you two lovebirds behave while I’m gone.” He beamed and closed the door after him.
My cheeks flared as I looked back at Alex, but Alex wasn’t looking at me. He wasn’t looking at Stefan, either. He was studying the vase of flowers, the ones Danton had sent. They were on the table next to him and the note had been left open beside it.
Alex didn’t move. He didn’t react, didn’t breathe, until at last, his gaze moved back to Stefan.
Why did I feel so embarrassed? Like I’d done something wrong or…
Why are you even thinking about this right now? There are more important things, like getting Stefan out of here and sneaking Fleck out of Gaia!
I swallowed. “Is he going to be okay?”
Stefan flew an arm out, which Alex caught and pushed back down.
“He’d better be walking by tomorrow night,” he said, adjusting a pillow behind Stefan. His arm brushed against mine and my skin tingled.
“What’s tomorrow night?” I asked, trying to ignore how close we were.
Alex flexed his jaw. “The ceremony. When the champions are bound to the games. It’s a blood contract, and once their blood is sealed, those champions must fight or there can be no winner. If he can’t walk tomorrow night they won’t let him enter.”
That was why Alex didn’t want anyone seeing Thad. No one could know how bad Stefan’s injury was because if this got out, he might not be allowed to enter tomorrow.
As far as I was concerned, Stefan deserved it after what he’d done, putting Fleck in this position. But now Stefan was in my room, incoherent and broken, with no sign of leaving any time soon.
And I needed him out of here. Now.
“Will Thad be able to find something to heal him?” I asked.
Alex raked a hand through his dark hair, his features sharp. “Yes, but it’s a risk, and without proper time—”
There was pounding on the door.
Alex’s eyes snapped to the door, then narrowed, and he went still.
“Help me move Stefan,” he whispered.
He started pulling Stefan up by his torso while Stefan smiled sheepishly and murmured something incoherent.
I grabbed Stefan’s legs and the two of us very carefully moved Stefan into my bathroom as whoever it was pounded on my door again.
“Just a minute!” I yelled.
I started for the door when Alex grabbed my arm. He leaned so close I could smell the peppermint on his breath. “No one can know about this.”
His eyes burned into mine, and I nodded.
He let go and slipped into my bathroom.
I hurried to my door, put my hand on the doorknob, and turned. “Danton?” I swallowed. “What are you doing here?”
Oh. My. Gosh.
His eyes glistened and he took a slow step forward. “I told you that I would come check on you.”
He’d been drinking.
“Um”—He needs to leave!—“thanks, but I didn’t think you meant, er, tonight.”
“I didn’t think so, either.” Danton grinned. “But I was worried and I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
Please, tell me Alex didn’t hear that.
“May I come in?” Danton asked.
“I’m not sure if that’s…”
“Please.” He grabbed onto my naked shoulders and squeezed gently. “I won’t stay long. I swear to you. There’s just…something I need to talk to you about.”
His eyes were so blue and pleading that I was having a difficult time figuring out how, exactly, to tell him to go away, and then he pushed past me and traipsed into my room.
Shoot. That wasn’t supposed to happen. I followed him inside and closed the door, trying to calm myself.
Danton looked around my room and I glanced at my bathroom. The door wasn’t shut all the way—open just a crack—but you couldn’t tell anyone was inside and, so far, Alex was doing an excellent job of keeping Stefan quiet.
Danton’s eyes settled on the flowers and he smiled. “They look beautiful in here.”
“Thanks.” I glanced at the bathroom door again.
“But—” Danton stepped towards me and touched one of my curls “—not as beautiful as you.”
A thousand alarms went off. I pushed his hand away and turned; his disappointment was acute and this time, he didn’t bother hiding it from his face.
“I’m sorry,” he said at last. “I don’t know why I did that, and that’s…what I wanted to talk to you about.”
Oh, no.
Oh, no, no, no, no!
Not here, not now, and especially not with Alex behind my bathroom door.
“I don’t know what has come over me,” he continued, raking a hand through his blond hair, “but when I’m around you, I lose myself, my discretion. I know we’ve only just met, but I can’t stop thinking about you.”
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