“I’m sure Karwyn will take good care of you.”
“So you and Karwyn are friends? How come you’re hanging out in questionable clubs in Chrysa when you have all this?” she asked, gesturing to the door. She hadn’t seen much of it, but she knew the palace was huge.
“I like to be versatile.”
“I believe that,Blue,” she said, a smile sneaking up on her. It had been so long since she had had a reason to smile. “Should I call you Blue or Rhay?”
He grinned at the mention of his alias, his eyes sparkling. “You can call me whatever you want, love.”
Scoffing, she dropped down on the chair that was still standing. Rhay regarded her with curiosity. He seemed suspicious. But it wasn’t her he should be worried about. It was his so-called friend who deserved his suspicion. Lora’s head was spinning as she realised she had talked to the king’s advisor that night weeks ago—so close to the source of all of this without even realising.
“I think today is a bust,” Rhay announced. “It’s already late. We’ll train tomorrow. Come on.” He moved to the door while Lora remained seated. “Would you rather stay here or attend myto-die-forparty?”
“You’re inviting me to a party?” Nowshewas growing suspicious. She had stolen from him.
“Too soon?” he asked, trying to read her.
Lora frowned, then quickly sighed. “Yes, I’m...I’m still grieving, after all.”
“In my experience, sitting alone in a room is not the answer. Distractions are.” Rhay winked, his flask back in his hand.
“I’m not sure Karwyn would want me to go,” she said. Should she go?Couldshe go? The contract didn’t say she couldn’t move about. Technically, it didn’t even say she had to stay in the palace, but she had agreed to train, and the locked door had erased any other possibility.
She had been stuck in this room for so long with no chance of finding a loophole. Anything was better than another night alone with her thoughts.
“He didn’t say youcouldn’tgo,” Rhay said with a grin. “Plus, tonight is your one chance to party without everyone watching you. Watching the newprincess.”
Lora cringed. Princess—afae princess.How far she’d fallen.
“Being royalty has its price, love,” Rhay said, offering his hand. Lora let herself be pulled up.
He opened the door and stepped out. Before the guard could speak, Rhay handed him a bundle of silver notes. “I’ll have her back in her room before sunrise.”
The guard didn’t object.
Lora followed behind Rhay, who walked ahead with a purpose. “Where are we going?” It seemed a bit early for a party. The high windows showed it was dusk, giving the stone-walled corridor a mysterious, dark feeling.
“My bedroom,” Rhay replied.
Lora halted. She barely knew Rhay and he was friends with Karwyn, which automatically made him either evil or naïve. Why was she following him blindly?
Looking over his shoulder, Rhay stopped. “Don’t worry, love. I’m not taking you up on that offer.”
Offer?She hadn’t offered him anything, had she?
Her cheeks turned red as a memory came back to her. Back in Caligo, she’d basically suggested going back to his place. Rhay chuckled at her embarrassment, and she gave him a scolding glance.
“Why are we going to your room, then?”
“Because you look like you’ve been to your own funeral. And my parties call for a livelier look.”
Lora glanced behind her. She could go back, or she could go with Rhay and maybe get more information from him. What did she have to lose?
Rhay didn’t know how close he’d come with his observation. Lora had seen her funeral every night in her dreams. And it wouldn’t stay a dream for long if she couldn’t find a way to change her fate.
Chapter4
Amira
