Page 105 of Of Glass and of Gold

Not even gravity could weigh me down. My steps had become so light it felt like walking on air. Melody noticed the change right away upon Nick and I returning to dinner.

He’d asked if I wanted to announce our engagement tonight, but I preferred not to have dagger glares shot at me for the duration of the evening. He agreed it would be more cordial to allow the guests to finish the evening unsullied.

It didn’t stop my foot from tracing his calf during the dessert course. The intense hunger in his eyes turned feral whenever he hooked my gaze, and I was surprised when I rose from my seat that there wasn’t a puddle beneath me.

Melody didn’t last two seconds during that carriage ride home before insisting I spill the details. And Kenzie’s jaw dropped so low I thought it would dislocate.

Melody and I decided on how to proceed with the Citadels, and all I could do was hope it smoothed everything over.

It’d been two nights since my engagement dinner, and tonight Alejo had informed me about another secret meeting. Melody had wished me luck as I ventured out into my village to meet with the group of conspirators one last time.

I descended into the dark depths of the plant-crowded cellar.

“Ah, the lady of the hour,” Dee welcomed me. “That intel you gave us has proved very valuable. I admit, I underestimated you.”

Guilt sat like a stone in my gut. I had to play this right. “I appreciate that. I hope you’re pleased with me enough to allow me to share something else I’ve been working on.”

The man under the hat in the corner chimed in, “With what you’ve given us, I think we have everything we need, but… you did what you said you’d do. You earned a spot at the table. Go on.”

It was a small victory when Dee agreed, giving me the floor, but I had no cause for celebration yet. “I’m aware of the plans, but I think there may be a more effective approach.”

Dee crossed her arms, giving me the chance to speak.

“I’ve developed an in with the prince. I think he will be more useful to us alive and willing to do our will than the alternative.” My lungs hardened, fighting for the stale air in the room. Each heart beat pounded against its ribbed tomb with every second that seemed to stretch for an eternity.

“Absolutely not,” Dee said, no anger or malice in her voice. She’d simply heard my proposal and decided against it. I wasn’t their enemy, but maybe I was about to be.

“Listen, I know how it sounds. We all want things to change, right?” I took the opportunity to look every person in the eye in this small, cramped space. “Who’s to say that will happen if we kill the prince? Surely, even though he doesn’t have an heir, there is a replacement in mind.”

“Oh, there is,” the man with the hat said. “It’s that Duski cousin of his that’s visiting that you told us about. We were able to confirm it from our sources. You know that old expression, two birds with one stone?” He cocked a smirky grin, glancing at his comrades as he casually leaned against the sacks of soil behind him.

A collection of snarky chuckles bellowed for a brief moment.

“Alright, well, who’s after that, do you know?” I probed, nearly reprimanding him for his overconfidence. I hoped he didn’t actually know the answer.

His smile fell, and he shook his head.

Phew. “Exactly,” I barked. “Whoever is in this line of succession will turn out to be exactly the same. Someone born into riches, unaware of the poverty and unfair conditions that we suffer through. Change will never happen that way. It will only happen if we can leverage the person in power to our advantage.” The words us and we soured my tongue. I regretted ever stepping foot into a room with the kinds of people who would hurt a man as kind as Nick.

I could vomit thinking about how I’d once been the same.

“No, we’re too far into this. If we back out now, it will all be for nothing. We’ve been plotting for months before you came along, girly, and I suggest you recognize that you don’t run this operation. I take it the crate of weapons was your doing with this ‘in’ you have? If you think taking up arms against a castle full of guardsmen is a strategic idea, you have a death wish.” Dee nearly snarled.

Shit. In our haste to retrieve Melody, I’d forgotten about the crate I left in Alejo’s stand. Made sense they’d think it was from me since it was there with the note I’d left. They’d assumed I’d intended to contribute to a raid against the prince. “No, that wasn’t my intention. I—” I didn’t want to reveal my knowledge about the kidnappers and how I’d acquired a crate full of armory weapons. There wasn’t a good excuse I could come up with on the fly to explain it away.

Judgmental, doubting eyes speared me from around the small room. There was a shift. Suddenly, I’d lost all the ground I’d worked to gain.

“If you go through with your plan, fueled by nothing but hate and revenge, you’re going to continue to hurt us all.” It was bold, but I didn’t contain my anger.

“I think there are a great many things for us to consider. A good revolution will crumble if it can’t adapt. No good decisions can come of heated discussions. Let us leave tonight and reflect,” Alejo interrupted, to my surprise. I could have hugged him then and there for his support. He guided me out the door, telling the others they’d chat soon before we entered the back alley again.

The evening air had dropped in temperature, and I wrapped my arms around myself. “Thank you, Alejo.”

“Nora, I got you out of there for your own good. If they’re willing to go through with their plans, what do you think will stop them from coming after a nobody like you or me?” His eyes were wide with something akin to fear.

“They can’t go unchecked. This would be a better way,” I pleaded, still trying to emphasize my point, though he’d already taken my side in there.

He took a steadying breath, calming himself. “I’ll speak with them. In the meantime, it might be best for you to lie low.”

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