“Yes.”
“That’s too long,” I say, instantly agitated. I was already reluctant to come here and lose crucial time. But the others convinced me it was necessary. The prospect of losing even more time is nauseating. Who knows how far Bardin could take Fox in that time? Who knows what she could do to him?
“Why the long wait? Isn’t she the one that commanded you all come here?” Fly asks.
“Exactly!” I nod my head and push my plate to one side.
“It’s the way things are done at the court,” Beaufort says, barely able to meet my eye, which is so unlike him it unsettles me. “We have to wait our turn.”
“But you’re her–”
“I told you,” he snaps, “that gives me no privileges when it comes to my mother.”
“We’ve wasted too much time already!”
“Yeah, I realize that, sweetheart.” Beaufort slumps down onto the sofa, looking exhausted. “I hoped it would be sooner, too. And I tried my best – played every card I have–” he smiles weakly, “– to be seen earlier. But …” He spreads his palms out wide.
I stand up and push back my chair. “I’m not waiting that long.”
“So what you gonna do about it?” Dray asks. “You can’t just barge in on the Empress, Kitten. Her guards would have your head rolling off your shoulders before you could yelp.”
“I’m not going to see the Empress. I’m going to leave.”
“You can’t!” Beaufort says.
“Watch me!” I growl.
“Briony, she has your dragon locked up. This palace is swarming with her guards – highly trained shadow weavers. You can’t leave until she says you can.”
“Wh-what?” I say, the blood rushing from my head and leaving me dizzy. “Am I a prisoner?”
“This is the realm,” Thorne says, “we’re all prisoners.”
I peer at Fly who stares back at me, with as much shock as I feel.
“Beaufort–”
“–I have a plan,” Beaufort says, closing his eyes and massaging his temples with his fingers, “I just don’t know if it will work.”
“Not another fucking plan,” Dray mutters.
Beaufort ignores him. “There’s the state banquet tomorrow night. One the Empress will obviously be attending and one I and my bond brothers are invited to attend.”
“How about Briony?” Thorne asks. Beaufort shakes his head.
“Then she’ll gate-crash,” Dray says.
Beaufort grimaces. “I’d rather–”
“It’ll be fun!” Dray grins, suddenly a lot happier.
Beaufort sighs, clearly knowing he won’t be changing his bond brother’s mind. “If we can maneuver our way into talking with the Empress, we can ask for her permission to leave the realm. We may even be able to persuade her to give us some soldiers to take with us.”
It’s not the best plan. It will mean we’re hanging around at the palace, rather than out finding Fox, for much longer than I’d like. However, it seems like it’s the best plan we have come up with so far.
“Will you get into any trouble for this?” I ask, chewing on my cheek and glancing towards Dray. Beaufort obviously has a difficult relationship with his mother, and while I’m so desperate to find Fox I’d be prepared to break down walls, I don’t like the idea of doing it at the expense of another of my mates.
Beaufort opens his eyes and meets my gaze with his silvery one.
