Page 75 of Heat of the Everflame

“We’ll be careful,” I said uneasily. “Straight to the port.”

“If we’re going, we should leave tonight,” Alixe said. “I’d rather get a head start.”

I struggled to flatten my expression. This part of my plan was the riskiest—and also the part I didn’t dare reveal.

“Taran needs rest.” He jumped from his seat to argue, and I grabbed his uninjured shoulder and shoved him back down. “And so do I. Let’s take today to gather supplies and get as muchsleep as we can. We’ll leave at first light—that’s an order from your Queen.”

“My turn for watch?”Alixe asked groggily, rubbing at her eyes as she rolled over.

I nodded and shot her an apologetic look. “I tried to hold out longer, but I can barely stay awake. Mind taking over?”

“Of course.” She slid out of bed and reached for her weapons belt. “Anything to report?”

“Not a thing,” I lied, looking away. I crept over to where Taran slept nearby, gingerly laying a palm to his forehead. His skin was worryingly warm, and thin black lines were creeping out from beneath the bandage at his shoulder.

“How is he?” she whispered.

“Fine,” I lied again.

I followed her out the front door and into the open air. Set amid an audience of twinkling stars, the full moon shone like a spotlight on the small village, illuminating it in a silvery glow.

Just my luck.

“Luther’s sleeping next door, if you want to...” She trailed off, a smirk playing at her lips.

“Tempting,” I said with a grin. “But I think he and I both need some rest tonight.”

It was alarming how easy the lies and false emotions were becoming.

“I set up over there,” I added, gesturing to the southern edge of town. “I left some fresh water and a few kumquats, in case you get hungry. I’ll be in the next house over, if you need anything.”

She nodded and gave me a low bow. “Goodnight, Your Majesty.”

I made a show of yawning and headed for one of the empty houses. I strolled inside and closed the door all but a sliver, then hurried to change into the clothes I’d prepared. When I peered back out, Alixe was gone.

I grabbed my supplies, checked that the items I’d set up were still in place, and slipped out through a back door I’d scouted earlier.

The sand was soft and silent under my bare feet as I crept across the city. I needed to be on the northern border before the trap I’d laid set into motion. I came to the city’s wide main road and stopped short with a swear.

Though Alixe was out of sight, at the far end, Luther’s silhouette was outlined against the glittering surface of the spring. He kept his back to the city as he dipped a cloth into the water and dabbed it across his skin. He’d been asleep when I’d checked on him earlier in the night. At some point he must have awoken and gone to bathe alone.

My chest squeezed as I watched him. When he hadn’t joined in with the rest of us in cleaning off earlier by the water, I’d chalked it up to discomfort over showing off his scar. I hadn’t realized his desire to hide them ran quite this deep.

I wished he could see them the way I did, as a trophy of his strength in body and in spirit. I yearned to go to him, run my hands along their lines, graze my lips down every jagged mark until he had a much happier, much moreindecentmemory to associate them with—but it would have to wait.

We would have time for that once we were home safe in Lumnos.

With his back to me, I darted across the main road and wove my way through the buildings. I was almost in the clear when a loud clang reverberated through the midnight silence. Iscurried up to a nearby roof just in time to spy Alixe running into the large home with the hidden cellar. Moments later, a hastily dressed Luther ran in behind her with his blade drawn.

I blew out a breath and bolted for the dunes, climbing as hard and fast as my bare feet would carry me. When I reached the crest, I threw myself across it, collapsing into the sand to catch my breath. I dared a quick peek back down onto the city to confirm Alixe and Luther were still inside the home, investigating the mysterious noise.

Though I’d escaped their notice, a long trail of footprints followed me through the sand, the one detail I hadn’t planned for. I sighed and gathered my things. There was nothing I could do about it now.

By the time anyone saw them, it would already be too late.

Chapter

Eighteen

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