“From her time spent with King Zephyr, Yarah was able to help us craft a perfect replica. He enjoyed her enough to display it.”
“He’ll know I’m not Yarah as soon as I speak.” Our voices were similar but hardly passable enough to be mistaken as the same person.
“Yarah was given explicit instructions to speak very minimally in his presence. When she did, it was faint and breathy.”
“Then how did she gain his trust?”
“By her silence and obedience.”
I grimaced, my ignorant opinion of our king rapidly deteriorating. “He’ll figure out the stone’s a fake eventually.”
“Not initially, for when he wakes, the remaining daze of the tonic will be strong.” Allory snapped the drawer shut, rattling the bottles of perfume atop the vanity. “He’ll be disoriented for a while. We’ll ensure he enjoys some more fun and entertainment in the main hall before leaving. By the time the full effects wear off, he’ll be back in his castle with no recollection of what truly transpired.”
“Surely someone will piece together?—”
“You underestimate our influence here,” Allory said, fluffing my curls behind my bare shoulders.
“Why are you doing this? If he comes here, is he not an ally to your cause?”
Allory smiled coldly. “He is not privy to ourrealcause. There are what you call ‘the apostai’—those who, on the surface, are quick to protest the ways of the Zodiac. Then there are those like… Markus and me. True believers.”
“Believers ofwhat?”
“Patience is virtuous.”
Frustration ground my teeth together. “No one outside a royal and their Chosens can wield a talisman. What could you possibly hope to do with his agate?”
“That is for us to worry about. It is none of your concern.”
“I’m risking my life for you. I deserve to know.”
“Deserve?” Allory balked. “Hardly.”
“So if—once—I do this, you’ll let my brother go? And you’ll leave us alone?”
She tossed her head back, laughing. “Of course not. Your contract was binding for life.”
My knees wobbled. “What do you mean forlife?”
“It was in the fine print on the second to last page. Only until we terminate your life will your employment with us as the Black Rose end.”
Oh, how reckless and stupid I was.
What else could she possibly be good for, if not a wife to my son?
Gathering my wits, I asked, “But if the king returns here in search of his stone, starting with me…”
Allory smoothed her hair back, entirely unphased. “He won’t.”
“But if he does?”
“Then it’s a good thing no one knows the Black Rose’s identity, isn’t it?” Allory turned away, bored of the conversation.
I followed her. “And what of Basil?”
“We’ll release him once we have the agate in our possession.” Allory cast a warning glance over her shoulder as she opened the door to the sounds of deep, throbbing music and hushed chatter from the main hall beyond. “We’ll know if you try to deceive us. And there will be nowhere for you to hide from our retribution.”
I threw everything into the dance, losing myself in the music and the dark theatrics of the show. The underside of my foot, still healing from the brand, forced me to caution my movements.
