bath would be lovely, thank you, Davida.”
The woman bows and picks up the clothes he’s discarded, then leaves. As the sound of water runs, Castian watches the painting of his mother. He stares at her for a long moment, shakes his head, then opens the secret compartment behind the painting. He reaches into the safe and withdraws a long rectangular wooden box etched with gold symbols. His face is stone, resolute. He marches out of the room.
When he returns, his hands are empty. Davida reenters and holds out a robe for him.
I sit in the dark for a long time and process what I’ve seen.
Castian did have the weapon in his room, but I was too late. I was always going to be too late because that was the day he murdered Dez. I remember the clothes he wore, the pattern of the blood on his face. I remember charging toward him and being stopped.
He came back to his rooms and ran a bath. How could Davida attend to him? Is that why she’s in the kitchens? A place to go when the prince is gone?
When I finally fall asleep, I dream of being swallowed by the sea.
Come morning, Leo and I talk about everything and nothing but finally return to an easy rhythm. He never mentions our run-in at Prince Castian’s chambers again, not to ask me why I was there or to explain his own actions, which leads me to believe I’m safe. He clearly doesn’t want anyone to know about him being a messenger for his old mistress as much as I don’t want anyone to know about me rummaging around Castian’s apartments.
With four days left until the Sun Festival, it’s difficult to search the palace during the day because Alessandro keeps getting better at trailing me. Sometimes, I’ll swear I’m alone, and then I catch him near me. The thing that gives him away is the cloying scent of holy oils. It’s like he bathes in them.
I remain with Leo, and I tell myself it is for protection. But really, he’s the only friend I have in the world.
Leo fills me in on all the court gossip. Lady Sevilla caught her husband in a compromising position with her own sister and may not attend the queen’s garden party. Duque Arias’s ship was lost at sea during its voyage back from Islas del Rey, the king’s private islands.
We’re interrupted by the jostle of the doorknob. Leo’s green eyes narrow with confusion. Only Leo has the key.
And Méndez.
The justice lets himself into my room and dread coils in my gut. Dressed in riding trousers and a long tunic with a decorative sword belt strapped around his waist, he looks like he’s ready for a long journey. Where would he go less than a week before the festivities?
I hate that he strides in as if he is entitled to be here. I hate that when he looks at me, his gray eyes brighten. I hate that I am relieved to see him, just for a moment.
“Renata,” he says, tugging off his gloves. “Leonardo. I thought I might catch you before your duties.”
Leo and I rise to our feet at the sound of our names.
“What a surprise,” I say, a brightness in my voice I’ve learned from listening to the courtiers that flitter around the palace. “You’ve been too busy for me, my justice.”
Leo hurries forward. “May I fetch you something—”
Méndez holds up his hand and Leo falls silent. Blood rushes to my face as I wait for him to speak. “I came to see the status of your wound and give you instructions.”
“My justice?”
Leo clears the food trays and wipes down the table.
“I am sorry, my sweet. I am called away on matters of the king,” Méndez says, but the curt tone of his voice makes me wary to continue to prod.
“I was about to change her bandage,” Leo says, returning from the adjoining room with the healing kit. Fresh cloth and tinctures in brown glass bottles. A needle and thread in case my wound has reopened.
“That won’t be necessary,” Méndez says. “Lady Nuria is here. Please see that she and Judge Alessandro have everything they require.”
At the mention of her name, Leo and I look at each other. His dark eyelashes flutter and he tugs on the bottom of his attendant jacket, the only sign that he might be nervous. My heart spikes to my throat, but I break our gaze and begin unwrapping my own bandage.
“Right away,