“No. That’s as good as pleading guilty. They’ll scour the entire kingdom to arrest me.”
Misty settled on my lap.We’re in a rut, then.She let me pet her for a bit.A good night’s sleep might do you good.
I didn’t object, though the last thing I wanted was hours of silence to brew in my own thoughts.
The crown prince’s warm hazel eyes would be the first thing I’d think about.
***
IAWOKE TO MISTY’Smeows. The room was still dark. It couldn’t have been more than an hour since I fell asleep.
There’s something happening in the city, she said, green eyes glowing.
I slipped out of the bed, shivering in my thin chemise, and went out to the balcony. Vandil was usually silhouetted in the distance, but this time a glowing ember flickered at the far edge, illuminating the minuscule buildings.
“Is that...fire?”
Misty joined me outside. It was still raining, though the droplets were finer and sharpened by bites of icy wind.
If we can see it from this distance, think of how bad it is in person.
I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. “The witch market is at the edge of the city.”
Well, that’s—
I didn’t hear the rest of her words as I raced back inside, wrestling myself into a gown and pelisse. I didn’t bother with my corset.
Where do you think you’re going?Misty demanded, leaping onto the mattress.
I stuffed my feet into stockings and the half-laced boots under my bed. “To the city.”
She paced, bristling.What are you planning to do? Single-handedly put out the fire?
“Something like that,” I muttered, straightening after tightening the laces. I rushed blindly toward the door, but Misty jumped in front of me.
Are you insane? What am I supposed to do if you don’t come back? We’re supposed to be together. Forever. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?
I knelt, pressing my palms into the icy tiles. The cold made my elbows tremble. Mother would go into hysterics if she could see me now.
A lady, go off into the city in the middle of the night, and without her underpinnings no less! Your reputation will be ruined! Don’t you care about anything I’ve built for you?
You’ve ruined everything already, Mother,I said to her savagely.I have nothing left to ruin.
Stop that!Misty yowled, sensing my conversation with my non-present mother.You’re delirious!
If I was delirious, so be it. I needed to do something reckless. Something heroic. Something like what I had done at last Season’s Masquerade Ball.
“Misty,” I said quietly, “I have to go. I’m tired of having no control over how everyone views me.”
Oh, yes. And running headfirst into an inferno will fix that how?
“I don’t have time to argue. Are you coming or not?”
Misty gave an exasperated meow.The things I do for you.
***
MINUTES LATER I BURSTinto the stables with Misty tucked under my arm. The odor of hay and manure wafted over us as I trotted past the stalls.
