Page 151 of Under Restless Skies

My legs feel wobbly. What if they figured out my plans? What if Laristella betrayed me? But she wouldn’t do that, would she?

We climb a few sets of stairs, and when we enter a hallway, I realize this place is familiar. The guard leads me to an even more familiar door. Mallor’s office.

I step in, and I’m left alone as the door closes behind me.

The commander is standing, arms crossed. He then opens the passage to his secret room, and I walk in, much less fearful than last time, though the man still intimidates me. And there’s another problem. If he can really detect lies, I’ll need to be extremely careful.

The man who never bothered to be my father takes a seat at the round table, and I sit across from him.

“I have great news,” he says. “And some grim news as well.”

“What grim news?” My heart chills, wondering if he has given up on helping Kaio, or somehow caught me.

He taps a finger on the table. “Silvia was found dead.”

At first, I don’t understand why he’s mentioning her, then I realize it’s because of Alayel. It has nothing to do with him, unless... “That’s unfortunate, even if we weren’t friends. Was she murdered?”

“Strangled. Found naked in a deposit in the academy. Was seen with the bastard the night before.”

“When was she found?”

“Yesterday.”

“Alayel was with me the night before yesterday.”

“The whole night?” He raises an eyebrow.

A hint of nausea reaches my stomach. “No, but…”

He sighs and covers his face with his hands. “Mayara, you’re trying to tell yourself—or me—that he hasn’t been sleeping with other women, and that might be true. Or not. The problem is much, much bigger. He might be a murderer. Yesterday, it was her, tomorrow, it could be you.”

I don’t believe it. “He has killed men, yes, but in self-defense. To save my life, in fact. Why would he kill a female recruit? Aren’t you suggesting he’s not faithful? Why would he get rid of a beautiful woman willing to sleep with him?”

“You tell me. Why would he do that?”

“I don’t think he would.” My voice comes out weak. But why would he kill Silvia? It makes no sense.

Mallor huffs. “I’m looking into it. Let me warn you, even if I find out it was him, I doubt he’ll face any consequences. First, recruits are expendable. Second, with each day, the king is getting more and more enamored by his bastard son. It’s like he’s being bewitched or something. What I’m asking of you is to keep an open mind. Maybe you don’t believe your betrothed could be a cold-blooded murderer, but you shouldn’t dismiss the possibility. Be extremely careful around him, but act normal, or he might suspect something.”

“I’ll be careful.”

“More than careful. You need to get away as soon as possible. In five days, at two o’clock in the morning, you’ll escape. Wait for someone to fetch you in your old cleaning crew room. They’ll transport you in a bag to a boat, and you’ll be on your way to Caraneya.”

Five days. My heart beats fast like dragon wings taking flight. “That’s too soon. What about Kaio?”

“I spoke to Laristella last night. She’s willing to take my son away from this city and I’ll provide her all the support I can. She’s leaving in three days.”

There won’t be time, and I don’t know what to do.

“You look upset,” he says.

“Shocked. I thought I’d have more time.”

“Alayel’s too dangerous. Are you regretting your decision to leave? Are you ready to say goodbye to him?”

“I’m ready to leave him, yes, but I won’t lie: it hurts.”

“Don’t even bother lying, daughter, as I know when you do it.”