I don’t like it here. Something is wrong.
Of course, I know it could mean nothing that I can’t contact the others. Maybe, like Aurelia, they’re sleeping—it wouldn’t be that strange to need rest after we walked all night long. Otherwise, they could just be on the other side of the castle and out of my range.
I want to believe it’s nothing suspicious. Still, I would have felt better if we’d seen Jett when we arrived. I don’t like being separated from the others with no way to know where they are.
Something is wrong.
A sharp knock sounds at the door, breaking through my racing thoughts. I’m on my feet before the sound even fades, hand already reaching for my sword, as I make my way over to the door.
A servant stands on the other side, arms laden with a pile of clothing so tall that it obscures her face.
“What?” I demand, more rudely than I intended.
The servant’s voice is muffled by the fabric. “Her Majesty requests your presence at dinner and provides these garments for her sister.”
I snatch the bundle without a word, and close the door in the servant’s face.
Aurelia stirs, her hair mussed from sleep, eyes still heavy-lidded as she pushes herself up on one elbow. “Who was that?”
“A servant. The queen sent these.” I drop the pile of clothing on the end of the bed. “Looks like enough gowns to last you a week. She must think we’ll be staying a while.”
Aurelia cocks her head, first at me, then at the clothing. I think she’s wondering if it’s safe to speak out loud. In my opinion, it doesn’t matter much. Even if someone’s listening, discussing the clothes won’t raise any suspicions.
Seeming to come to the same conclusion, Aurelia relaxes, and presses her hand to her mouth to stifle another yawn. “How long did I sleep?”
“A few hours.”
She nods, blinking rapidly to clear her eyes. “I feel a little better. Did you sleep at all?”
I shake my head once. She frowns, her eyes narrowing with concern.“Sorry. Thanks for watching over me.”
I blink, startled. “Did you just…”
She frowns. “Did I, what?”
I shake my head, unsure how to answer—partly because it sounds absurd, and partly because if we are being listened to, I don’t want anyone to hear us. Talking about the clothes is one thing, but about this?
“Nothing,” I mutter.
Aurelia sits up fully, and her eyes light up when she gets a good look at all the silk gowns, and she reaches out to run her fingers over an embroidered sleeve. “Is it shallow that I’ve missed clothes this clean? I would kill for a real bath—not that the hot springs aren’t nice.”
“Just nice?” I echo, eyes flashing.
She flushes, but doesn’t drop her gaze. “I think there’s a bathing room through there,” she says, jerking her head toward a door on the other side of the room. “Want to join me?”
I bite back a groan, my body responding instantly to the offer and the heated look in her eyes. “I can’t,” I mutter bitterly, eyes darting toward the door. “Not here.”
Aurelia’s lower lip juts out, pouting, but she doesn’t argue about it. We both know I’m right—If I joined her in the bath we’dboth be distracted, and it would be even worse than if we’d slept at the same time. Still, knowing I’m right doesn’t make me hate the situation any less.
Aurelia stands and walks over to the bathing room, shutting the door behind her. Seconds later, I hear the tap turn on, and water splashing against porcelain. I let out a long breath, watching as steam seeps under the door.
Thinking about her wet and naked on the other side of the door might be distracting, except that now my mind is racing with a thousand other things.
I know I heard her voice in my head just now. I’mpositiveI heard it, and it’s not the first time it’s happened.
Thinking back to the time in the tent when I first thought I might have heard Aurelia’s thoughts, I try calling out for her in my head.“Aurelia?”
I stop breathing and listen, but I can’t hear anything except the water still running in the adjoining bathing room.
