“There,” Ahmi declared, breaking into Amryn’s thoughts as she tied off the loose braid. Her maid took a step back as Amryn stood, both of them glancing at Amryn’s reflection in the mirror.
Her gown was a soft sage green color, the style simple but pretty. A wide neck bared her collarbones, and the fabric was gathered at the tops of her shoulders, leaving her arms bare. A silver sash was tied around her waist, with matching silver threadwork at the hem and low collar. She’d chosen to wear the single diamond necklace her uncle had given her years ago.
She certainly looked more prepared for this meeting than she felt. The sheer number of people in attendance would be difficult for her to handle, with all their emotions tangling together, but it was more than that. She’d be near Emperor Vayne, his top advisors, High Clerics, and generals—all people who would not hesitate to condemn her if they knew her secret.
Her stomach pitched at the thought.
Ahmi soon excused herself, leaving Amryn alone. She ate a little of the breakfast that had been carried in earlier, but her stomach was in too many knots for her to eat much. The silence in the room only exacerbated her nerves.
The silence.
It took a second to realize why it felt so absolute. She was alone in the room, but the quiet was deeper than just Carver’s or Ahmi’s absence.
The familiar hum from the bloodstone was gone.
Shock hit first. Then panic. Saints, had something happened to it?
Maybe Carver took it, she thought, trying to reassure herself, even as her gaze landed on the packs in the corner. Perhaps he’d decided to keep it with him, so it wouldn’t be left unattended when they left for the meeting later. But wouldn’t he have told her?
Her heartbeat stuttered as a new thought occurred: what if someone else had taken it? They’d left the room to see Jayveh last night. What if a servant or guard had come in and found it? She couldn’t remember if she’d felt the bloodstone when they’d returned last night. She’d gotten so used to the constant hum, she hadn’t paid any attention to it. But the silence now was eerie. Wrong. More than that discomfort, however, was the fear of what would happen if someonehadtaken it. The bloodstone was unspeakably dangerous. And if someone recognized what it was, it could be used as evidence against her.
She hurried to the packs that had been moved to the corner and snatched up Carver’s bag. Digging inside, her breaths were shallow and tight as she fought to locate the small inner pocket and—
The moment her fingertips touched the amulet, a familiar purr rose. The bloodstone brushed against her empathic sense, gentle and reassuring.
Her frantic heartbeat steadied. The bloodstone was here. It was all right.
But even with that confirmation, she didn’t release the amulet. Touching it settled her in a way she couldn’t easily define. The instant comfort should probably worry her, but it felt . . . nice. It was as if the small thrum assured her that she wasn’t alone.
Her thumb traced over the gemstone as she drew it out of the pocket. The gem had once been black, but now—after she’d accessed its power in Esperance—it had turned to a deep red. At first contact, it gave off a faint glow, but it soon dimmed. She thought it would only glow brightly if she used it again. Something she knew she’d never attempt. In fact, she shouldn’t even be holding it right now. She should put it back in Carver’s bag. But her eyes were fixed on the gleaming surface of the bloodstone as it lay on her palm, the amulet’s chain dangling over the side of her hand. It was . . . difficult to look away.
A heavy knock hit the door.
Amryn startled, clutching the bloodstone in her fist.
“Lady Vincetti?” a deep voice called through the door.
A split-second decision had Amryn shoving the bloodstone into her pocket alongside her mother’s prayer coin before she hurried to the door.
The moment she opened it, her guard stepped aside, revealing Jayveh standing in the corridor with four bodyguards.
The princess looked beautiful, as she always did. Her long dark hair was twisted into a simple but elegant bun atop her head, and her gown of jewel-toned purple looked even richer against her dark skin. She appeared every inch the future empress, though Amryn could see the small lines around her eyes as well as the darkness gathered under them. She was exhausted. And not just because of the assassin’s attack last night. Amryn could sense her anxiety, her self-doubt, and the ever-present barb of her grief. Even though Jayveh believed Argent lived, she missed him with a gut-wrenching desperation. The weight of her sorrow, pain, and fear was enough to make Amryn’s chest ache.
Jayveh’s smile was slightly relieved. “Amryn. I know it’s early, but I didn’t think you’d still be sleeping after that quake. I was hoping you’d join me for a walk in thegardens before the emperor’s meeting. I’m feeling a bit restless, and I think some fresh air would help.”
Warring desires mixed inside Amryn. A walk would soothe some of her own restlessness, but leaving this room without Carver’s protection made her hesitate. Still, she didn’t want to lose a moment of the time she had left with Jayveh.
“That sounds lovely,” she said.
Jayveh smiled, relief flowing through her. “Wonderful! Are you ready now? I can wait, if you need a moment.”
It was the perfect excuse to duck into the room and slip the bloodstone back into its hiding place, but leaving it unattended seemed like a bad idea. Just because no onehadtaken it last night didn’t mean theycouldn’t.
The bloodstone hummed contentedly. That response—so immediate, sohuman—nearly made her change her mind. But the fact remained, it was a powerful and dangerous object, and it shouldn’t be left unguarded. She would only keep it until she could ask Carver to carry it.
“I’m ready,” Amryn assured Jayveh, tugging the door closed behind her. She turned to the guard stationed nearby. “When Car—General Vincetti,” she amended quickly, since that seemed more appropriate, “returns, would you please tell him where I’ve gone?”
The guard dipped his chin. “Of course, Lady Vincetti.”
