I raised my fist to slam it against the side again when a distant noise snagged my attention. I hushed Lilyanna, and we both lapsed into utter stillness. Footsteps.
“Someone’s coming,” I hissed. “The prince or the priestess, coming back to finish the job.”
“Or Clement.”
“It’s not Clement.” My stomach twisted at the thought.
“He locked you in your room last night so you couldn’t do exactly this.”
“It was to keep me safe. Probably.”
She tugged my arm. “Look, we tried. We need to go.”
“Can’t we save her soul? Just one more try, I owe her.”
She dragged me from the dais, her dagger biting into the flesh of my bicep. “You don’t owe her anything. Why would you think that?”
I didn’t answer, too tangled in my own guilt.
“Never mind. We’re about to join her if we’re found down here.” She snatched the torch from my hand and flung herself toward the ladder.
I followed, mouthing, I’m sorry, but darkness had already swamped the platform.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHECKMATE
The courtyard was the worst part of the castle.
Manicured bushes and spiraled trees led toward a large central fountain that stood drained and exposed for winter. Fresh, frost-tipped air swirled around the space, allowing the tantalizing experience of freedom. The gargoyles craned their necks from the turrets and the high wall laced with jagged diamonds glittered from all sides, slick and deadly. A constant reminder of where I was.
I leaned against the castle, tilting my head back so that the wall fell from view and only the fat, gray clouds were visible lumbering across the sky. Lilyanna and the prince strolled the perimeter hand in hand, their voices hushed and excited. He wanted the wedding in two weeks, which was likely a good thing seeing how Lilyanna may not make it that long. As if in agreement, the long membranous tail of the gargoyle above my head floated into my eyeline like an arrow shot through my moment of freedom.
We hadn’t spoken a word about last night. Lilyanna regained her composure a lot quicker than me, forcing the memories into whichever distant part of her mind she stored her trauma. I remained down in that pit, lost amid the rocking glass and smeared handprints.
“This is my favorite time of day,” Clement said. “When we’re both standing here together.”
“Mine too.” My stomach fluttered. I was beginning to look forward to waiting beside him, watching the mind-numbingly boring courtship between Lilyanna and the prince. He made it more than bearable, keeping my heart pumping and my body flushed with warmth. He was safety, comfort, familiarity, and despite Lilyanna’s views on the subject, I trusted him.
I hated myself for the weakness.
His hand brushed mine. “Because you’re actually doing your job, behaving yourself, and I get a sliver of worry-free time.”
I groaned. “Do I really make your job that much harder?”
“Yes.”
“And do you still find me irritating?”
“Yes.”
I snorted. “But the most important question is, do you trust me now?” A faint twinge of embarrassment fluttered my chest like I really cared about the answer.
“Yes,” he answered without hesitation.
Strands of my hair snagged on the stone as I turned to look at him. Despite the softening of his mouth, tension strummed down him like a taut bow.
“You need to leave the castle, Tam.” He kept focused on the prince’s meandering progress. “If you won’t do anything I say, please do this.”
