“Yes…” I drew out.
“Was that a question?You drink blood to survive?”
“I do…”
“Then how do you not know what I am?Or a pygmy ogre?It’s not like the smelly brutes are subtle.”
Strategically, I shouldn’t reveal my instabilities before understanding my situation—if not fully, at least better than basically not at all.But my mouth popped open anyway, allowing my desperation to slip free.
“Is the prince alive?”
My heart thundered so fervently it obliterated even the crawling-ant sensation.
“Prince to the empire, Alobaz Hawxley, you mean?”
Words failed me.
“Yeah, he’s alive.Of course he is.”Theparvnittilted her head to one side then the next as she studied me intently.“Are you alright?”
I chortled darkly.“Am I alright…”
“Yeah, you don’t seem right.I mean, beyond being a murderess.”
I swallowed, the rusty sensation like sandpaper against my raw flesh.“IsMateo, crown prince of Zaraga, alive?”
“Fuuuuck,” she whispered.
My heart was stampeding in my chest.“What does that mean?Is he dead?”
“Not dead, no.”
My heart was already stretching toward Hope when she added, “At least, not that I know of.But it’s not like I’d find out right away if he died.No one would.He’s, you know”—she flicked another series of glances around us, then lowered her voice—“exiled.”
“Exiled?”I exclaimed loudly.
“Shhhhhh.”More frantic glances.“Maybe he’s dead, maybe he’s not.But he’s definitely not here, and I definitely shouldn’t be talking about him.Especially not with a murderess.”
“Exiled to where?”
“Shhhhhhh!”
“Where?”
“I don’t know.It doesn’t matter.He doesn’t matter.”
Whatever reaction crossed my face then had her flying backward before holding there, just beyond arm’s reach.
I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs that he mattered.He was practically all that mattered in the entire world.
I didn’t.“I need to get to the palace as soon as possible.”
Slowly, she nodded.“Good, good.I can work with this.”Then she let loose a whistle so piercing I stepped back, wincing.
Whatever her power, it was much larger than she was.
When she flew toward the bodies, I wasn’t going to follow at first.But then that was cowardly.
I hadn’t meant to kill them, hadn’t wanted to.
