‘Raleigh has guests.’Bustling into my room, Moira threw open my wardrobe and plucked out a dress at random.I wasted no time in shedding my nightgown and pulling it over my head, before she added, ‘They want to meet you.’
I swallowed.She didn’t need to elaborate for me to know what sort of guests Raleigh might receive at this time of night.How often did he have visitors while I slept, blissfully unaware of the danger below?‘I didn’t realise he invited anyone,’ I said slowly, trying to keep my hands steady enough to lace the front of my dress.
‘He didn’t.’Moira swatted my hands away and pulled at the laces so hard I gasped.‘They’re from the court.We weren’t exactly prepared for their arrival.’
‘The Queen?’Had the chance I was waiting for walked in on its own?
‘Envoys.If the Queen was in this castle, we’d be in one of the escape routes by now.’
‘That’s not what I’d do if the Qu—’
Moira shoved me against the wardrobe with so much strength my breath flew from my lungs.‘Shut.Up.’
I couldn’t breathe.I’d never seen her like this.Never thought she was capable of this.
‘Do not finish that sentence.Don’t eventhinkit.’
The door groaned under pressure, threatening to splinter where my shoulders pressed into the wood.
‘They will kill all of us if they evensuspectthat’s what you’re planning.’
‘I’m not—’
‘Don’t argue.I’m trying to save your life.’
My mouth snapped shut.
‘The second you leave this room, you need to pretend that you are head over heels in love with Raleigh.’
‘Wha—’
‘Listen.You love him.You are here because you love him.Pretend he freed you from a loveless match with the baker or whatever it is you need to do to make it sound convincing.And for the love of God, do not mention your deal with Raleigh.In fact, don’t mention your research at all.If they already know, and I can’t guarantee that they don’t, pretend that you’re researching to understand what will happen to you.Raleigh can explain why later.Repeat what I said.’
I floundered.‘Don’t … mention the deal … Don’t talk about the Queen … Pretend to be in love with Raleigh?’
‘No,bein love with Raleigh.If anyone thinks you’re acting, this is all over.’
She let me go and I shot away from her, scrambling out ofarm’s reach.She turned her face away in contempt.‘If you’re afraid of me, you have no hope in hell of killing the Queen.’
‘I’m not afraid of you.’
‘Wrong answer.’
I glared at her.‘I don’t want to kill the Queen,’ I intoned.
‘That’ll do.’She almost smiled.With a jerk of her head she added, ‘Let’s go before they get impatient.’
I’d never seen this side of Moira.She was usually cold, detached, with a remarkable ability to never seem to care about anything, but tonight she felt like an echo of Raleigh’s old facade.But while Raleigh’s cold mask was exactly that, this felt like I was seeing the true Moira for the first time.She was terrifying.And despite the pain in my shoulders, I was grateful to have her on my side in whatever was to come.
I followed her out into the corridor, my pulse rising with every step.Not counting Enrique, I’d never met a vampire other than Raleigh.He never spoke of anyone else from court, but I gathered there were far worse out there than him.Knowing how much blood was on his hands when he was trying to do good, I dreaded to discover what a less restrained vampire might be like.I tried to rally by repeating Moira’s instructions to myself.No deal, no queen, love Raleigh.No deal, no queen, love Raleigh.
The final command made my stomach flip.I tried to remember how I would act with Yann: the loving gazes, the casual touches.They’d felt so natural with him, but the mere thought of doing those things with Raleigh made me feel like I was about to burst out of my skin.
Moira stopped as we reached the ground floor.‘Wait.’She unhooked the chain around her neck and slipped it over my head instead, tucking it into my dress.The silver cross felt warm.‘Wear this.’
‘What about you?’
‘You need it more right now.If you even suspect you might be in danger, pull it out.At the very least it will buy you some time.’
