Iโm used to waking well before dawn. For years, because I would meet Tessa in the early hours of the day and we would make our rounds. Lately, Iโve been waking in the darkness and listening for the sirens, worried that sheโd
nd herself caught by the night patrol.
๎ขis morning, I donโt wake until the sun has fully risen, the hearth has gone cold, and my room is bathed in light.
Tessa is here.
She hates me, but sheโs here. Sheโs safe.
Itโs reassuring, but itโs also terrifying. I grab my pocket watch from my nightstand. Itโs nearly nine.
Nine! Sheโll be heading to meet with Harristan. I need to speak with her. I need to warn her of what to say. How to act. How to protect herself.
I stride across theย oor to the door and throw it open.
Allisander Sallister is there, arguing with my guards, his voice a low, lethal hiss. โIโve heard all about the girl heโs taken. I assure you, the prince isย notย still sleeping, and you willโโ
He stops short when the door isย ung open. I watch as he takes in my bare chest, my loose linen pants. I very deย nitely need a shave, and at the present moment, my hair likely rivals Quintโs.
โI was, in fact, asleep,โ I say. โAnd alone.โ
He clears his throat and straightens. โForgive me.โย ๎ขough he says it to me, not the guards he was just dressing down. โOur supply run was attacked by vandals.ย ๎ขe guards you provided were able to detain them.ย ๎ขeyโve been taken to the Hold. I would like you to join me when we question them.โ
Oh, he would, would he? I run a hand across my jaw. Iโd say itโs too early for this, but itโs really not.
โSend for breakfast,โ I say to my guards. โTell Geo๏ฌrey Iโm awake. Have a message sent to the king that I need to attend to business in the Hold.โ I glance at Allisander, who looks poised to step forward and wait in my chambers while I dress, but thereโs only so much of him I can take within
ve minutes of waking.
โWait for me in the hall,โ I say to him.
He inhales to protest. I shut the door in his face.
I should be worried about whatever smugglers heโs dragged into the Hold, or whatever heโs going to say about last night, but I can only think of Tessa meeting with my brother.
Sheโs smart and savvy and quick on her feet. I hope she has the good sense to lie. If she tells him the truth about everything, he wonโt believe her. I know he wonโt.
I hope he wonโt.
I press my hands to my mouth and breathe through myย ngers. Tessa.
I have a thought, then dash to my desk,ย sh out a slip of paper, where I nearly spray ink all over the surface in my hurry to write. I fold up the parchment and take it to the door,ย inging it wide as I did before, just as my steward, Geo๏ฌrey, is approaching with a shaving kit.
He and my guards all look at me in surprise.
I clear my throat and thrust the folded paper at the nearest guard. โTake this to Quint. Tell him itโs for Tessa.โ
โYes, Your Highness.โ He takes the paper and gives me a nod.
Geo๏ฌrey clears his throat. โIโll be quick, Your Highness.โ He pauses. โConsul Sallister told me you have business to attend to.โ
Iโm tempted to tell Geo๏ฌrey to go shave that stupid goatee o๏ฌย Allisanderโs face, but I donโt. Heโs already heard about Tessa, and heโs deย nitely not happy about it. I sigh and take a step back. โWe mustnโt keep the consul waiting.โ
