knew exactly where I was headed and all the turns to take in order to risk being seen by the least amount of people, but that meant I’d likely run into guards, so I kept to the main halls instead and strolled along with a smile on my face.
The walls were covered in armor, priceless artifacts, and portraits of the king for every year he’d been ruling Fae Islands. There were only ten of them, and I hoped like hell that there wouldn’t be an eleventh.
The next hall held portraits of past leaders. I briefly paused at the previous queen’s. Had she been just as bad as her brother, or had King Zephyr killed her? Neither answer would surprise me. A dozen or so paintings hung there—the last picture of each previous ruler—but I paid them no attention as I hurried toward my destination.
I didn’t come across anything new until I arrived at the king’s door. The old wooden doors that had been hand-carved were no longer present. In their place were hideous steel doors with wood handles and one small sliding panel near eye level.
Approaching, I kept the smile on my face and bowed my head to the guards. “Lunch for the king,” I said without making eye contact. Maids were the lowest of low to the king. They were replaceable, and I wouldn’t pretend I thought otherwise.
Neither turned away from me, but the one on the left banged his fist on the door three times. No noise could be heard from inside, which I found interesting. That meant nobody would be able to hear him scream, either…
The idea was tantalizing and had me filled with elation in an instant, but I hadn’t come here prepared to kill him. The king was nearly immortal, and I wouldn’t be foolish to think I could end him without a proper weapon to remove his head, or even the most wicked spell I could get my hands on.
Finally, I heard two locks disengage and the metal panel opened up, only the king’s eyes and top of his head visible. “What?”
“Did you want your lunch, my king?” the left guard asked.
King Zephyr’s eyes darted down to me. Knowing he considered maids replaceable, it wouldn’t be of concern to him if he didn’t recognize me.
“What’s for lunch?” King Zephyr asked.
I was suddenly even more thankful I’d poisoned the food, or I wouldn’t have had an answer to that question. “Something warm and soothing, your highness. Potato soup.”
He grunted and slammed the panel closed. I took a step back, assuming that was his denial and I’d have to try something different, but then more locks began shifting and I stayed put. Still, the guards said nothing to me while we waited.
Time was running out. I’d already been gone at least three of the five minutes Finn had allowed, but I wasn’t concerned with them leaving me behind if it meant I had my chance at making sure King Zephyr’s sanity was about to be compromised. Even if I couldn’t kill him without proper preparations, I could at least take this time to make him suffer.
King Zephyr stood in the doorway and waved me into his chambers. Proper etiquette meant I couldn’t look him in the eyes, but it didn’t stop me from appraising the rest of him once I walked behind him.
His hair had been more grey than brunet when I’d seen him from afar at the gate, but it was back to darker colors and there was a tight set in his shoulders that told me he wasn’t as weak as I’d perceived before. He must be taking power from somewhere, and I’d need to figure out where before I faced him again.
He turned to take a seat at his desk, moving papers around before I set the tray down, and I couldn’t help myself from meeting his sour gaze. “Your highness. I do hope you enjoy.” There was too much thrill in my voice that he apparently took for sultry.
He grabbed on to my wrist, the shit-brown eyes I’d always hated appraising my face and chest, while I did the same to him, noticing even the wrinkles I’d seen before were gone.
“You must be new?” he asked, his hold cutting off circulation to my arm.
I bowed my head. “Yes, your highness. I’ll leave you be to eat your lunch.”
Even though I tugged at my hand, he didn’t loosen his grip. “What’s your name?”
“Sally,” I replied through gritted teeth. If he didn’t let me