“That can be arranged,” Kieran said smoothly. “It would be beneficial to have someone with her, after all.”
“I can’t walk in with her,” Everett countered. “That would be too suspicious.”
“No, but you could alreadybethere,” Tessa suddenly said, a wicked grin unfurling on her features. “At Scarven’s manor.”
Everett narrowed his eyes at her. “I really don’t like that look.”
“Oh, Iloveit,” Arowyn said. “Means things are about to get interesting.”
Tessa held a hand up to Everett. “Hear me out. Who would the guards let into thisintimate gatheringwithout batting an eye?”
“A woman,” Arowyn said.
“An attractive, scantily-clad woman,” Devora added.
“See where I’m going with this?” Tessa asked.
Everett’s lips thinned. “I’m leaving.”
“Oh, come on, Ev,” Tessa cooed. “It’s perfect. Just ride with Devora and illusion the carriage to look like Mysthelm’s, then sneak in as one of Scarven’s girls serving at the party.”
“Why can’t I just camouflage myself to blend into my surroundings?” he countered.
Tessa paused and twisted her lips. “Because this is morefun.”
“BecauseI may need someone who can cause a distraction if I have to get away,” Devora offered. “Nobody would suspect you.”
Everett looked at me. “A little help here?”
“It would be nice to have someone else on the inside,” I said with a shrug. “You’re the best option for keeping her safe.”
Arowyn stretched her legs on top of the table by the couch, crossing one ankle over the other. “Great. Operation Eve is a go.”
“I hate all of you,” Everett muttered.
“Is there a way for us to communicate with the rest of you while we’re inside the manor?” Devora asked.
“Ah, yes, actually,” Silas said as he dropped a stack of books on top of his work table. “There is. I can, uh—enchant this parchment—” He trailed off, patting his hand along his jacket as if searching for something. With a look of triumph, he pulled two pieces of paper from his inside pocket. “Yes. I can enchant these parchments to deliver messages between each other. Anything you put on one will appear on the other. Difficult to keep inconspicuous, I’m afraid, but if you get in a bind, it’s the quickest way to let us know.”
“This is great, Silas. Thank you,” Devora said as she crossed the room to retrieve her piece of parchment. She folded it several times until it fit in the palm of her hand, then deftly slipped it inside her cleavage.
I followed on her heel and snatched up the other parchment. “Kieran, you and I will stay a few miles outside the perimeter, just in case,” I said to my second. “Tessa, Arowyn, Silas—you’re in charge of the Keep.”
“We’ve got it, Nox,” Tessa said with a firm nod.
They launched into details for the evening. We were well acquainted with sudden changes in plans, each of us able to adapt quickly and keep everyone safe. I trusted them without hesitation.
As I looked around the room, I realized that statement rang true with no condition. Before, it was “I trusted them,exceptfor Devora.”
Now, I thought I could trust her. Despite my pride telling me not to.
She had jumped into this assignment with no questions asked, even after getting the answers about her past she so desperately sought. She had saved my people in the blink of an eye. She had put her identity, her comfort, hersafetyon the line in order to get information the rest of us couldn’t retrieve. She knew the worst was yet to come, and still, she hadn’t complained. Not a single time.
I told myself it was only a sense of loyalty and protection that made my chest tighten when she stepped into danger. Butloyaltydidn’t make my pulse quicken at her nearness. It didn’t make me dream about her voice in the heart of my nightmares.
And loyalty hadn’t saved Sage.
If Scarven laid a hand on Devora…my trust wouldn’t matter at all.
