It’s my favorite place to work. I feel powerful here. Everything—and everyone—feels small.
Tonight, I work on an order that will send more soldiers to the Opheran border. The Honorate has already rejected previous versions of this order twice, which means I’ll need to slip it into something unrelated if I want it to pass without interference from the Shadow Queen.
I’ve only just unpacked my bag when the door rattles.
My head jerks up. It’s nearing ten in the evening—no reason for anyone else to be here.
The double doors swing open, and Kaidren Vale’s deep brown eyes find me, curious and intent.
My heartbeat accelerates. I hate being caught off guard, and this is the second time he’s done so in a single day. I struggle to keep my face still as I stand to greet him.
“Hello there,” he says with a smile that’s as oily and fake as my stepmother’s hair. “I thought I saw you come in here.”
“You were looking for me?” I surreptitiously flip my notes over. Kaidren isn’t close enough to read them, but his stance is leaned forward as though he intends to narrow the space between us.
His stare is unwavering as he closes the gilded door and rests his back against it. On the surface, it’s a casual move, but I want to flee, and he’s blocking my only exit.
“I was hoping to catch a word,” he says. “I’ve seen you. Skulking around in the shadows.”
Does he meanbeforetoday?
I fight a frown. “You’ve seen me before?” I sidle around the table. Not because I want to be any closer to him, but to place myself nearer to the door. “Where?”
“Around Widow’s Hall. Hovering near the Praeceptor. And I’m not sure if you’ll remember, but we actually met briefly earlier today.”
Around Widow’s Hall.
Those words echo around my mind, dulling the rest of his sentence. I was certain today was his first time here, but if he’s seen me before, he must’ve walked these halls.
He saw me, but I didn’t see him. I couldn’t have—with a face like his, I’d remember.
My gut stirs with unease. I quiet it. “IthinkI might remember you. You’re . . .” I pretend to be deep in thought. “Oh!You’re that new Honorate, aren’t you?”
He grins. “Yes. Good memory. You’re welcome to call me ‘New Honorate,’ but most people just call me Kaidren.” He pauses, giving me time to chuckle.
I don’t.
He continues. “As you said, I’m new here. This place is overwhelming.”
“Yes.” My thumb traces the tattoo on my wrist. “Widow’s Hall can be unforgiving to strangers.”
His easygoing smile pairs with a few steps in my direction. Combined with the intensity of his stare, it feels more menacing than friendly. “Then let’s not be strangers.”
Kaidren has such a blithe, familiar way of speaking, as though we’ve known each other for years. He probably thinks he’s being charming, but he’s not subtle, and I’m not a fool.
He saw me with Luc and now he’s seeking me out in the middle of the night. It isn’t hard to guess what he’s after: information on the Praeceptor, hidden behind a guise of kindness.
I have no desire to make friends with this slimy creature, but in a game of who can fake the sweetest smiles, I’ll win.
I tilt my head to the side and grin. “I’d like that.”
He moves even closer. Close enough I have to tilt my head—just a bit—to maintain eye contact. “In that case, it’s lovely to meet you. I’m Kaidren Vale. Do you have a name, shadow skulker?”
“Remira.”
“Remira what?”
Interesting. He’s seen me around but doesn’t know I share a surname with the Praeceptor. Either that, or he’s pretending. “Just Remira.”
