There are eight other women, all nobles, and all important. Lady Drathmore introduces each of them and explains whattheir husbands do and why they are significant. I try to remember their names and how they’re connected to the crown, but the information leaves my mind as soon as they start pressuring me to choose flowers and fabric.
A chef wheels in a cart of hors d’oeuvres for us to sample, and the women gossip while we taste each one. A cart full of cakes and desserts follows. I’m starting to find my way into conversations when Lady Drathmore suddenly rises from her seat. We all turn toward the entry, and I stand when I see Caiden walk in.
“You’re back,” I say, with as much false joy as I can muster.
He doesn’t look amused.
“Care to join us in tasting some cakes, Caiden?” Lady Drathmore asks.
“No, thank you, Grandmother. I’m afraid Sabina and I have urgent business with my father.” He turns to me. “Right now.”
His expression is deadly, and I can feel the blood draining from my face. I try to fight against the fear and plant a concerned expression on my face. “This sounds serious. Is something wrong?” I hurry to join him.
“Not here, Sabina,” he says. “I’ll explain when we get there.”
Brevan isn’t waiting outside the room.
Forty-Four
As Caidenand I near the hall that leads to the emperor’s private chambers, Brevan approaches from the other side. We all turn into the same hallway.
I glance at Brevan but look away quickly. Even just seeing him sends my heart fluttering.
We all stop in front of the skull, and Brevan pushes the secret panel that opens the door. Caiden gestures for Brevan to go. The enforcer steps through the threshold.
“Go on,” the prince says.
I follow Brevan and Caiden enters behind me. The emperor stands in the corner, deep in conversation with someone I can’t see. There’s a thud as the door seals us in and the emperor turns, revealing his guest.
I freeze and I think I forget how to breathe.
A familiar face smiles at me, though I’ve never seen him look the way he does now. His light brown hair is trimmed and his face clean-shaven, his clothes a fine material in the emperor’s preferred colors.
Lee.
“Taylan, it’s good to see you again.” Lee smiles at me like someone who just learned the most delicious secret.
My blood runs cold, and fear crawls down my spine like a spider. Lee can’t be here. He can’t be talking to the emperor like they’re old friends.
“Who is Taylan?” Brevan asks. “And who are you?”
“You remember Ludis, right, Caiden?” the emperor says. “You two played together when you were young. Before the war.”
“Ludis?” Caiden takes a step forward. “I thought you were dead.” He looks at his father. “You told me he was dead.”
“I was, didn’t you hear?” Lee says. “Cast out, my birthright revoked, my name dragged through the mud. All because of one mistake.”
“Why are you here, Ludis?” Caiden asks.
How is this happening? I look around at the gathered men and the only other person who seems as confused as I is Brevan. Was this Lee’s plan the whole time?
“He came to make a deal on behalf of Iskvaland,” the emperor says.
“He can’t make a deal,” Caiden says. “His father told us he was dead. Besides, they sent Sabina for that.”
Lee, or Ludis, laughs.
Brevan’s fingers curl around the hilt of his sword. I slip a hand into one of the secret pockets sewn into my dress. I can feel the dagger in there. I’m certain its twin is in my other pocket. It turned out, all my dresses had two side pockets, carefully hidden in the folds. I still wonder why, but right now I’m too grateful to be curious. I remove my hand, hoping I was discreet.
