his mouth to protest, I fix both him and Bastian—who looks ready to take Ferrick’s side at any given moment—with a sharp look. “I am Visidia’s queen. I’m here for a purpose, and I’m not leaving until I’ve accomplished everything I set out to do.” My body is weak as I try to stand. “We’ll carry out our morning as planned and then meet in the afternoon to find whoever did this. And Casem, do me a favor in the meantime. Find the reporter who wrote this parchment, would you? I’d like to have a word with him.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
No matter how bone-tired and weary I feel, I must present myself with smiles and continue with the unsuspecting charade that everything is fine.
After kicking out everyone but Vataea—who lounges in a chaise in my room, glaring at the door as though it’s about to come to life and attack at any given moment—I journey to the attached bathing room to try to breathe some life back into my skin.
I lather the tub with powders and tonics all meant to energize me, scrubbing my skin with scented creams and my hair with shimmery oils. Stepping out, I slick my curls back and coil them into a bun, using rose water and rouge to liven my cheeks. By the time I’m done, I look far less tired than I feel, and am passable to journey out into Curmana. Primarily, for my date with Lord Freebourne.
Though I thought to cancel it, Ferrick insisted we didn’t want to draw suspicion. However, I’m not to consume anything, be it water or food, unless it comes from my crew directly.
“You look nice.” Vataea stands to stretch out her long limbs as I emerge from the bathing room, fully dressed and my face made up. “You look as though you might actually be trying to impress this man.”
The questioning lilt of her voice itches at my skin. Was I trying to impress Elias? He’s handsome and sharp, I’ll give him that. But my thoughts don’t linger on him. He was a fun distraction for the night, but little more than that.
“It’s all of Curmana I’m trying to impress,” I tell her instead, though the words make my tongue bitter. How hard should I be trying when someone here attempted to poison me? I hate that I can’t be bold in my actions and alert the kingdom so that we might find who did it. I hate that I have to pretend.
Vataea hooks a satchel to her hips, skimming her fingers over her poniard to ensure it’s in place. Back on Arida, Casem and I had helped her design the long, serrated blade. It’s thin and light enough that it wouldn’t weigh her down if she were to take it in the ocean. But there’s danger in the deadly jagged edges. Though Vataea’s true weapon will always be her voice and the water surrounding her, she needed something for protection here on land. To my surprise, she’s grown rather attached to it.
“Well then, let’s go impress them.” Shoving her feet into a pair of black boots, she tosses me a coat and we head out. Shanty waits cross-legged on the floor outside, picking at her nails. She looks relieved to stand, and I’m relieved to have her. Both of these girls are by far the fiercest and most capable of my crew in a fight; should anyone try something, I’ll be glad to have them on my side.
But unfortunately, Shanty’s not alone. Bastian’s beside her, broad arms folded across his chest.
“We need to talk,” he says, brow arching when Shanty slyly scoots an inch closer to eavesdrop. “Alone.”
“There’s somewhere I need to be,” I start, but he ignores me, quick to take me by the wrist and walk me right back into the room, shutting the door behind us. Outside it, Vataea growls a few choice words.
“Freebourne can wait.” He drops my wrist, eyes starless and steely. “I know I said I didn’t care if you kept your secrets, but I lied. We’re playing with fire, and it’s time to tell me the truth. Why are we really here?”
My chest numbs. It’s everything I can do to keep my attention level with his and not give myself away. “Visidia needs an heir—”
“Don’t give me that.” There’s venom in his growl, raw and fresh. “We both know this is nothing more than a charade, Amora. And let’s not forget I can feel your soul. You were searching for someone last