A burst of laughter escapes my lips, and we take turns hushing each other as we make our way down the quiet hall. We’re still giggling when we reach a closed door flanked by guards. My heart sinks as Amelie pauses before it. This must be Aspen’s study.
“Time for me to go,” she says as she faces me. “I’m glad we talked.”
I reach for her hand and squeeze it. “Me too.”
As if he could sense our presence, the door sweeps open, revealing Aspen. He barely looks at us before he turns away and takes a seat behind a large, ornate desk, leaving the door open between us. “Come in,” he says.
Amelie gives my hand a final squeeze, then enters the room. I watch as she takes a seat in a throne-like chair opposite his desk, next to a table laden with plates of chocolate and a decanter of wine. She squeals with delight as she pops a truffle into her mouth.
I’m about to remind her to salt the chocolates when Aspen’s drawling voice startles me. “You may go. Unless you’d prefer to stay, of course.”
I meet his eyes, finding that dangerous glint, that half-smirk. A blush creeps up my cheeks as I realize the absurdity of me hovering in his doorway, an uninvited onlooker on his private time with his betrothed. I tear my eyes away from his to light on my sister. She gives me a reassuring smile.
I barely turn away before I hear the door close behind me.
* * *
When I return to my room, I can’t figure out what to do with myself. I pace the length of the room, trying to occupy myself from thoughts of Amelie and Aspen. As much as I meant what I said to Amelie about supporting her, I can’t shake my suspicion of the king. I can’t fight the way my skin crawls when I think about the two of them as lovers. There’s something so wrong about the pairing, although I can’t say exactly what or why. Is it just because I know Aspen is dangerous? Or is it something else? Some fact I’m forgetting?
My door opens and I jump, startled from my thoughts. Lorelei enters and gives me a half-hearted curtsy. “I came to see if you needed help dressing for bed. I assume you don’t, but—”
“Yes,” I say, surprising myself. I’m eager not to be alone with my thoughts right now. Not to mention, I may be able to probe the fae for information.
Lorelei looks equally as surprised. “Very well. I’ll find you a nightdress.”
She goes to the wardrobe while I take my place behind the dressing screen. I quickly remove the belted dagger from my thigh and slip off my gown. I’m in the middle of hiding the dagger beneath the discarded dress when Lorelei approaches.
She pauses, studying me, then raises a brow at the heap of dress at my feet. “You don’t need to hide it. Everyone knows you carry it. Same with your sister.”
The blood leaves my face. “Oh?”
She hands me a nightdress in a blush-pink lace. “I mean, did you think we can’t smell the iron on you? Besides, you weren’t hiding much when Prince Cobalt carried you in from the ocean. The dagger around your thigh is no longer a secret, if it ever was before.”
I pull the nightdress over my head to avoid meeting her gaze. “And you say everyone knows? That we carry blades among your kind?”
“Sure. Yet, the king doesn’t seem to hold it against you. Which is surprising, considering his history.”
“You mean his temper?”
“No, I mean the threats to his life.”
I furrow my brow. “Do you really believe the last girls tried to kill him unprovoked?”
She shrugs, arms crossed. “I believe humans can be dangerous. I can say that from personal experience.” The bite in her tone reminds me of the confrontation we had over Mr. Osterman. Lorelei may have become friendly with my sister, but there’s still a chasm between us. The fae turns away. “Will that be all?”
She doesn’t wait for me to answer before she begins to head toward the door, each step slightly uneven from her limp.
“Wait,” I say as she reaches the door.
She pauses, then turns to face me.
I hesitate before rushing to ask, “Can I look at your leg?” She narrows her eyes at me, and I rush to add, “I’m a surgeon’s apprentice. Well, Iwas,at least. I can’t help but want to check on your leg and make sure it’s healing well.”
Lorelei doesn’t move. “It’s healing.”
“I know, but…can I check on it? Please?”
Her expression softens, and she lets out a sigh. “Fine. What do I do?”
