Page 38 of A Requiem of Fire and Ice

His body flops to the ground, hitting his head on the ashen cement. He’s heavy, so dragging him into the bushes along the wall takes every ounce of strength. But when he’s out of sight from anyone, I enter his pockets until my fingers hook around the key card they use to get in and out of the castle.

Undressing once more, I take off the green wig, slip on the short blue bob, and fasten the black-and-white maid outfit with the blue tie as I stare at the back entrance. The gun strapped to my thigh moves smoothly along the small of my back.

The door buzzes when the key card taps against it, and dark shadows ooze out when the door opens. With a deep breath, I enter the castle.

Chapter 17

My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up) [Fall Out Boy]

Reen Kyong, Saturday, July 9th (10:00 am)

Mother’s maid waits outside her door again. It’s as if she lives here, awake day and night to monitor the door for anyone who might disturb the Queen in her chambers. Narrowing my eyes, I dare her to stand there. I dare her to keep me from my mother when I want to see how she’s faring.

I’m also bored and need some inkling of realisation that my thoughts are raw and realistic instead of itching for a hunt on an innocent woman.

“Leave,” I say.

“No,” she replies in a stubborn, childish manner.

Arching my chin higher, I glare down at her. Like a vulture finding its prey, I watch her squirm with undeniable panic over a gaze that can flay flesh until she’s nothing but skin and bones. A mouse in a cornfield, aware of my intent but unable to flee from the talons of a hawk latching onto her.

I step forward as the door cracks open, revealing Mother with an exhausted expression. “Come back in a few hours, Reen. I’m fatigued.” She flicks her green eyes at me and then away. “The slaughtering drains me.”

I sigh, filled with understanding, guilt, and anger—anger at King Ragan and his careless thoughts toward his tether.

If I knew more about tethering to someone beyond just knowing it’s a double-edged sword, I wouldn’t have stormed up here. I would have been more understanding and let her ease the tension and anger King Ragan must be feeling right now. Yet, here I am, likely draining her energy further because, yes, I can be a bit of a dick.

“Noon. I’ll be back at noon with some herbal tea.”

She smiles, but it never reaches her eyes. Has it ever? When was the last time I witnessed a glimmer in her gaze, the sparkle on her cherry lips, or laughter that felt genuine? When did I last see Mother leave her quarters or spend time with Walkyer and Emmerton?

In fact, I can’t recall her ever sharing an affectionate moment with her youngest son since he was born, and he doesn’t seem eager to connect with a mother who appears to have withdrawn from everything. She isolates herself from those around her—a woman from a free city, now merely a shell after attracting King Ragan’s attention.

I dial Alad’s number and press it against my ear as I leave her tower. It takes one ring before he answers, readily available when I need him. “Yes, Prince Reen?” he says in a formal tone.

“Where’s King Ragan?”

“He’s at Ebon Hall. Where are you?” There’s a frightened tone in his voice. King Ragan may have already threatened him.

“I’m at the castle. I’ll be leaving in five.”

“Okay,” he says. I like how he doesn’t question further.

Walking down the stone steps to the foyer, I ask, “How did Walkyer go with finding the woman he saw once…in passing…from a fucking distance?”

“I gave him the coordinates. They were easy to follow, considering the girl was with a friend who is awakening this weekend.”

I stop walking at the bottom of the stairs. Overlooking the charred, dead garden, I furrow my brows as I ask, “Male or female?”

“Male?” he says, yet he’s questioning my question.

“Thank you for the information, Alad. I will be there shortly.”

I hang up.

What are the odds that Walkyer is talking to the woman I suspect may be part of an organisation of smugglers? It couldn’t be real…unless Walkyer had withheld information from me.

Did he meet her by chance, or did she convince him to tell me because she knows I’m monitoring her? Did she approach Walkyer because she knows it’s easy to persuade that foolish brother of mine to fall for a woman if she’s cute, shy, and innocent? Is she trying to sneak up on me to kill me with no one noticing?