“I’m too tired to return to Illusion.”
“You do not have a room in Reign?”
“I don’t.”
A pause. Then, “Do you want me to take you?”
I could go to the Mouth, to the singing and drinking and laughing, and ask either Lila or Carter to take me. But it would cut their evening short, and my dark mood may dampen their lighter ones.
“Maybe,” I venture. “How do I know you will…bring me back to life?”
“Your time is not now, and I do not believe in early deaths.”
“I don’t trust you.”
“If any harm were to come to you, I would make enemies of the king and possible future queen. I do not wish to do that.”
I had planned to rest here until I was strong enough to return on my own. But perhaps Kassandra is back in her room. It must be tonight, as I’ve already given Briar the coin.
“Okay,” I say. “Please.”
When Death extends a gloved hand, I once again side with the monsters around me in hopes of preventing those jaws from finding my own neck.
When Death folds me into him, shadows drawing around us like a cooling curtain, I clench my teeth and let him. We dissolve, and it is peaceful and quiet. We emerge into the earthly plane again, in the hallway outside Illusion.
I twist from his grip. “Thanks.”
“Of course.” He nods, smoke curling around his feet.
“Why help?”
The executioner shrugs. “I am from the House of Death. We welcome anyone who wanders to our doors.”
Then, in a plume of smoke, he’s gone.
—
I find Kassandraon her balcony, overlooking the moonlit Illusion courtyards, a discarded novel next to her. The curtains of thedoorway flutter in the soft breeze of spring dawn, and she stares across the shifting maze to the northern building, to the darkened room of her brother.
“For a Reign Crest, you have spent much of your time in my apartments these past few weeks,” she says.
I lower myself onto the cool stone bench opposite hers on the balcony.
“I have a secret,” I say. “An important one.”
She quirks a brow. “Already?”
“My price, first.”
She sighs, then gestures for me to continue.
“Briar’s deposits will grow under the assumption that you are tipping her extra. The difference is being covered by someone else, so it will not show up on the Illusion accounts and Dominik won’t see it. But I need you to write a note to the tellers that the tips are coming from you.”
“Did it come from my account involuntarily?”
“No. It didn’t come from Illusion at all.”
Kassandra tilts her head. “The tip is coming from your pocket.”
