Maddox dropped the branch. “I don’t plan on doing this for long, though,” he said, surprising me.
“You don’t?”
He snorted. “Are you kidding me? Look at Father. He dedicated his entire life to protecting the royal family. It’s admirable, yes, but foolish. And unfair to us.” He paused and glared. “Don’t tell him I said that.”
I held out my hands. “But if you give up your duty as a guard, what else is there?”
“I’ll have other duties. To family, to friends, to myself. Blazing fires, sometimes you don’t need duty. It’s enough to exist and relax. But to be fair,” Maddox said, stretching his legs, “I’ve been relaxing excessively before this.”
“Then...what do you plan to do after?”
“I haven’t a clue. But I can’t go back to being a guard.”
“Why not?”
“Because,” Maddox said, standing up and offering me a hand, “we’re going to commit treason.”
I stared. “Excuse me?”
“Come on. We can’t let Celeste get away with this,” he said. “Have you forgotten? She’s inviting witches to come to her show tomorrow night. For free. What she did to you, she’s going to do to them.”
My head spun as I recalled Celeste’s charitable charade. Had this been her plan all along, to gather witches and remove their magic in masses? Had I been some sort of preliminary experiment for her?
“If you won’t do it out of duty, at least do it for those witches. Giselle told me what it’s like, having magic taken away,” Maddox said, hesitating. “Father had a choice, but the others...it’ll be against their will. It’s not right.”
Misty put a paw on my hands and meowed. It was a beseeching meow, that much I could tell despite the severance of our connection. She wanted me to take action.
I stared at her in despair. How I wished I could hear her speak again.
Perhaps...perhaps I could. Giselle said Celeste was always forced to return the magic she stole. Her method of stealing had evolved, but if she could return magic before, surely she’d be able to now.
Olderea’s approval was no longer my concern. I had to do this for Misty, if I wished to speak to her again. For the witches who didn’t deserve the pain of losing their magic. For Bennett, who didn’t have the option to defy the king. If we never saw each other again, at least I’d be able to do this for the kingdom he so dearly loved.
I drew Misty to my chest and took Maddox’s hand. “Let’s do this.”
He grinned, pulling me to my feet. “That’s my sister.”
***
LADY RUAN KNOCKED ONmy door when I returned, her round face lined with distress. It turned out that my episode the other night did not go unnoticed, and neither did King Maximus’s order of surrounding the rebel meeting. There was a great commotion, I heard from passersby, though there was no sign of any violent scuffle.
“I didn't know about these meetings, Lady Narcissa, I swear it,” Lady Ruan said, her eyes bloodshot. “But when I went to beg audience with His Majesty, I was told he departed with the crown prince this morning. I don’t know what to do.”
I assured her that she would not receive punishment for her ignorance, but the worry lines between her brows did not disappear.
“A poor visit this has been, hasn’t it? I’m afraid I haven’t been a very good hostess.” Lady Ruan sniffed and shook her head. “Is there some way to make it up to you?”
“There may be one thing,” I said, leaning against the doorframe. Maddox and I had come up with a haphazard plan on the way back to my room. Now everything depended on how well I could act.
She perked up. “What is it?”
“My brother has developed an interest in theatrical engineering.” The lie came smoothly. “He would like to inspect the suspension wires above the stage tonight.”
Lady Ruan widened her eyes. “I’m sure that can be arranged. But tonight we have Celeste’s rehearsal for tomor—”
“Perfect! He can see the wires in action, then,” I said.
“I’m afraid having outsiders during rehearsal gets distracting, Lady Narcissa. Celeste is only here for rehearsals and shows and she’s very strict with her schedule. Perhaps your brother can come another time?”
