Puss’ muted voice flickered through her senses. “Gabi!”
“I’mcoming!”
Clotilde screamed, and cooled hands tough with calluses briefly brushed Angelique’sarms.
“Get rid of that before you drag heroff.”
“You think?” Gabrielle’s voice was warped, as though she wereunderwater.
But the digging pain in Angelique’s shoulder focused into one painful, jarring stab…and then there was merely waves of dulledpain.
Someone wrapped their arms around Angelique’s waist and began to haul her away, dragging her across thefloor.
She knew it had to be Gabrielle, but for a fleeing moment, she thought it was Evariste, and she relaxed in his grasp…until she remembered that wasimpossible.
Her magic flooded her, overwhelming her senses and threatening to loosen itself on the world, as pain ate away at hershoulder.
But as Angelique drifted off into the soothing darkness, she clamped down on her magic.No. Nothere.
Chapter 13
Several days later,Angelique tried to discreetly roll her shoulder, attempting to ease some of the pain that still festered in hermuscles.
Gabrielle noticed the gesture and narrowed her eyes. “Are you sure you’re good enough to do this?” She glanced up at Puss, who was perched on her shoulders. “Puss’ healing spell isn’t that strong, and you were out of it for aday.”
“I beg your pardon; my healing abilities arequitepotent,” Puss squawked. “If they weren’t, you would have been dead the first time a bandit thumped you upside thehead!”
Angelique offered what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “I was unconscious only because Puss placed a sleeping spell on me with his healing magic. I am much better now.”And since I lost a few days, I have to get moving,fast.
Between Puss’ meddling and the shoulder wound, Angelique had lost valuable time. Now that she was healed—or at least healed enough—she needed to see just how she had damaged the princes’ curse, observe Clotilde, and plan for the nextstep.
Clotilde couldn’t be left in power. The consequences would be disastrous. She’d have to take the matter back to the Veneno Conclave forhelp.
Gabrielle sauntered down the hallway, waving to a guard in thanks when he—unprompted—opened the door for her. She held a finger to her lips, and the guard nodded. Satisfied, the Prinzessin trotted through the door, beckoning Angelique tofollow.
Angelique joined her, holding her breath when they crept onto the narrow, stone balcony that edged the throneroom.
Officially, it was for soldiers only—even now, six soldiers were stationed at different corners of the balcony, each wielding crossbows. The soldiers glanced in their direction, and for a second, Angelique’s heartstopped.
Will they sound the alarm? Gabrielle is safe from Clotilde because of Puss, but the rest of the castle workers arenot.
The soldiers’ expressions didn’t even flicker as they went back to observing the queen with stonyexpressions.
Angelique exhaled.Bless their loyalty. And bless Gabrielle for being worthy ofit.
Gabrielle crouched down and inched up to the stone balcony, peering over the side into the throneroom.
Roland re-arranged himself so he half-stood on her sloped back, making sure he didn’t poke too high above the balconywall.
Angelique joined them, awkwardly crouching in her beautiful dress. She leaned her side against the wall until the muscles in her still-healing shoulder prickled in pain, pulling her skin tight. Grimacing, Angelique gave up the pretense of elegance and instead lowered herself to her knees, pressing her chest against the cold stone of the balcony so she could also peek down into the throneroom.
Clotilde sat on her throne, wearing another one of her so-fancy-it-was-gaudy dresses. A crooked scowl was etched into her lips as she listened to the castle steward’s morningreport.
(The poor steward kept trying to address the King, but Henrik didn’t move—or even blink—during his entiretalk.)
Even this cursory glance made Angeliquesigh.
Clotilde was fine. She showed no ill effects of their fight. And now that Angelique knew what she was looking for, she could sense the presence of the queen’s black artifacts, which radiated malice andcontempt.
