Page 110 of Ruling the Green

“Can I loan you a change of clothes?” I asked, seeing her filthy, torn dress.

She gave me a nod.

I fished out a nightgown, not sure if anything else I had would fit her.

Cora stripped out of her filthy gown, and I felt my stomach twist for what felt like the millionth time that night, seeing the raised, healed welts down her legs, her arms, and across her back.

No wonder she hadn’t been bothered by Nira’s wounds. She’d been treating her own for so long.

“I need to go look for Jet,” I said, dropping down to grab my flask from under the bed and pouring some into a smaller bottle. Just in case. “You can stay here. There’s food. Or you can go across the hall with Vishen and Nira.”

“You shouldn’t go alone,” she said, her voice small.

In her white nightgown, she looked even younger than she had before.

As much as I felt sick at the idea of roaming the palace alone, I couldn’t put a traumatized child in danger.

I mustered a confidence I didn’t feel and shrugged. “I’m perfectly safe here.”

Was that a lie? Most likely. But I’d taken responsibility for her. I had to keep her safe.

“Can I stay here?”

“Yes. Rest. Relax. Help yourself to the food. Bathe if you want. Knight will keep you company. I won’t be long.”

Hopefully.

I made my way into the hall, pausing outside Vishen’s room, but ultimately deciding not to tell him what I was up to. Vishen would insist on going with me, and Nira needed him a lot more than I did.

I went into Jet’s library, found the dagger inside his drawer, and carefully slipped it into my waistband, finding the cool blade against my skin comforting.

I had no idea who was in the palace. Had Cass allowed allies to come inside to safety, or if he’d locked the doors to anyone but the royal family? Knowing Cass, my coin was on the latter. No one would ever accuse him of being generous. No matter how serious the situation.

But that worked for me as I crept down the long, wide hallways. They were empty even of servants, who I imagined were either still trapped outside, taking care of their own wounds, or were hiding in their quarters.

I made my way down to the main floor, rushing in and out of the dining hall, the ballroom, and the foyer.

But Jet and his father were nowhere to be found.

Was there a specific place they were kept during tense times? One of the towers, like the laundress had been trapped in?

Or were they simply in Cass’s quarters? Trying to come up with a plan on how to bring order?

My stomach clenched at the idea of willingly walking into Cass’s room, especially if Jet wasn’t there, but what other choice did I have? If he wasn’t there… then he was still trapped outside.

No.

I couldn’t even think about that.

Not with how bloodthirsty that crowd was, how angry they were. At Cass. But in their eyes, Jet would just be an extension of him. Or a way to hurt his father.

I crept down the hallway of Cass’s wing, surprised not to find any guards around. Perhaps they’d all been sent outside to guard against any kind of invasion.

I made my way toward the first door, sliding it open and finding myself in a sprawling office space dominated by a massive, cluttered desk.

But no Cass.

I glanced back into the hall before rushing forward toward the desk where a glass of wine sat untouched.