Page 148 of A Lord of Snow and Greed

“Thanks for letting us know,” Neve said with a stoic nod. “We’re ready.”

“Good”—Emilia stopped and turned to face the wall—“because the exit is right here.” She pressed her hand into the wall, right where a handle molded into her fingers.

“How many are there like that?” I despised the jealousy in my voice even as I spoke, but it rankled that the human walked around back here and shared some sort of secret with Neve.

“Doors?”

I nodded, and Emilia appeared thoughtful. “I’ve used around two dozen.”

“Others can use them too?” I asked. “Besides Neve, I mean.”

“Yes.” Emilia eyed me, suspicion clouding her eyes for the first time. “But you’d have to kill me before you pulled their names from my lips.”

“Which won’t be necessary,” Neve cut in. “He’s curious. Vale has wanted to come back here for a while.”

The human glared at me, but Neve must have assured her for she twisted the handle, shifted something on the other side—a tapestry by the sounds of it—and peeked outside. “The coast is clear.”

We followed her through the door, ducking under a tapestry, and into the hallway. I recognized the area right away and shock set in. The labyrinth inside the palace was far vaster than I’d imagined, and I’d studied the blueprints of the parts that had disappeared.

Were there parts that hadn’t made it onto the blueprints? Rumors of such things abounded. Of rulers who had constructed areas of their castles, hidden them, and killed off the builders to keep their secrets.

Had the Cruel King done so? Or another ruler before him?

Or perhaps all the ale and my injury really did have me more turned around than I thought. As Emilia shuffled across the hall and shoved aside another tapestry to place her hand on the wall, I figured that was as likely as not.

The wall shimmered beneath the human’s touch and, again, a door appeared, the handle a moment later. Emilia opened it and crossed the threshold. Then Neve. I was about to follow when a gasp caught my attention. I twisted and froze.

Calpurnia, clad in soft, slippered feet, had rounded the corner—a cup of something steaming in her hand. I cursed myself for getting too drunk and not being on guard, for not having heard her coming.

“Vale,” she whispered. “Where are you . . . how are you . . .?”

“Vale,” Neve hissed from inside the hidden passage. “Come on.”

Calpurnia straightened. “That’s her!” A blink of shock crossed her tanned face. “Bleeding skies! That’s how she got away that day! She?—”

I stepped into the hidden passage, shutting the door behind me. Eyes wide, I met Neve’s curious stare. “Calpurnia saw me.”

“What!”

“She recognized your voice too. We must hurry.”

Neve swallowed. “What will she do?”

I couldn’t be sure. Calpurnia wouldn’t wish to hurt me. But Neve? If given half the chance, she’d tell my father that Neve had access to this part of the palace. Another reason for him to dislike her. Perhaps to suspect her too.

“Hurry!” Emilia hissed. “You must leave as quickly as possible! The door isn’t far.”

Relief did not flood me at her claim, for once we reached outside, we weren’t safe. We simply had a new problem. Neve had heard the assassin say there were more of them. How many? Frostveil would be difficult for many to breach, but many could be waiting in the city. The one that broke into my rooms was not the same vampire I’d seen in Rall Row.

Those thoughts consumed me until, again, Emilia stopped in front of a plain wall.

“This will lead outside. Near a servants’ entrance. The one covered in ivy.”

“We’re familiar with it,” Neve said. “Thank you, Emilia. I wish you could come with us.”

“I do too. But I’ll wait here for you, if you ever wish to return home. Ever loyally yours, my princess.”

Neve swallowed, and to my great astonishment, she hugged the human.

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