“I understand. We can stop however often she needs to.” I stand, offering her my hand. “You should eat something. You need to rebuild your strength.”
“Yes sir.” She gives me a sardonic salute as she takes it and slides off the bed. I follow her into the adjoining room, where Ilayna has smuggled an assortment of fresh fruit and pastries.
“How are your hands today?” Dover asks around a mouthful of food.
“Good.” Serena examines them. “A lot better.”
“They look better,” Zadyn notes, watching her sink onto the empty loveseat beside me. I pour a glass of water and hand it to Serena, then start filling up a plate for her. She drinks the whole thing down in one go.
“I forgot how thirsty magic makes you,” she says in explanation.
Mar nods in agreement. “Right?”
“So I talked to Furi. She said we can head out today.”
“That’s great news,” Mar says. “I’ve missed my bed like you wouldn’t believe.”
“I’ve missed your bed too,” Dover agrees.
“Me three.” Mar turns to smack Kai on the arm. “Hey, watch it. I’m wounded.”
Serena laughs, wrapping her lips around a crimson apple, driving my mind to some dark places.
Stop staring at her fucking mouth. Focus.
“We need a plan,” I blurt, effectively squashing the mood. “Kylian’s guards are outside, swarming the streets. Our faces are plastered on every wall, window, and lamp post for miles. We’re officially wanted persons.”
“I was thinking about that earlier,” Ilayna says, lingering by the door.
I feel a kind of sympathy when I look at her. Zadyn’s done his bestto make her feel welcome with us, but I haven’t seen him so much as look at her since we walked in.
Interesting.
Taking a tentative step forward, she goes on, “A carriage is coming at noon to take a few of the girls to the dressmaker. Her shop is closer to the edge of town.”
“You want to smuggle us out?” Dover asks incredulously.
“What are we going to tell the other girls when the six of us cram into the carriage with them?” Serena asks. “The six of us whose faces match those flyers?”
“Leave that to me, sweets,” Kai drawls, folding his arms behind his head.
As promised,a carriage pulls up to the front of the building at noon.
We silently make our way down the halls into an impressive foyer with checkered tiles and crystal teardrop chandeliers. This entire time, Ilayna had been sneaking us in the back to avoid traffic.
“This is…not what I expected,” Mar says appreciatively, glancing at the rows of sculptures and expensive-looking art on the walls.
“The madame is all about running a tactful, high-class business. We don’t deal with riff-raff here,” Ilayna explains, holding open a door off to the side of the entrance.
“Why are we in a coat closet?” Dover asks as we slip inside.
“Wait here. When it’s time, I’ll knock twice. Alright?” Ilayna says, then shuts us inside.
Kai hums. “Closets are no fun with this many people. I like to limit it to two or three. Females, preferably.”
“Kai,” Mar and Serena chide in unison.
I can’t see her, but I can feel her brushing up against me, her scent pervading my senses, urging me,beggingme to touch her. This nagging, insistent need is wearing on me. I shake my head, trying to clear the thoughts as we wait in silence.
