Page 71 of Kingdom of Shadows and Wings

I want to ask about that but wait for her to speak.

At last, she shrugs. “Even our family losing everything couldn’t convince Gregory to return. The king did confiscate some of our lands, but he allowed us to retain all of our titles so we wouldn’t be complete pariahs.”

Or because he had Olive to take Gregory’s place?

Given her distress, I should change the subject, but I can’t. If Leesa defected as Gregory did, I need to know what consequences await her…what befell him.

“Where’s your brother now?”

“He’s…he’s dead.” Her face crumples. “He ended up in a ditch with his throat slashed. Thieves weren’t responsible. Gregory still had his ring on and a pocket full of coins. My parents are convinced the king sent royal guards to assassinate him.”

My mind spins with Olive’s revelation. Her family believesKing Xenonkilled her brother?

“I’m so sorry.” I remove the bottle of nail polish from Olive’s quivering hands and put the contraband away. “I don’t know what to say.”

“He…he didn’t deserve that. Greg was…such a kind soul.” She drops her face in her hands as sobs wrack her body.

I scoot closer, pulling her into a tight hug. “If he was anything like you, I’m sure he was amazing.”

Although I don’t doubt Olive’s belief that the king ordered her brother’s death, would he really do such a thing? The few times I’ve met him, he’s always been kind to me. Always asked me questions about my life and listened as if genuinely interested in the answers.

If Leesa deserted Flighthaven, would Xenon send his guards to hunt her down? Surely not.

I shiver. None of this makes any sense.

Olive sniffles before swiping her tears away with her sleeve. “You know what this night calls for?”

“What’s that?”

“Distraction by way of booze. Lots and lots of booze.”

I hesitate, but one more glance at Olive’s pink-rimmed eyes has me agreeing. What I really want are answers about the king and what happens to deserters, but that can wait. Olive needs cheering up, and I need help figuring out how to leave campus without landing myself in a heap of trouble.

Two birds, one stone. I ignore the sharp stab in my gut over the idea of taking advantage of Olive’s vulnerable state. Nothing I ask will put her at risk. The only person who stands to get hurt by my questioning is me.

I rub her back. “A distraction sounds good. Something to take your mind off everything tonight. Any idea where we can find alcohol?”

Pulling away, Olive exhales a hiccupping breath and jumps to her feet. “Come with me.”

My throat tightens as I place my hand in her outstretched palm. For a moment, I see Leesa’s face as she tugs me down the castle stairs, persuading me into yet another game of hide and seek or spying on one of the cute guards entertaining a lady friend in the garden. I blink, and Olive returns, a tremulous smile on her face.

She yanks me out our door, where we narrowly miss a collision with our third roommate. A scowling Helene tells us to watch where we’re going. That only makes Olive giggle as she continues to tug me through the hall, down the stairs, and onto the first floor. She pauses halfway down the first-floor hall to knock on a door.

A disheveled Abel appears. “Ladies. How can I be of service?”

He opens the door wide enough for us to squeeze by. Olive waits for him to shut it behind us before answering. “You still have that bottle of whiskey?”

“Nope. We finished that off a couple weeks ago.” Olive starts to wilt. “Luckily, my uncle sent me a new bottle in the past mail drop.”

Olive screeches and whacks him on the chest. “You jerk! You could have led with that.”

Abel winks. “Now, what would be the fun in that?”

Nick sits up on his bed. “We drinking tonight?”

Olive nods. “Yes, please.”

Nick and Abel exchange a glance. Nick shrugs as if to saywhy not, prompting Abel to grin and rummage in his armoire. He produces a large jug of brown liquid. “Same spot as last time?”

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