Mislead Us

Kassian and I arranged for a late dinner that evening, due to a meeting he knew would run late. When I join him in the library, I don't walk, I dance my way through the door, twirling my skirts after me.

"Whatever are you doing?" Kassian wants to know.

"I'm in an excellent mood tonight."

"I can see that."

I pause in my twirling to take note of Kallias and his big grin. "What?"

"I'm in an excellent mood, too. We learned many things during tonight's meeting. We've rounded up all the Jadean revolutionaries. They're to be put to death first thing tomorrow. And we've found several peasants carrying the bandit's stolen money. One of them is ready to talk! Though he doesn't know the bandit by his true name, he can identify him by sight. All we need to do is have him take a look at all the nobles."

I laugh a little before pulling the mask from my pocket. "We don't need to do that."

Kallias rises from his chair so fast it almost tips over. He startles Percy into taking a few steps to the side. The king strides over and takes the mask from my fingers.

"Where did you get this?"

"From Harris's room."

"Eliades?" Kallias says with disbelief. "This is the incriminating evidence you found? How could you not tell me straight away?"

"I made a promise to Tristan. I told him I would get him out of his engagement with Melita, and I did. Now you are free to lock up Harris."

Kassian is too pleased over the sight of the mask in his hands to give me any more grief over the timing. He fairly runs to the door and barks orders to throw Eliades into the dungeon until he himself can come deal with him.

When he returns to the table, Kassian holds up a glass of wine. "I think a toast is in order."

I find my own glass and lift it.

"To you, Loralie. May your wit never be used against me."

I laugh before tipping the contents of my glass into my mouth. "And to you, Your Majesty. To your fine leadership. This growing empire wouldn't be what it is without you."

His eyes are on mine as he tips back his glass a second time. And something about that gaze, the way it drinks me in—it curls my toes within my slippers. But our celebrating is interrupted by a presence at the door.

"Come in," Kassian calls after a pause in which I think he seriously considered turning the intruder away. A servant enters with a platter held atop the fingertips of his right hand. He lowers it before me.

"A letter for you, my lady."

I take the parchment and look to the handwriting spelling my name on the front. I do not recognize it.

"I have no guesses as to whom it's from. There's no seal," I tell Kassian as I read the note to myself.

"What is it?" he asks when he sees the look on my face.

I know who is trying to kill the king. The assassin was a distraction. Something to occupy the king's mind before the real attempt on his life is made. I cannot divulge the individual's identity in a letter. They are much too powerful. If this note should be intercepted, I fear for my life. Suffice it to say, the king cannot trust his councilors.

I'm told you are one of the few whom the king trusts. That is enough for me to trust you as well. Meet me at the address listed below in two nights' time. I will find you then. Wear a flower in your hair, so I may know you. May the gods bless the king.

"There's no signature," I say as I pass the note over to him.

He must read it three times over before focusing on me again. Then he stands abruptly, rushes to the doorway, and calls back for the servant who delivered the letter.

"Who gave this to you?" Kassian Demands of him.

"A guard at the palace's entrance."

"Which guard?"

The servant coils inward. "Couldn't say, sire. They all wear hats. He didn't look up. Your Majesty, I don't think it would help. I doubt he was the one to initially deliver it. It could have gone through one of the groundsmen first and before that—"

"Enough," Kallias says. "I understand. Resume your duties." He shuts the door after him and turns to me. "What do you make of it?"

I take the note from him, looking over its contents again before answering. "Whoever wrote this letter knew I would show it to you."

"How can you tell?"

"They praise you far too much. You are not well liked among your people. If it were a member of your nobility, he would just come to you himself."

Kassian bristles at the words, but I continue. "He or she hopes to lure you out. Either because it's a trap to do you harm or because they wish to speak with you in person. Since they didn't outright ask for your presence, I'm inclined to believe the former."

"They left too much up to coincidence for it to be a trap," Kassian says.

"Or they did their job well enough to make you think so."

"Either way, I'm going."

"You can't go. Not if it's an attempt on your life."

"I'll go in disguise."

I eye the shadows swirling about his figure. "You cannot disguise those."

The shadows disappear in a heartbeat, and Kassian in all of his solid beauty stands before me. The difference really is astonishing.

"And now you're vulnerable to attack," I point out.

"Only if I'm recognized. I won't be by the time I'm done."

I shake my head. "Don't be stupid. If they see you with me —"

"You intend to join me?" he asks, cutting off the rest of my sentence. A boyish hope lingers around his eyes. I don't know if I can see it because they're so bright without the shadows, or if it's the first time he's shown me such an expression.

"Of course I'm going. I'm not letting you go alone to this —what is this address? Do you know it?"

The hope is instantly replaced with a mischievous raise of his brows. "I know it. I'm rather shocked you don't."

"What is it? A public place? A tavern of some sort?"

"Not exactly. It's a club. A private one. But I can get us in."

"If it's private, how are we to get in without our identities being discovered?"

"Leave that to me." He thinks a moment. "I wonder why our contact wishes to meet you there. It's a gentleman's club."

"So I will stand out in a sea of men?"

"Well, there are ladies there. They're just not the kind who wear very much clothing." He fades back into shadow, as though he's trying to hide his expression. "Will that be a problem?"

"Are you asking if I have a problem dressing like a harlot for a night?"

"I wouldn't have said it exactly that way, but yes." An excuse to show off my best assets to Kassian?

"How exactly would you say it?"

"I would ask if you have any issue with letting men believe you to be a lady of the night."

I laugh lightly. "Will I be in disguise?"

"Of course. Just in case our contact does know what you look like and is only trying to mislead you."

"Mislead us."

Kassian brushes away the comment with a hand. "In two nights' time, we will be the ones doing the misleading."