One by one, I told him the names. Kase arranged them in a way that seemed like he was assigning a name with the position he was holding it in his hand.
Most were for him and the queen, some for the palace staff and theinner circle of Kryv. Jonas received one from a man named Silas, who Kase told me was the fate king in the westernmost region.
“Silas helped Jonas through the fae battles when he was a boy. They’ve been close ever since.” Kase tucked the remaining notes by his side. “I can read, if you’re wondering.”
“Oh.” What was I supposed to say? “Good.”
The king scoffed. “Malin calls them dancing words. Everything shuffles about, so it takes me much longer to read a simple note.”
“Oh. Now, I see why the queen read the vow alliance.” I smiled, a bloom of respect for the queen taking hold. She had made no great to-do about it, had never ruffled under my grandfather’s scrutiny, merely took a burden away from her husband without a word.
“My sons began reading official documents likely much younger than the other heirs, but they were all fools today, leaving me to handle the post. As if they don’t even know me.”
Doubtless because the Black Palace would not require a staff to do such a menial chore, the royal house saw to their own post.
I chuckled. “Well, I am here now if they do the same on the next post.”
The king dipped his chin, but hesitated at the door. “Once, I would’ve been ashamed to ever admit that. I would hide it. There are some things that don’t need to be hidden.”
I fiddled my fingers by my sides, unsettled. “I feel like you’re telling me something.”
“Have you ever enjoyed your power?”
Not the question I expected. Words fumbled over my tongue. “I, well, I suppose I enjoyed the day we all sparred.”
“Was that the first time you ever used it for entertainment?”
“It isn’t a lovely magic.”
“Why? Because that is all you’ve been told your entire life?” The king stepped back into the room. “Has anyonenotfeared those thieving mists of yours?”
“Not until . . .” My voice faded and an unwelcome sting of emotion burned behind my eyes.
“Not until when?”
I held the king’s stare. “Jonas. The vows. I thought he wanted to chain me like Arion, but something he said as we were leaving made me think differently.”
I suppose it is a good thing she goes to a realm of nightmares then. She’ll fit right in.
Perhaps it was that moment when my heart cracked and let in my nightmare prince little by little.
Kase set the missives down, destroying his carefully placed order, and perched on the arm of one of the chairs. “Look, girl, when words and fear are pushed into your mind over and over, it becomes a truth. Magic might even shift to fit the words. Sometimes it causes our true selves to retreat to some dark place inside us.”
“You sound like you speak from experience.”
The king gave nothing up, simply stood again and strode for the door. “Follow me. Others might fear your power, but as it happens, I have need of darkness such as yours.”
“Where are we going?” I knew better to refuse a king and followed him into the corridor.
On the final step before landing on Jonas’s wing, the king paused, a crooked, sly grin on his mouth. “You’re about to become a true thief.”
Chapter 34
The Mist Thief
“Highness . . . sorry.”I swallowed when Kase shot me a darkened look. The king was crouched on a stone ledge that ran below the eaves, wide enough for a man to walk carefully along the edge without spilling off the side. I was still at least fifteen paces away, trapped on one of the heavy beams. “I don’t know if this is right. Maybe if I knew a little more of why we were doing this.”
“In schemes you get to know when it’s time for your mark, lovey,” Raum said, crouched below us in one of the palace alcoves, a cowl over his head. “We’ve all jobs to do, and it’s not your turn yet.”
