I hated bringing Melaena to Renwell’s attention like this, but I hated the idea that she could be plotting against my family and my kingdom even more. But did she deserve condemnation any more than Garyth did?
“Then your mission has become more important than ever.” Renwell pinned me with his sharp stare. “This heist will be the key to solidifying your place among these people, so you have more time afterward to find out whoheis and whatheplans to do.”
“But what of the gold? Fa—the king will not want to lose it.”
“We will win it back tenfold when you uncover the conspiracy and all its makers. Everything they have will be forfeited to the crown.”
Panic bubbled under my skin. “Aiden expects me to be on a ship sailing away with my cut after the heist.”
“You’re not leaving this city,” Renwell growled. “Unless you plan to disobey me again.”
“Then how?—”
Renwell slashed his gloved hand through the air. “If he cares enough to kill for you, then he’ll care enough to keep you. Use that.”
My body grew cold. He wanted me to weaponize the flicker of trust that had just sparked between me and Aiden.
I had already betrayed Aiden in so many ways, yet this one felt the worst.
“I will do what I can,” I said in a hollow voice.
“Excellent, now tell me the plan for the heist.”
I told him my part as a dancer stealing the key from Asher and opening the vault for Aiden.
Renwell nodded along, as if it all made sense. “How will you keep Asher and the other attendees from recognizing you?”
“I’ll wear a mask and makeup along with a... distracting costume. Melaena says he’s partial to her dancers.”
Renwell sneered. “Asher and his many weaknesses. Simply act the sweet, playful admirer, and you could steal his very soul if you wished.”
I frowned. I knew there was no love lost between the two of them, but he seemed to care little for the position we were putting a fellow High Councilor in.
“Do you remember which lock it is?” he asked.
“Well enough.”
“Come here.” He emptied a pouch of gold coins onto the bed.
I stood opposite him, but he shook his head with a smirk and pointed. “Next to me, Kiera.”
I steeled my spine and walked around the bed to stand next to him.
“Imagine this is the vault door,” he said. “And these”—he placed the coins in a familiar pattern on the coarse bed linen—“are the locks. This is the one you want.” He placed a gloved finger on one near the top-right corner.
I might’ve gotten it right without his help, but I committed the position to memory. I couldn’t risk making a mistake now that I was officially going through with this.
Holy Four, I was actually going to have todancein front of the nobles andstealfrom the High Treasurer.
Sweat beaded along my hairline. I needed to rehearse much, much more. I needed everything to go smoothly so that Aiden and Melaena would see me as an ally they wanted to keep—and to trust.
Renwell swept the coins off the bed and put them back in his pouch, his elbow brushing mine.
I quickly put some distance between us, pressing my back against the now-quiet lovers’ wall. “Do you really think I can do this?” I blurted out.
Renwell faced me, his gaze unfathomable. “You did well, Kiera, bringing me this information. You have earned trust and loyalty from dangerous people by simply using your wit and tenacity. This was only your second mission, and your first undercover one. I stand by my initial assessment.”
From the bridge. When he was convinced I would succeed even though my father didn’t.
