As he starts to pull away, I catch his tunic anyway, pulling him close. This time it’s my hand finding his waist, my fingers tangling in his hair. He flushes in the shadows. “Tycho.”
“No. Listen.” I tug him closer, then lean in, speaking right to his skin. “You don’t have to be left behind, Jax. You don’t have to bealone. Never again.”
He looks into my eyes, then gives my hand a squeeze. “You too.”
My breath catches. But then he gives me one last, quick kiss, and he lets go of my hand. “Good night. I’ll room with Sephran so you don’t kill each other.”
That gives my heart a tug, but not like it would have yesterday.
But as I climb the stairs a minute later, I consider Malin’s terse aggravation. Jax and I might have resolved things betweenus, but my friend is still fighting a battle with a man he once considered his best friend.
I stop at the top of the stairs, hesitating with my hand on the banister. Jax and I aren’t the only ones struggling with loneliness on this journey.
So I turn back around and head outside to keep watch with my friend.
CHAPTER 16
ALEK
A new letter is waiting for me when I return to my House. I recognize Lady Karyl’s handwriting before I’ve even fully unfolded the missive. For a moment, a bolt of alarm pierces my chest. Could she know I was asked to investigate the Truthbringers? I think of the guards lining the hallways the other day. We were careful, but listening ears are everywhere— I know that as well as anyone. And just this afternoon, Little Sinna came bursting into the room right when we were discussing the scravers. Someone at the palace may have overheard our conversation then, too. A tutor, maybe. Or one of the servants.
Again, I think of the queen’s sister, trying to figure out where she could fit into all of this. Lady Karyl worked in the palace for a short time, hired as a governess for little Sinna. Could she have aligned herself with Verin while she was there? It feels unlikely— but a chill washes through me because it also feelspossible.
There are too many questions and not enough answers. I tear open the letter.
Lord Alek,
The days grow warm as I await your response. We’ve been discussing Mother quite often lately. If you’d like to be a part of the conversation, you can find me in the south part of the city this evening, just near the bowyer’s shop. I have a new friend I’d like you to meet.
If you don’t show, I will assume your interest in our family has waned.
We will be forced to act accordingly.
- K
Well, that’s not subtle. I don’t know if that’s a threat against me or against the queen, but neither is ideal. My eyes flick to the top of the letter, looking for a date, but there’s none.
I call to the servant in the hall. “When was this delivered?”
“This morning, my lord.”
Eveningisn’t far off. The south part of the city isn’t far either, but much like the wayMotherrefers to the queen, Karyl’s named location is another false clue.South part of the cityhas always referred to Bexcona, a small town located at a crossroads northwest of the Crystal City, not far from the Frozen River that separates Syhl Shallow from Iishellasa. Thebowyer’s shopis a reference to a large tree with a branch that bends in an arc like the curve of a bow. I’ve met her there before.
The air is still warm from the day, but another chill rolls through me. The river won’t be frozen at this time of year, and the current clearly hasn’t trapped the scravers on the other side as our childhood stories used to claim. But after what happened with Igaa and Nakiis— to saynothing of the scravers who attacked me and Callyn weeks ago— I don’t want to go anywhere near Iishellasa.
But I sigh and grit my teeth, because what Imustdo rarely aligns with what Iwantto do.
“Send word to the stables,” I call to the servant waiting for my orders. “Tell them I’ll need a fresh horse.”
The horizon is aglow with red and yellow as I gallop along the road, heading north. This is often my favorite part of the day in the summertime, when the effect of the sun through the trees makes it look like the mountain could be on fire. The horse’s neck is slick with sweat, with every breath bringing a rhythmic little snort. I hate driving the animal so hard, but that last line of Karyl’s letter keeps flashing in my thoughts. If she was willing to kidnap the queen in order to kill the king, I have no doubt she has mercenaries she can send after me. Like anyone else, I have guards protecting my House, but there’s been too much double-crossing in the last few months. I’m not sure who to trust.
As the horse’s hooves pound against the turf and the sun continues to set, I keep thinking of Callyn. Should I have returned to bring her with me? It would’ve taken hours, which feels reckless— and I’m not sure I want to reveal her to Karyl. Callyn feels like a point of vulnerability I don’t need to expose.
But I wonder if this will feel like a betrayal. I never told her about the first letter.
And Lady Karyl represents everything I’ve done wrong in my efforts to protect Syhl Shallow and the queen. I don’t want to reveal any of that to Callyn.
So I ride on, my heart pounding in time with the horse’s hoofbeats.
