“I’ll let you know when I need your services again,” he said.
I nodded and strolled away without a backward glance, disappearing into the lobby and walking straight out the back door.
I had no intentions of returning to my room tonight.
Not yet at least.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Analleia
Changing was a matterof fluid movements.I discarded my feathered mask, pulling a dark one made of cloth from an inner pocket and securing it behind my head.The outer layer of the bodice was removed, my assassin’s garb layered underneath.I discarded my skirt in favor of the black leggings underneath and swung a thin cloak around my shoulders.
I reentered the ball a different person, careful to avoid running into Valeris again.Even though my appearance had changed, I sensed he could pick me out in the crowd if given the opportunity.The masked ball was in full swing, the merriment only increasing as many of the guests grew more intoxicated with liquor.I hoped Wylan Athello had made an appearance by now, and after a few minutes of searching I found him.I made small talk with those around me, keeping my eyes peeled for whenever the man would leave.It took more than an hour.An hour of watching him and making sure Valeris or his bodyguard didn’t enter the room.I never caught sight of the latter.
The guests filtered out as the night stretched on, thinning out the crowd and making it harder to stay incognito.Wylan broke apart from the group he had been conversing with, but he wasn’t heading toward the royal chambers.I tailed him as he wended his way through the palace.The privy, perhaps?
I cut through a parallel corridor, trying to get ahead of him.I planned on using the Hrakka powder, what we should have used in the first place, but Hrakka powder required getting the target alone where we wouldn’t be interrupted.I secured a black scarf around my nose, leaving only my blue eyes exposed, but my hood hid them and my hair, pulled up to conceal them in the shadows.
I stopped before the privy, leaning against the wall and bending over, pretending I was on the verge of throwing up.Footsteps approached from behind, and I moved the Hrakka powder into my gloved palm.My heart hammered, and I took several measured breaths, forcing myself to keep calm.Blowing the powder in his face and retrieving the ring would be the easy part.Making sure no one else entered the corridor during that time was the unpredictable element.I also had to time it just right, but I had done this before.I could do it again.In and out.
I heard a slight pause in his steps, as if he were analyzing me.He was almost there.I made a gagging sound and waited until he was right next to me before spinning, lifting my hand up and blowing the Hrakka powder directly into his face.I stepped back, a small twinge of relief running through me as I waited for the drug to take effect.Waited for him to fall to his knees before hitting the floor unconscious.
He shook his head, wiped the powder from his face, then sneezed.His eyes met mine.Black.Violent.Angry.
Fear wrapped its spindly fingers around my throat, squeezing.
No.
Hrakka powder infected everyone.It was infused with enchantment—
Realization struck me with such power it felt like the wind had been knocked out of me.
Wylan Athello could detect enchantment.
But he couldn’t just detect it.
