He was right about one thing—Cyrus and his familyweremonsters.
How did I fight against this? So many questions flooded my mind, the overwhelming thoughts converging into a storm inside my head. I wandered back to my room in a daze. I didn’t want to see anyone right now, I certainly couldn’t face Emmie, who’d be able to tell something was wrong immediately.
I took the rest of the day to sort myself out. I’d have to keep this extremely quiet. I wanted to tell Priscilla when she arrived, but Cyrus wouldn’t be far behind her. I couldn’t take the risk. I would have to wait until I knew he was far away to update her. For now, I had to focus on the task at hand, and prepare myself for gathering more information tonight.
When Priscilla arrived, we got started and I watched as she did my hair and makeup flawlessly. I let out a large sigh when she was finished, and Priscilla popped her head on my shoulder, gazing at our shared reflection in the mirror.
“What’s wrong?” Priscilla asked, her voice a low whisper, but I heard it like an explosion in my ear. I wanted to tell her everything, but a glance toward the door leading out to where Cyrus waited stilled my tongue.
“Nothing,” I met her eyes with a tired grin. “I’m just not looking forward to this. Weylin is apparently making a play at the princesses, hoping to win them over and turn them against Cyrus. It gives us some potential opportunity, but it’s a chore to deal with the pampered royals trying to outmaneuver one another. It’s hard to imagine Princess Zerlina ditching Cyrus for Weylin of all people.” I raised my eyebrows wryly, and Priscilla laughed.
“I doubt Weylin’s thought too hard about it. He’s desperate to be the heir. He’ll offer them whatever he can.” Priscilla said knowingly. Like us, Weylin had his own goal to achieve, and we both knew how that drove one forward.
“True enough.” I sighed. “Well, let’s get this over with.” Priscilla looked amused with my reluctance but bit her lip and kept that amusement to herself. She wasn’t forced to attend these events like I was, since she wasn’t the personal slave of one of the royals or lords.
Lucky girl.
Chapter 17
Thefeast the night prior left me exhausted. Spending the night essentially spying on hundreds of people was a grueling endeavor in itself, but standing on heels for hours on end wasn’t exactly the easiest either. I’d rather fend for myself in the Savitr Jungle, quite frankly. While half of Panchaia, including the royal palace, sat inside the Savitr Jungle, the bits outside of it quickly got dangerous. Inhabited with leopards, gorillas, snakes, and many other dangerous animals that would kill you in the blink of an eye.
At least the night had proven fruitful. I got word of Prince Weylin arranging a meet up with Princess Sybella. Which is why I was now skulking around the garden they’d arranged to meet in. I did have to wade through a lot of boring gossip to get to the good stuff, but I fortunately managed to catch another whisper that may prove even more vital.
I had made my way around the perimeter of the feast hall. Sticking to the wall, but slowly moving around to catch pieces of conversation, drifting to where I spied anyone I wanted to overhear. It was on my way to Prince Weylin that I overheard it.
“Did you get the message out?” The first man whispered to the second, not having noticed me against the wall.
“I did, Night was informed.” The second man replied, stilling my blood. Night? As in, Night Kingdom?
“Good. When can they plan another attack?” The first man asked.
“A few days. They can certainly manage to do it while Dawn is here, no worries about that.” The second man responded. My heart rapidly beating as I listened in. “I doubt it will make them think twice about an alliance though.”
The first laughed, and I managed at that point to get a look at them, slightly off to the side in a bend of the wall that curved around a pillar. They likely thought themselves secluded. My eyes widened as I caught sight of Prince Kian laughing. It was him inquiring about when the attack could happen.
He tended to be quiet when his siblings fought, but his keen eyes always took in everything around him. I moved back and flattened against the wall, trying to stay unnoticed. I didn’t understand why Prince Kian would be arranging for another kingdom to attack his own. His people would be the ones hurt in an attack. Was he just a traitor? Or was something more going on here?
“I don’t care about that. I just want to get these people to safety.” Prince Kian said, with surprising sincerity in his voice.
My brows furrowed upon hearing him. What people, and more importantly, what safety? Night Kingdom was notoriously brutal,no onewould be safe there. He was arranging an attack that would kill his people and mine alike. What did he hope to accomplish?
Prince Kian and his accomplice moved on, leaving me with hundreds of questions and no answers. And now I was following up on the meeting Weylin planned, when what I wanted to be doing was chasing down Prince Kian and shaking him for answers. I would have to be more circumspect than that, of course. I didn’t want to tip Prince Kian off, but more even importantly, I didn’t want Cyrus to find out.
Whatever Prince Kian’s goal, anything important that I could keep from Cyrus, I would.
Between the three brothers, I was up to my neck in secret plans and devious desires. There was hardly enough time in the day to investigate them all.
I followed the hedges in the garden and found one section where short hedges were bordered on the edges by taller ones, giving me a great place to hide and peek out to watch. I waited until I heard the steps of a large man walking by, knowing it was Prince Weylin. It was only a few minutes later I heard several sets of lighter footsteps, meaning Princess Sybella was being smart about this and likely brought one of her companions.
“Princess Sybella, you’re a vision of loveliness to my tired eyes.” Prince Weylin praised, and since I was hidden, I could freely roll my eyes at how thick he was laying it on.
“Oh, Prince Weylin, do you sweet-talk every girl you hope to whisper treason to?” Princess Sybella replied, raising a brow at Prince Weylin.
My jaw dropped. Princess Sybella looked sweet and innocent on the surface, but clearly that only went skin deep. She had the boldness to call out a prince for treason against his family, and I found myself liking her a little despite myself.
“Princess Sybella, I assure you, I have no plans of any treason!” Prince Weylin sputtered a defense, but she merely laughed and waved him on.
“Go on, give me your best pitch.” Princess Sybella said, a small laugh falling from her lips.
