“It was wrong of you to leave us and take on the blight alone. Liam didn’t take it well. He really cares about you.”
“I know.”
“No, I don’t think you do. Liam is always rational, steady as a rock and the perfect commander, able to think things through. When you’re around, he’s a different person. He struggles, he’s distracted, loses his temper if there’s even a hint of threat to you.”
Heat warmed my cheeks.
“All signs he’s in love. And I’ve never seen him so protective of someone, and I’ve known him forever.”
“Ever since Duke Tallywood adopted him and he became your brother.”
“Who told you? It’s a sore spot with Liam, being adopted. He doesn’t talk about it.”
“Oh, you must have.”
Devin shook his head. “It’s best if you stay put—for now.”
“Fine.” I agreed and sat on the bed, politely clasping my hands in my lap, giving him a pleasant but forced smile.
It must have been too forced because he gave me an odd look.
“You have no plans to stay here and obey, do you?”
“No.” My smile grew wider, but my hands shook, and I squeezed them together tighter.
“Do I want to know how you’re going to leave?”
“It’s best if you don’t, then you can claim ignorance.”
“Okay, but there’s two guards outside the door, and one at the bottom of the stairs,” Devin muttered under his breath. “They’re my friends, so try not to kill them.”
My smile waned. I didn’t even think of having to incapacitate guards.
The door shut, and I heard the lock click.
A dark shape landed on my sill, and Maeve cocked her head at me.
“Took you long enough,” I chastised. “I need you to watch the thorns for when Tatiana leaves their protection and heads to the palace.”
Why? she thought to me.
“Because the king’s going to kill her, and she’s going to kill the king.”
Maeve’s eyes glittered with mischief.
This will be fun.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Lochni,” I whispered the unlocking spell under my breath.
The door unlocked and swung inward a few inches.
I flung it open and surprised the two guards.
This is the witch?
She doesn’t seem that dangerous.
I frowned, and quickly touched my fingers to both their foreheads, making the spell stronger by doing so.
Somnus.
They slumped, their armor clanging together as they collided and fell asleep on the floor. Their thoughts suddenly became silent as they slept.
“Oh, that’s a relief.” I touched my head and thought of a plan.
I crept down the stairs and sure enough, there was another guard at the bottom. Tapping his shoulder, he turned, and I did the same to him.
Somnus.
He crumpled into a pile, his helm clanging loudly against the stone wall. I winced at the sound and wondered if I injured him. Then he let out a long snore and I sighed in relief.
Passing near the throne room, a strong aura washed over me. I stumbled as a flash of red flickered in my mind.
Slowing, I found a space in a dark alcove and hid within the shadows. I tried to block out the unnecessary feelings and focus on the anger coming from the corridor.
When can we go home?
Mary won’t share.
I can’t pay that price for flour.
“Not now,” I muttered. Pressing my palms to my ears, I tried to ignore them and focus on what was going on right in front of me. But there wasn’t any way to do it surrounded by thousands of people. Walking up and down the halls, I tried to narrow down from which room I was getting the anger and heightened emotions.
A flash of green and red lit up my mind—greed and anger—as my hand settled around a golden doorknob. I leaned in, pressing my ear to the door.
“Do you have enough?” a muffled voice said.
“I have plenty for what you need,” a female speaker answered.
“If this does what you say it does, then we have a deal.”
The voices became distant, as if they were moving away from the door.
Turning the handle, I opened the door an inch and peeked into the room. A fire blazed in the fireplace, two oversized chairs faced the low burning embers. A round table with two glasses sat abandoned. I heard the far door closing and swung open the door to enter the study. I must have just missed the occupants leaving out the side door.
A cloying scent reached my nose, and I covered my mouth and almost gagged when I recognized the familiar smell, one that a certain brothel owner used. Madam Esme. Keeping my sleeve over my mouth and nose, my knees went weak.