As everyone is focused on their arrival, I look at Marcella. Her back is to me, long dark hair spilling down in thick waves.
The very last thing Willow ever said to me, the last time I ever saw her, surfaces in my memories.
She leaned over the table, a smile on her face.“You don’t need to be afraid. I’m not the one that will hurt you.”
Forty-Eight
- MARCELLA -
The blood note tucked between my breast and my dress is as heavy as if it were a stone. I’m anxious that, if I turn wrong, it’ll shift and give me away. As Cyrus and Devin descend, I slip a finger in and tuck it down farther. Praying to the Gods I don’t misstep.
Lady Bethany’s eyes have been on me almost all night. But now that she sees a greater prize—Cyrus—it’s the perfect distraction. All I need is for Lyra to confront me. And doing exactly what Lady Bethany demanded of me—to not speak to her or Aelia again—is enough fodder to tempt Lyra into a confrontation.
Or so I hope.
As Devin and Cyrus clear the last step, I avert my gaze, keeping my chin high as I stare at the other guards descending the stairs. Once the double doors close, I turn to Moe on my right as the music swells. We go out to the dance floor along with the other women, and begin to dance. Cyrus finds one of the women and sweeps her off into the fray, and Devin takes his stance near the corner of the room by the other guards.
“I must admit, I never imagined you’d ask me to dance,” Moe mumbles, eyeing me suspiciously. “But I see now it was only a cover?”
I snap my attention back to her and pick up our pace. “I also admit I never imagined you’d accept.”
“You had me curious,” she says with a shrug. “I’ve only ever seen you dance with Lyra and Aelia. And seeing as you aren’t speaking to them…I have to wonder why.”
“I don’t think that’s any of your business, quite frankly.”
She chuckles. “That’s fair.”
I glance down at her feet. “I must say, though, I’m quite impressed you’re still well on your feet after the first trial. If I hadn’t seen your footcrushed in those spiked walls, I would’ve never guessed it happened to you.”
“I owe it to you for pulling me out of the walls, and to the doctors here. They’re the most skilled in all the Dragon Lands. On occasion, when it rains, I’ll still feel an ache in my bones.”
I work over the thought of asking her. After the first trial, she was the only one in the infirmary who came back. “To recover in a few days is indeed miraculous. I’m glad Cyrus kept you.”
“As am I. I’ve felt guilty that out of the three of us women who went to the infirmary that night, I was the only one who was kept.”
“Was it because their injuries were more extensive? I never heard much about them or their recoveries.”
She shrugs, glancing off into the room. “I wouldn’t say more extensive.”
I narrow my eyes at her sudden distance. “What would you say then?”
She shakes her head with a puff, still not wanting to meet my eyes.
“Moe,” I whisper, squeezing her hand. “Did you see something while you were there?” I can still see the lady’s maids scrubbing blood out of the infirmary beds after two women were admitted for a mysterious illness. “What happened to the other two women?”
She bites a trembling lip, finally dragging her gaze back to me. Water lines them. It’s like a punch to my gut, confirming my suspicion before she speaks, “Umm…I was asleep so I didn’t see anything, but…I heard.” She nods frantically, a tear slipping down her cheek. “Whatever they gave me blocked all my sensations but one. I could heareverything. Their screams. Their…” She shakes her head, eyes falling to our feet. “The next morning they were gone. The beds were stripped.”
My face drops, breath slowing. “I’m so sorry, Moe.”
She takes her hand off my waist and furiously wipes the tear off. “Stella is going to get jealous,” she whispers, slipping her hand from mine. “I have to go.”
“Wait, Moe—” I call, but she slips off toward Stella, who is glaring at us.
Clicking heels patter toward me. “Marcella!”
I suck in a quick breath. Here we go. I glance at Lyra over my shoulder to further prompt her ire, then turn away and walk toward thecorner of the room.
“Marcella!” she barks and snatches my elbow, stopping me in my tracks. “Stop, I want to speak with you!”
