Page 47 of The Uncrowned Prince

For such an intelligent man, it seemed oddly as if this thought had not occurred to him before. “I… yes. I suppose that’s true.”

“However,” Karreya continued, “I have my own preparations to make, and I prefer not to involve anyone else. I will provide my own disguise and be ready by tomorrow evening.”

Niell nodded soberly. “I will be happy to submit to your wisdom in this matter. To be honest, I had rather you were with me for as much of this mission as possible.”

“Why?” She could not help a small twinge of suspicion.

Niell grinned and winked, his usual self reappearing with a flourish as the darkness behind his eyes vanished. “I’m scared of the dark,” he said. “I might need you to hold my hand.”

She would never have believed it otherwise, but her magic was certain—neither of those statements were actually lies. And just as had happened during dinner, her heart began to pound, and she experienced an odd, fluttery warmth in the pit of her stomach.

Even though it was an unfamiliar sensation, she could no longer ignore the likelihood that such feelings indicated the first stirrings of… attraction.

Shelikedthe wretched man, and it was actually quite troubling, because she was not sure she had ever liked anyone in that way before. Romantic entanglements were actively discouraged at the Enclave, and even had they not been, no one had ever roused her heart to deeper emotions. Perhaps she had respected and admired several of her rivals, but… love? She’d never truly been tempted, particularly after observing the suffering of those who dared enter into temporary, clandestine relationships within the Enclave. Those always ended badly, whether their termination involved dramatic emotional outbursts or death in service to the Empire.

So why Niell? Out of all the unsuitable people in the world, why had her heart picked him? He was not the type of man she had ever expected to find appealing. On the surface, he seemed almost helpless, with a deceptively child-like air and an inability to treat life as seriously as it deserved.

But beneath that slightly rumpled, rakish surface, he was anything but simple. Anything but careless. He wore smiles like masks, and used that devastatingly handsome face like a weapon, all of it to hide ruthless intelligence, steely resolve, and a dangerously soft heart.

And if she were honest with herself, it was that very resolve that drew her most strongly. The recognition that he knew himself, accepted what he was capable of, and had dedicated his life to a purpose. She sensed his darkness—the unhealed wounds and the need for atonement that drove him—but those parts of him did not frighten her. Somehow, she still felt as if they were strangely alike. And she could not deny the uncomfortable conviction that she not only desired his well-being, but would kill without hesitation to protect him.

All of it unsettled her. She’d been taught to avoid attachments because they made her weak and ineffective. But she did not feel weaker—only more resolute. As if she’d finally found a lodestar, a deeper reason and a focus for her skills.

“Very well.” She hoped Niell did not notice that her voice sounded more uneven than usual. “And are you certain that tomorrow night will be soon enough for your purposes?”

His head tilted to the side, his eyes fixed on hers curiously, as though she had not quite managed to hide her thoughts. “It will,” he said, with studied casualness. “Diplomatic matters such as these are never rushed in Iria. Tonight, they will discuss surface pleasantries only. Tomorrow, the ambassador will be given a tour of the city and gifts consisting of the best Viali has to offer—a show of hospitality and a demonstration of wealth. To prove that the two parties are equal in value and strength.”

And how did he know so much? Were such things common knowledge among charming wastrels who went about performing magic for street children, or had he been educated as part of a far different life?

It wasn’t as if she didn’t know the answer. Niell had clearly been granted a nobleman’s education. From the way he bowed, to his choice of words, to his knowledge of other kingdoms and cultures, he knew far more than he should. So who was he? He had told no direct lies about his identity, but he had not exactly been forthcoming either.

At first, his identity had not mattered. But now that she had acknowledged the nagging thorn of attraction pricking at her heart, she did not think she would ever be satisfied with less than the truth. Even if he never became anything more than an ally—to be left behind as soon as her mission was complete—she wanted to know everything.

But would he tell her if she asked? Or would he hide from her curiosity and pretend not to understand? Worst of all, would he lie?

That was the most difficult question of all, and it prevented Karreya from immediately speaking any of her queries aloud. Which would be more painful in the end—to live with the mystery or to discover he was willing to lie to her?

“Then I will meet you at the garden wall, an hour after sundown,” she said abruptly. “The southwestern corner. Will that be sufficient?”

Neill’s eyebrows rose. “Did you not request a more detailed plan? Should we discuss what may happen once we are inside?”

But Karreya shook her head. “No need. I will make the necessary assessments.”

He looked into her eyes, completely serious for once, head tilted, fingers tapping an impatient rhythm on the edge of the couch.

“Very well,” he said finally. “I trust you. Tomorrow night. Beneath the garden wall, where the rain trees grow.”

She nodded and set down her teacup with its contents barely touched. “Then I should go.”

And she did, without another word, without waiting for his farewell, because she was afraid that if she stayed, she might somehow reveal her reaction to those three words.

I trust you.

He’d said similar things before, but never those exact three words. Never quite like this. He knew who and what she was, and he knew what she was capable of. So was this merely his intuition again, telling him that she was trustworthy? Or was it something more? And how could she rid herself of the warm glow in her chest that had nearly become an inferno when she knew he spoke the truth?

Karreya desperately needed a distraction—anything that could drive these thoughts from her head—so it was fortunate that she now had a great deal of scouting to do.

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