Page 99 of The Rose in the Shadows

My resulting flinch was answer enough. How many people knew about what had happened between he and I?

“Even Clay, for all his strengths, is a Prince first and a friend second. He demands respect and obedience above all else. After a while, you just get used to it, Thea. You adapt to that feeling of not being as worthy as them. You get used to them barking orders at you or snickering behind your back.”

He sat apart from me, eyes focused on the fraying carpet at our feet. I hated that Rankor had been made to feel this way. I hated that any part of him thought he wasn’t deserving of the upmost consideration. Rankor was good and caring. He was a better person than half this court. It wasn’trightthat he was treated differently than me because of our bloodlines.

“But you, Thea, you’ve never made us feel like we were any different from you. You have never acted above us because of your lineage. Your heart iskind. And if you ask me, that means a hell of a lot more than the Mark on your chest.”

I sniffled. “Kindness doesn’t excuse inaction. If I’d just been a little quicker, I could have saved her.”

“You’re right,” he agreed, voice firm and I couldn’t help but to flinch. “You probably could have. And the Gods know I’ve faced that same guilt in my life. When it comes to war, not everyone survives. But you’re forgetting one important detail.”

“And what’s that?”

Rankor reached across the couch and pulled at my hand, gripping it tightly as his thumb stroked affectionally over the racing pulse in my wrist.

“This war isn’t over.”

Rankor left shortly thereafter, declaring he needed to go check on Iris too, leaving me alone once more.

And though my emotions were as strong as ever, after my talk with him, I felt something above my sadness and fear.

I felt determination.

Rankor was right. This wasn’t over. This wasn’t even close to over. Camilla was still out there. And while I couldn’t bring Lorelai back, I could certainly stop Camilla from hurting anyone else in her mission to get me.

I was gifted a beautiful life here. It may not have been a life I wanted at first, but I wanted itnow. It was my life now, and I loved it. I would go to the Underworld kicking and screaming before I let anyone take that from me.

So no, I didn’t know why Camilla wanted me dead so badly, but I knew I would not make it easy on her.

I was going to finish this.

Chapter Thirty-Three

As the setting sun began sending hues of yellow and gold across the fields, I sent word to Nessira and Geia, asking them to dine with me. If my night went according to plan, it may or may not end with my death. And If I was going to die tonight, I wanted to enjoy my last meal with the two women who had spent so much time and effort caring for me. They brought a stew and bread from the kitchen, and we sat together, eating on the floor and laughing.

Between bites, I looked up at each of them, marveling at the rush of appreciation I felt for each girl.

“I wanted to thank you both for your friendship,” I told them, taking each of their hands in mine. “I know it’s your job to care for me, but I hope you both know you mean so much more to me than just that. I consider you both friends.”

Geia had smiled warmly, a tender blush spreading across her cheeks. It had taken her some time to soften to me once more after the Dragon’s punishment, but I was grateful she finallyhad. And Nessira, though she seemed suspicious that I had suddenly changed my mind and summoned them back to me, squeezed my hand.

“Itisour job to care for you, my lady,” Nessira reminded me. “But I wouldn’t want to serve anyone else. You are strong, Lady Moore. And you should let no one make you forget that.”

“We should have a toast!” Geia cried, clapping her hands together. She stood and retreated to the bar cart in the foyer. A few moments later, she brought me a glass of sweet wine, then returned to fetch two drinks for herself and Nessira.

“To Lady Moore,” she cheered, raising her glass high. “I could have never imagined I’d be assigned to work with the daughter of Hyrax, but you have taught me to be brave. You have taught me to follow my intuition, even if everyone else in court says it’s wrong. After these past months with you, I know I can do whatever must be done in the future.”

I grinned, drinking deeply. Such faith they both had in me. I hoped to one day deserve it.

Darkness had already fallen by the time they left me. As the door closed behind them, the silence echoed and the nervous rush of anticipation settled over me. The time had come. I took a single deep breath to steady myself and got to work.

Tonight, I was going hunting.

I marched into my dressing room, searching for the fighting leathers that were tucked away ages ago. They’d been delivered to my suite earlier in my time in the castle. They were of thick protective material, only necessary for an actual war. Geia had joked that I would never need such things when she folded them away and instead set about displaying the endless racks of gowns and jewelry in my closet.

Part of me wished she had been right, but another part had always known I would one day need these clothes.

I slipped into the leather breeches and folded the thick corset over my tunic, ripping the cords tight over my chest. Some time ago, Rankor had sent me an assortment of blades as a gift, and I set about strapping them onto my person - one strapped to each thigh, one in my right boot, one to my left wrist, and one attached to my hip. Unused to dressing my own hair, I tied it in a single braid down my back before tucking it under the hood of a sleeveless black cloak, long enough to hide my weaponry. This plan hinged on my not getting caught.

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