But what he meant was, no man would ever think heneededto search my skirts. They always underestimated me. Even now. And as useful as that was to my escape, I couldn’t stop the twinge of disappointment I felt as I wiggled the metal pins inside the lock. Yuto had seemed like he’d seen me for what I was, for better or worse.
Instead, he’d underestimated me, too.
Just like all of them.
No matter. He’d find out soon enough just how capable I truly was.
The lock clicked, and I smiled. Quietly, I pushed the door open and peeked out into the dark corridor. There was a single torch just outside the door but the rest had been extinguished. Frowning, I plucked it off the wall and headed in the opposite direction than we’d taken to get here.
Back that way led to Yuto, his friends, and the risk of getting caught. This way led to safety—hopefully.
With a steadying breath, I whispered down the corridor, my footsteps barely making a sound at all. The flicker of the flames stretched out on the stone floor, illuminating several shut doors. I kept moving forward.
As I approached a bend in the corridor, several voices drifted toward me. Heart hammering, I came to a sudden stop. A beam of light splashed onto the wall. Footsteps echoed off the stone. Grimacing, I cracked open the nearest door and tossed the torch onto the floor inside. Just as quickly, I pulled the door shut.
The sudden darkness was almost suffocating. I pressed a hand against my throat and waited, listening to the murmur of voices, steadily rising as they drew closer.
I could run. But my footsteps would be loud if I moved that quickly. The room behind me would be a great place to hide, but…then I wouldn’t get to listen to this conversation.
My damn curiosity froze my feet in place.
“Did you tell her what happened, my lord?” It was Callista’s voice, the pleasant woman with the violet eyes.
A grunt. Yuto’s grunt. I’d heard it enough by now that I recognized the sound in an instant. “Of course not. She’s a mortal girl I only just met. How could I trust her with that information? Besides, I doubt she would even understand.”
“It might go a long way toward gaining her trust, and you need that if your plan is going to work.”
“I don’t need her trust,” Yuto said. “I just need her ability to go through that damn portal.”
My heart batted my ribcage. They were talking about me. I shouldn’t have been surprised. Yuto thought I was their ticket out of here. This was probably the most excitement they’d had around here in years.
“She could be here for months. Maybe longer.”
“She’s a thief.”
A long pause followed before Callista finally voiced her response. Her tone was gentle, but it was firm. Yuto might be her Lord Master, but she clearly didn’t fear speaking her mind. “Do not mistake her crimes for those done to you all those years ago. She is not Lysandra, my lord. She is not the one who cursed you.”
My ears pricked up.Cursed?
“No, but she is the one who is wandering around the castle, listening in on conversations that are not meant for her ears,” he returned, voice low and dangerous.
I stiffened, sucking in a sharp breath. Heartbeat rattling, I whirled back toward my room, but it was too late. As I’d been listening to Yuto and Callista prattle on about curses and secrets, they’d grown closer to me than I’d realized. A second later, they’d both rounded the corner.
Sheepishly, I twisted my hands behind me and leaned back on my heels, hoping that I looked far less guilty than I felt. So much for getting out of here tonight.
“Are you enjoying your stroll?” Yuto asked with a smile that caught me off guard. I’d expected him to rage at me for my attempted escape, like throw me over his shoulder and toss me right into my room again. Maybe even spank me.
Swallowing hard, I glanced at Callista, who merely gave me a wan smile.
“Yes, I’m enjoying my stroll very much, thanks. Although I think your castle could do with some better lighting,” I said.
“Ah.” He nodded toward the closed door just behind me. “It seems as though one of the torches has taken an unexpected visit to the bathing room.”
How in the name of sanity did he know I’d tossed the torch in there?
“Hmm, that’s odd,” I said quickly. “Anyway, I guess I’ll be on my way now…”
“Continuing your midnight exploration or are you heading back to your room?” he asked.
