My jaw dropped. That was the one thing she’d gotten from our father—his quick temper.
I wanted to stay. I wanted to comfort her. But what did I have to offer? I felt as lost as she did.
Everett stood. “I can get you to the gate.”
I shook my head. “It’s easier if I go alone.”
I squeezed his hand, then reached for Delysia’s, half-expecting her to push it away. But she grabbed my hand and clung to it fiercely, her crumpled face turned toward the fire.
I released them, leaving a little piece of my heart behind, and disappeared back into the hidden passageways.
By the time I climbed through the bedroom window ofThe Silk Dancerand crept into bed amid the heavily sleeping, probably drunk dancers, I was certain of two things.
First, I couldn’t let Aiden kill my father. The assassinations had to stop. For Aiden’s sake as much as mine and my siblings’.
Secondly, I wasn’t going to do it Renwell’s way. Or my father’s way. Or even Aiden’s way. I needed to do thismyway with as little bloodshed as possible.
Which meant being the perfect rebel.
Chapter 29
Kiera
Aiden didn’t comefor me until I was finishing breakfast with the dancers.
Tullia and Jayde had dragged me out of bed, thinking my haggard appearance was from drinking the night before. They cheerfully passed around scrambled eggs, sausage, apple fritters, and coffee and caught me up on everything I’d missed at the party.
Jayde was telling me of a salacious song Tullia had performed when Melaena entered the entertainment hall where we all ate.
“Kiera? A moment, please.” But the tension in her eyes told me he was here.
I swallowed the last of my buttered toast and followed her out a side door and down the hall. Her pale blue dress whispered around her ankles as we walked.
“What about my knives and my cloak?” I’d left them in my room for breakfast.
“I brought them to the sitting room.” She gave me a sidelong glance. “I’m truly sorry for how you were drawn into this, Kiera. I’m sorry if you feel that you don’t have a choice.”
I almost snorted. I had choices. But hardly any of them were good.
She stopped in front of the sitting room door but faced me instead of opening it. Her cerulean eyes were bright with sincerity. “What I said before is still true. You have a home here. A safe haven, should you need it. And if you so wish, I’d love for you to keep dancing here, even if you can’t perform again.”
Gods damn it, I didn’t deserve her kindness. Thanks to me, she and her business would be under Father’s scrutiny. Even if I tried to steer his attention away, Melaena would never truly be safe while Father was in power.
After everything, I’d at least managed to succeed at that part of Renwell’s plan—earning a place with Melaena. But it didn’t feel like success.
I tried to smile at her and nodded. “I would love to visit and keep dancing. If Aiden allows it.”
Her look turned sly. “When it comes to you, I doubt there’s much he wouldn’t give.”
My stomach rolled over as she unlocked the door. On the other side, Aiden stood in the middle of the room. My traitorous heartbeat quickened.
He wore a thin, dark shirt unlaced at the top with the sleeves rolled up. His dark pants and boots were far cleaner than mine had been last night. His serious green gaze and locked jaw made my steps falter.
“Are you . . . well?” he asked.
I must look as ghastly as the girls had said. “Yes. I—I just didn’t sleep well.”
His brows lowered.
