Lucien leans in, and Kazia winds a soft hand in his hair. Holds him in place for a slow, piercing kiss. Every movement of Kazia’s lips, every hitch of Kazia’s breath drives the sleep from Lucien’s mind.
You may want to stop that,Tezurit interrupts.Loska says Marek is on his way to see you.
Mortal fear drives Lucien upwards. He traces Kazia’s kiss-sweet lips. “Tezurit says Marek is coming. We should probably get dressed.”
Kazia sits up nearly fast enough to break Lucien’s nose. “Fuck. Trousers.” He swings to the floor, then pauses and glares. “Wait, was Tezurit listening to us?”
Lucien presses a kiss to the top of Kazia’s head, then jumps to the floor. “Yeah, I need to explain boundaries to her. But first, trousers.”
“Trousers,” Kazia agrees, and scrambles out of bed. “Trousers, shoes, and then—” Pausing at his open wardrobe, Kazia goes rigid. Then he turns over his shoulder, his face soft with delight. “Then everything changes.”
A feeling warmer than magic bubbles through Lucien’s soul. He crosses the room and embraces Kazia from behind. Pulls that sharp chin up to face him.
“Not quite everything,” Lucien says, and kisses Kazia again.
***
Breaking into the queen’s chambers is simpler the second time. Lucien, Kazia, Whisper, and Salarin simply walk right in. They aren’t worried about getting caught—Kazia told the drasgard he had his mother’s permission. By the time someone corroborates with Queen Aliza, Kazia will be long gone.
Hopefully, nobody will be able to tell the queen, because she’ll be dead.
Simpler, but Lucien’s nerves are far greater this time. He’s been in plenty of battles, plus more covert operations than a reckless fire mage should probably be assigned to. But today, focus is a challenge. His mind keeps flying towards various futures.
Not the bad ones. He can’t let himself think of the bad futures. The good futures are complicated, too.
What the fuck will Audric say when he learns Lucien is staying in Draskora? What about Bellamy, and even Rakos—who Lucien considers a friend, though he’s loath to admit it?
That’s something to figure out later. Lucien needs to focus on the task at hand—and on Kazia, whose own nerves must be worse. He hugs himself, fidgeting with his sleeves.
As soon as they finish here, Whisper and Herald Hyda will escort Kazia from the palace. The three of them will wait at the Tipsy Tree until everything is over. Or take Kazia to General Gabra, if everything goes wrong.
Which it won’t. Lucien drags his mind out of the dangerous underbrush, onto open roads. Everything will go perfectly.
When they reach Aliza’s parlor, Salarin waits at the doorway as lookout. Lucien leads the way through the chaotic collection.
Are you ready yet?Tezurit asks.
“Not yet,” Lucien replies.
Tezurit’s annoyed huff echoes through his mind.When I agreed to pass the ready signal to Loska, I didn’t expect you to dawdle so much.
She isn’t really annoyed, just nervous.
Lucien pulls back the black and white tapestry, revealing a blank patch of wall. There’s a faint outline where the covered portion of stone is darker than the rest. “What do you think, Whisper? Secret door, or secret door?”
Kazia tugs Lucien’s sleeve. “It might be locked to only allow her in. I could try opening it, since we share blood.”
Whisper pulls on his gloves. “No need for that. Give me a second.” He runs gloved fingers along the stone, head tilted like he’s listening. “There,” he says as an outline shivers into the wall.
A door handle and hinges appear, made of bright, polished brass.
Whisper wiggles his fingers in the glove, side-eyeing Lucien. “How exactly did you plan on doing this without me?”
“I was just going to blow things up,” Lucien admits.
Kazia shrugs. “I was just going to make Lucien blow things up.”
“Oh, of course,” Whisper says, unimpressed. He pulls out a thin metal tool and begins picking the lock.
