“What do you mean?” I whisper sharply into the mirror. I don’t want Galen any closer to this impending disaster of a trade than he has to be.
“He reached out to an old contact your father had. To help track down Dorian.”
Gods.“The Playhouse Bounty Hunter?” It’s impossible to imagine my brother, an adviser to thecouncil, turning to reckless vigilantes for help. Dorian and his hunters refuse marks—both to easily traverse South Theatron in pursuit of the Players and to outsmart one if caught or captured. “Of course he did. Ofcoursehe doesn’t trust I can do this on my own—”
“Riven,” Cassia cuts me off. “He just wants you home, alive. Wealldo.”
I’m not sure there will be a home to return to if Jude gets his way.
“I have the arrowhead,” I say, even more determined now to prove Galen wrong. Prove all of them wrong. “I just need something to restrain Jude. He’s strong, but there’s a chain bound around the Prop Master’s ankle. If I can just figure out how to fool her into letting me—”
“Riven,” she breathes. “If you’re going to be downrightfoolishabout this…” My aunt shakes her head, debating whether or not to give me this next bit of information. “Jude will be most vulnerable in costume. He won’t be as alert while in character. It’s the best time to catch a Player off guard.”
In costume.
Costume. I need acostume.
“Cass,” I say, a smile forming on my lips. “Do you know I’ve just had the best idea?”
“Itoldyou I saw her up in the fly tower.” Jude sounds angry. “She cut the chandelier’s hangings.”
“You’recertainyou saw her backstage last night?” Sil’s voice responds.
I breathe quietly, assuring myself I am no eavesdropper. Jude’s voice just has a way of carrying.
Particularly when my ear is pressed against his dressing room door.
“Nearly plunged an arrowright through—” Jude’s voice rises, and Sil hushes him. “Do you see this? I don’thavemuch longer.”
“Stop talking about it,” snaps Sil. “You’ll only make it worse.”
“Speed up the casting call. At this rate, I won’t be able to move the Playhouse past the Cut. Much less compete in the Great Dionysia.”
“I’ve been plenty lenient with you, Jude. I’llnothave you going off again and—”
The button of Galen’s old jacket scrapes against the door when I press too close, and I panic, bolting back to my room with all the subtlety of a frightened horse. Jude’s door swings open, and innocent pleasantries trade loudly between Sil and Jude.
I make it a whole four steps before my own dressing room door swings open behind me.
JUDE: “Funny thing just now.” I feign surprise at seeing him.
RIVEN: “Is the funny thing that you still don’t know how to knock?”
JUDE: “I was having a conversation with Sil, and I could have sworn I heard your sneaky little feet scampering away just outside my room.”
I stick a foot out and point at it. “Actually, they’re a very normal size.”
Jude ignores me and heads for the floor-length mirror. “Come, I want to show you something. It’ll give us a leg up for the competition.” Pressing a palm to the glass, he summons…
A very dark stairway, from the looks of it. Awesome. I never grow tired of these.
I plant my feet. “Is your little blond friend from last night coming along, too?”
My eyes immediately dart to the window, and I consider throwing myself out of it.Why did I say that out loud?I don’t even knowif that girl was let into the Playhouse after all his flirting at the stage door. Not that I’d be shocked if she were. Andnotthat I’d care.
Jude’s brows shoot up, but his surprise is subsequently replaced by a slow, widening grin. “My,Alistaire.” He crosses his arms, the mirror forgotten as he leans against the wall. “Are youjealous?”
A mortifying second of panic passes before I remember I can lie. “Nope.”
