Page 14 of Heart of Night
His grin only becomes wider. “How nice of you to assume I’ll be accompanying you on your travels. And closer to that ocean you love so much.”
It takes me a heartbeat to understand he actually answered my question—sort of.
“We’re going to the Quiet Sea?” The ocean in the east of Eherea where I spent years on board the Wild Ray, soaking up the sun and relishing the wind on my skin. Freedom. And a crew of misfits I’d come to love.
“Not quite, my dear.” Ephegos tilts his head, assessing me head to toe while his expression changes as if he’s looking at something offensive. “But you can’t go to King Erina’s court in a bloodied dress, can you now? Wash up, and get dressed. Your things have been packed, and the carriage is waiting.”
He turns on his polished boots and heads for the door while I scramble for anything to say. I haven’t been speechless like this since the moment I woke in this Guardiansforsaken room, but this… This does it.
By the time I find my voice again, the door has closed, lock clicking into place, and I’m alone, staring at the carvings blocking the view of the hallway.
Erina—
Ephegos wants to take me to Erina’s court. Lead spreads in my stomach, keeping down the bile threatening to rise in my throat.
That’s why General Katrijanov visited. He’s taking me to the very king I offended with my crimes—and this time, Erina himself will make sure I’ll pay for them.
“No—” The word breaks out in a panicked whisper while my heart speeds in my chest. I can’t go to Meer, the city where my father was executed for treason. I can’t go back to a place I escaped as the child of a shunned family. I can’t show my face in a court having become the same traitor to the crown as my father was.
A whole different sort of fear grasps me as I stand in the doorway like a frozen pillar of blood and silk.
Being taken from Fort Perenis to the Crow Palace was terrifying, but this is on a whole new level. I ran away as a youth to live with outlaws far from society, making a choice never to return to my birth home again to escape my shame and guilt for being the one who sold my father out to Tavras’s soldiers.
“I can’t go back there.” I don’t know who I’m speaking to or why, but when a voice answers from behind the bathing room door, I hit my shoulder hard on the doorframe, stumbling back into the bedroom.
“I’ll help you.”
Kaira appears in front of me, her leathers slightly askew as if she dressed in a hurry. Her knives are sheathed at her belt, and a bow is slung over her shoulder.
My legs are trembling, and I find myself reaching once more for the well of magic inside me that used to respond and has become as silent as a pile of rocks, but on the sideboard, a small brass candelabra sits within reach. I grab for it and wield it in front of me like a dagger.
The expression on Kaira’s face is one of part amusement, part annoyance, with a portion of pity thrown into the blend.
“Oh, don’t look at me like that. I’m not here to assassinate you.”
The way her hand flicks to her knife makes me seriously question the truth of her words, but the smile on her face seems genuine as she waves me into the bathing room, latching onto my blood-caked wrist when I’m not moving, and simply pulls me over the threshold before I have a chance to object.
Damn fairies—Fire or Crow or otherwise. Being the only human here sucks harder than I could have ever imagined.
Shaking off the panic, I rip my arm back, bringing some distance between the woman and me, but she’s already closed the door and herds me to the bathtub where tendrils of steam are rising from hot, lavender-scented water.
“Maybe not with a knife.” I glance pointedly at the bathtub.
That costs Kaira a small laugh. “I’m not going to hurt you, silly. I’m here to help you get ready for your big journey.”
There is something about the way she says the word journey that makes me wonder what exactly she knows about Ephegos’s plans.
Debating whether I’ll live longer if I confront her with words or if I try to fight my way out with my bare hands, I look her over. She’s not aggressive, and no hint of malice mars her features. Then again, Ephegos never had any tells he was about to sell us all out to our enemy while he took revenge on Myron for his sister’s death.
I also debate screaming, having the guards rush to my aid. The woman has spiked my tea before after all.
“Please don’t alert the guards,” she pleads as if reading my mind—perhaps she merely read my glance to the door. “I promise I’m not here to hurt you. I’m here because I overheard a conversation Ephegos had with one of the Flame leaders. They want to sell you to King Erina of Tavras.”
There is no logic for me to trust a word she says.
“Old news,” I quip, and choosing to hold off my attack a while longer, I brace my hands on my hips and give her an expectant glare. “You came to see me shipped off?”
Kaira shakes her head. “I want to come with you.”