Page 48 of Between Smoke and Shadow

“Oh, Rain isn’t feeling well,” she says. The lie rolls easily from her tongue, like she’s been practicing it. “When I saw it—her—this morning, I felt just horrible. I’m afraid she’s overworked, and I couldn’t bear to stress her with last-minute travel. I’ve decided to let her remain here, to work on our wedding arrangements instead.”

She’s beaming at me, once again waiting for my approval. I wish she was telling the truth, that she’s taken my warning, that she’s being sincere. After all, this is the first time she’s made the effort to call Rune a person and not an object.

“Nonsense,” I say. Even if I were naive enough to believe Rune is upstairs resting, I’m only going on this trip to indulge my obsession with her. There’s no point in going if she’s not. I force a smile. “I know you’ve grown accustomed to her service. I will send for her immediately.”

“Oh no, my husband?—”

“Joran!” I call, interrupting her. “Please send for Rune Ealde. Servant 247, room 51 CC. Lady Viana would prefer her company.”

“Yes, my prince,” he says. He nods to one of the newly-arrived guards, who takes off down the twist of hallways. Once he’s gone, I return my attention to Viana. Her cheeks are pale, eyes wide, and I know without question she’s done something terrible.

I step away from her, tightening my hands into fists. My fingers itch with magic, as if begging me to launch her across the room, to solve two problems at once. Instead, I move farther from her, crossing the foyer to join Dae, Joran, and the two servants.

“You are dismissed,” I tell the two young men, interrupting one of them. “Go find warm clothes.”

“They’re scheduled to—” starts Dae, but I wave him off.

“Go on,” I say to the men. They share a hesitant glance between themselves, as if questioning whether this is a trap. “You may rest until your next shift. If anyone questions you, ask for Princess Tora. She’ll take care of you.”

The men trade another glance before bowing their heads and thanking me. As they disappear from the room, I feel Joran and Dae’s skeptical gazes on me, but I don’t make eye contact. I don’t want to explain anything, and Ihatethat a simple show of kindness is so jarring. Not for the first time, I wonder if I am as horrible as Malek. Just because I don’t relish in the servants’ misery doesn’t mean I don’t contribute to it.

I leave Joran and Dae, returning to Viana and her remaining bags. She is still pale and unusually quiet, staring absently in the direction of the lift. My stomach tightens, wondering what she already knows. Is the guard going to announce Rune’s legs are broken? That she’s too injured to walk? Or, worse, will hesay she’s gone missing? That her body was found in the service stairwell?

I’ll never forgive myself. I should have known. Should have sent for her last night, rather than leave her under Viana’s watch.

I work my jaw. The brunette servant still at her side glances at me nervously.

“Thank you for your services, but they will no longer be needed. You may return to your quarters,” I tell the woman. Her shoulders loosen, and for the first time, she lifts her head enough to look at me. Even with her mask, she stares at my nose instead of my eyes.

“Yes, my prince.” She dips her chin in acknowledgement before hurrying out of sight.

Viana doesn’t flinch, doesn’t seem to register my words at all. Her eyes remain in the direction of the lifts, and my anxiety spikes with each passing second. Finally, the guard returns, flanked by Rune. Her head is tucked almost to her chest, and her brown hair creates a curtain over her face. She’s walking though, without any perceptible limp.

Viana shifts beside me, breath unnaturally fast. I keep my eyes on Rune. She wears a smaller pair of coveralls that exposes just how skinny she is, and her mask is pale yellow. It’s tattered and the strap sags from overuse. Even from a distance, I know it’s not the one I gave her.

She arrives at Viana’s side, head down, body painfully stiff. She doesn’t look up, but I can still see why she has a new mask. A deep gash cuts up the side of her face, disappearing beneath the yellow veil. Dark purple bruising swells over her cheek and beneath her eye, and though it isn’t bleeding now, it certainly was when she got it.

My vision sparks with red, almost as if my magic is attempting to break free, any way it can. I tighten my handsagain, but I feel like I’m losing control of them, as if they might punish Viana without my permission.

“Your face,” Viana gasps in false surprise. “My goodness, Rain. What have you done to yourself?”

“I fell,” she says. Her voice is low, cracked. “On the service stairwell. I fell after leaving your room last night.”

“That isterrible,” Viana says. “Oh, I’m so sorry. You must be hurting. Perhaps you want to stay to heal?—”

“It’s time to leave,” I say, cutting her off. I signal to Joran across the room, and once he heads our way, I look down to Rune. “Please lead Lady Viana to our carriage. Joran will show you the way.”

Once Joran has joined them, I excuse myself to one of the nearby bathrooms. I empty the meager contents of my stomach, hands pressed against the tile wall. I shake, trying but failing to reclaim my senses. I’m aware of every speck of magic in my body, and it suddenly feels painful to keep itin. I send a wisp of it through my fingers, let the red spin through the room like a miniature tornado, breathing through the unexpected release of tension.

You knew, my head whispers,you knew what she was capable of.

Only once my vision clears and my hands steady do I push off the bathroom floor and return to the entryway of the Tower.

“Get in,”I say to Rune. She startles from beside the middle carriage, her blue eyes meeting mine through her mask. The gruesome wound on her face sickens me all over again, but I’ll take care of that soon enough.

“She may ride with the rest of the servants,” Dae says. Of course he’s here, always ready to poke holes in my plans.

“Absolutely not,” I state. I keep my eyes on Rune, watching blush rise through her cheeks.

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