“You could go as an emissary.”
“We have enough of that brew for me to go as many times as I need.”
“I could help you craft the deal.”
“You would do that?”
Beatriz wrapped her fingers around Elysia’s wrists as well. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
Intrigue played into Elysia’s voice. “Really? Are you a Parker after all?”
Beatriz answered quietly. “Maybe I always have been.”
Elysia appraised her and nodded before turning back to Jessa and Gage, who both looked winded by their conversation.
“It’s settled. I’ll take the tincture and attempt to strike a deal.” Her words were matter-of-fact. “Everyone, gods included, has a price.”
Chapter 31
Beatriz had been right.The excitement of meeting an undead god could not deter Elysia from the practicality of her situation. She was a daughter of the Crown and she had not shown her face around court in far too long. Long enough that whispers were no longer whispers, but brazen lies curling off jealous tongues.
She’s a Parker. Probably cheated on the crown prince and ran for her life.
I heard she fell into drugs just like her sister. Won’t be seeing her again.
That’s what happens when you piss off Georgia Parker. You disappear.
Her personal favorite was a particularly luscious tale of her finding true and scandalous love with one of her father’s steamship captains and steaming away to pirate the seas. Shewasrather good with a sword even if she did prefer the agility of a dagger.
She lifted the precious cargo she was carrying higher as she carefully clipped up the front steps of the castle to the curved double doors. Behind her, on the iron gates that stood between the castle’s courtyard and the rest of the city, were heads. Rotting heads shoved on pointed iron fencing. In spite of thebloat and rot and bird-picked bones, she knew exactly who was on display.
All the rebels who didn’t get away that night under the sea.
The prince’s offer tohelpfelt hollow and thin inside her chest as the scent of human decay lingered in her nose. He thought her difficult. She was beginning to think him particularly dense.
Her slowly shifting perspective on the prince eased some of her heartache and muted the questions that hounded her in the quiet hours. Questions like, was there ever even anything real between them? She wasn’t sure it mattered at this point, but the question remained, aggravating her late at night.
As for right now, she needed to soothe her parents’ anger before they did something stupid and ruined her plans altogether. In other words, she had to proceed as if everything were normal.
Elysia smiled easily at a guard and laughed to herself.Normal.As if anything about her life was normal. Shocked faces corrected themselves into hurried nods of greeting with every step she took. She shook her head, loose waves brushing her face. As if any Parker would ever disappear that easily.
The moment her mother’s office door was in sight, it began a slow glide open. Elysia stifled the grin trying to form on her face. Someone must have run awfully fast to make sure Georgia Parker knew her wayward daughter had returned to the castle halls. As expected, of course. She imagined they’d received a fat tip for the matter. Good for them.
Her mother appeared in the doorway with lies like honey for all the burning ears. “My sweet girl, I’ve missed you so. Come in, come in.”
It was no wonder Beatriz had received countless lashes for rolling her eyes when her mother spouted off bullshit like that all the time in front of people.
Elysia dutifully followed her mother in and took control before her mother could flatten her like a bug beneath her beautiful shoes.
“Before you say anything, look at what I’ve brought.” She held out the luxurious garment bag like the obvious peace offering that it was. She smiled wickedly and looked up at her mother. “Go on. Look.”
Georgia rested a hand on her hip, the lines of her face deepening in displeasure. “I really ought to send you to your father. The absolute amount of trouble and embarrassment you’ve caused us. Did you know your father has been secretly sending his personal guards on searches for you? He didn’t believe for one moment your message or the prince’s excuses about yourextendedtravels.”
Her heart thudded anxiously, but the heat that flushed her face was not fear—it was that cursed anger she couldn’t seem to rid herself of anymore. She smiled politely over the roiling sensation.Send her to Father?Like she was an errant child in need of reprimanding instead of a grown adult. Gods forbid she threaten their name.
Her scarred feet twinged though. She was convinced the pain was psychological half the time at this point—no less real, but triggered by even the thought of being forced to endure her father’s punishments. Face fixed, she ignored her mother’s comment.
“It’s for the Raven Ball. I thought I might want something… unique this year.”
