“Mira, one person died. That doesn’t mean there’s a conspiracy against the Honorate.”
“What does the decurio think?”
He looks over my shoulder. I follow his line of vision, and my eyebrows shoot up. “The Nights?”
“Not them specifically. But the arrival of Petruvia is too suspicious to ignore. Arliss died right after they got here. Can that truly be a coincidence?”
I study the Nights for a few moments until they look at me, yet again, and I swiftly turn my gaze elsewhere. It’s true that Petruvia arrived right before Arliss’s murder and the timing is suspicious . . .
But there’s someone else who arrived in Widow’s Hall around that same time. Someone else with a clear motive I can’t ignore. Kaidren Vale.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ARTIFICE AND CHARM
There’s someone at my bedroom door. Which by itself isn’t odd. But they don’t use Sef’s signature knock or call out to me the way Luc does. Whichisodd. Plenty of people live in Widow’s Hall. Only two of them ever visit me.
I’m tense as I creep to stand behind the door. “Who is it?”
“It’s Kaidren.”
He’s the last person I was expecting.
Swiftly, I survey my room, making sure there’s nothing suspicious lying around before opening the door.
For the first time since we met, Kaidren looks messy. Patchy stubble grows around his chin, dark circles hang beneath his eyes, and his shoulders are heavy. He is still undeniably and frustratingly good-looking, but there’s an air of defeat about him.
“Kaidren?” I don’t hide the incredulity from my voice. “What are you doing here?”
He drags a hand tiredly over his face. “I’m sorry for disturbing you. I—” He stops, frowning as he catches sight of my room. “These are your chambers?”
“Yes.” I slide over to block more of the open doorway. It’s a useless move. I’m not short, but Kaidren is tall enough to easily peer over my head. “Is something wrong?”
“Your room is smaller than I expected.” He scrunches his brow. “Your brother hasn’t demanded a larger room for you?”
I can’t imagine why he’s so concerned with my sleeping arrangements. I fold my arms, trying not to look as annoyed as I feel. “I don’t mean to be rude, but what are you doing here?”
“Sorry.” His left leg bounces with nerves. “The first trial’s tomorrow, and I was hoping you might help me with something.”
AndIwas hoping to get some sleep the night before the most important event of my life, instead of fanning the flames of this fake friendship. Apparently, I’m not so fortunate. “What do you need?”
“Um—” He looks over my head at my room again. “Maybe we can discuss this in the Praeceptor’s dining room?”
I’m exhausted, and I want to refuse, but I haven’t seen him since the death of Arliss Vale, and the obvious question echoes in the recesses of my mind:Didhe murder his father?
Curiosity gets the best of me. “Of course.”
A few minutes later, we’re in Luc’s dining room, and Kaidren looks more nervous than before. “Why don’t you sit?”
I take one of the side chairs instead of the head of the table as I usually do. Kaidren stands in front of me. “You know of the Shadow Queen, don’t you?”
I keep my face carefully blank. “Doesn’t everyone?”
His expression sours. “Probably. I take it you read her most recent column?”
“Yes . . .”
He rummages in his bag and tosses the Shadow Queen’s column on the table, followed by a stack of crumpled parchment.
