Chapter Sixteen
Analleia
My irritation tookover every step as I stalked up the steps of the inn, muttering about the sixth floor and every insufferable thing that had happened that evening.I had disappeared into the streets of the city for several hours before returning, needing to work through my thoughts.I jammed my key into the lock and shoved the ornate door open with too much force.It slammed shut behind me, rattling the walls.
Desmond and Nadiyah lounged on the couch.They wore their formal attire from the ball, and I was surprised Desmond hadn’t yet ripped off the suit he hated so much.
“Well.”Nadiyah tilted her head.“Someone is in a good mood.”
I took a deep breath in an attempt to pull my emotions in check.
It didn’t work.
“It’s only been a few weeks since we left the tower,” Desmond said, “but I’m sure you must remember how often the headmistress warned us about burning bridges, since you might one day have a need to cross them again.”
I ignored him, throwing my bow sack on the ground and unlacing my outer bodice with the attached skirt, leaving me in my breeches and undershirt.
“Analleia,” Desmond’s voice turned razor-sharp.“I would like to not have to pry this information from you.”
I unstrapped my belt before removing each concealed knife from my person.
“You and the prince are all anyone at the ball could talk about after your little show,” Nadiyah said.“Would you like to explain why you practically threw yourself at him this evening after very harshly and blatantly rejecting him yesterday, which, might I add, Desmond and I both heavily disapproved of?”
I whirled around, frustration and anger lining my eyes.“The man I’m looking for, theRichard Athellothe Enchantress tasked me to find and steal his ring, is Prince Valeris’s uncle.The king’s brother, Alekvandor.I haven’t been able to find him because he doesn’t go by his official name anymore but by Wylan Athello.”
“Burning bridges,” Nadiyah cursed.
I pulled the pins out of my hair and dropped them into a dish on the side table.“Our littleshowhappened because I had to catch the prince in a public place, somewhere he couldn’t immediately reject me without fear of making a scene.”
“And did it work?”Desmond asked.
I shook my stiff hair out.“In a manner of speaking—we did form an alliance.In exchange for his influence, I will help uncover who murdered his brother.”
Desmond cursed under his breath.“You do realize you could have been killed for revealing you know about that dangerous piece of information.”
“It was a chance I had to take,” I snapped.“Killing me would cause a scene, especially if he thought someone else knew and could create chaos if I went missing.That tidbit of information is what helped bring him around.”
Nadiyah’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.“He reoffered to make an alliance with you, no questions asked?”
I chewed on my lip.“He wanted me to prove I would be useful.”
“How?”
“I had to fix the alliance I destroyed with Lord Eyreling and get it back for him.”
