Page 49 of Blooms of Darkness

With Kalliah, and many other staff pulling double duties, my afternoon became overtaken with getting myself ready for dinner alone. Unfortunately, I’d lost track of time. Meaning I wasn’t certain where the guards were in rotation and how much time I had before their next round around the garden.

This meeting would have to be quick, but I knew something must be urgent for Ian to come here instead of just talking to me at dinner. Besides, after today’s events, I needed to stop fighting with him. Differences of opinions aside, the knowledge that he could get hurt in the trials outweighed my anger.

Ian waited amongst the hedges. “Are you all right?” I asked.

“Yes, I’m fine. The trials are harder than I expected. I did have to laugh at the game of Chance & Destiny, though. Your father knows you too well.” He chuckled.

“I didn’t realize the risk involved.” I wanted to remind him he shouldn’t be taking on the trials, but after observing Lord Thatcher poisoned today, I refused to continue pointing out my thoughts of his competing for my hand.

“Ian,” I began again. “I’ll never agree you should have entered the trials, but I understand it. I don't want to fight. I don't want the strain between us anymore.” I launched at him, throwing my arms around him in a hug before he could respond.

“Agreed, no more fighting.” Removing himself from my grasp, he met my gaze. “Now, what are we going to do about Kade being in the trialsandbeing in the top three? How do you feel about it?”

I bit my lip. I hadn’t told Ian about my run-in with Kade after the opening ball.

“Honestly?” I huffed. “I don’t know. But…” I hesitated, knowing Ian well enough that he would lose it when he found out the one thing the hallway conversation with Kade did reveal.

“Lan?” Ian frowned.

Kade, now aware of our secret, made him a liability. Big time.

“Kade knows I’m the Hidden Henchman,” I admitted.

Ian’s gaze darkened. “What?”

“He recognized me somehow—well, recognized my unique style of cursing.”

It was a good thing Ian and I were best friends because the hardened stare he leveled me with intimidated the hell out of me.

“I saw Storm at the trials today, too, so they’re sticking close to each other,” I continued. “In the few days since the ball, he hasn’t said a word. Nor has he asked anything of us. For now, he’s keeping the secret to himself.”

“Until he wants something like, oh, I don’t know, the damn crown.” Ian seethed. He rubbed his forehead, then ran a hand through his shoulder-length blond hair, still loose from the trials earlier today. “At least I’ll be able to keep an eye on him,” Ian muttered. “He doesn’t know me.”

“Actually,” I said, “he picked up on it pretty quickly.”

Ian pursed his lips. “Anything else you wish to tell me?”

I shook my head frantically. “I think that about covers it.” I offered a smile, hopefully to placate the rage I sensed bubbling beneath Ian’s skin.

“I am moving into the contenders' suites as soon as we’re done here. I’m to remain there for the duration of the trials. As soon as I left the arena, Andras cornered me to inform me of the decision. They want all of the contenders in one spot.”

I nodded as he continued. Ian rarely stayed in his bedroom, so I didn’t think it mattered where he actually slept, or he would have put up a bigger fight.

“As far as we know, he doesn’t know I can shift, I can follow him in the air if need be.” Ian’s sly grin spread across his face. “We haven’t lost all the elements of surprise yet.”

“If anyone can get to the bottom of who they are, it’s you.” I bit my lip in a nervous habit. “You think you’ll still be able to get away to do the drops? We need to figure out the one we didn’t get to earlier with Leif and Corbin.”

Ian nodded. “Shouldn’t be an issue. I’m still your guard with plenty of reasons to come here. We’re good.”

“Good” might be a stretch, but I didn’t push.

“I should go before I’m missed,” he said.

Nodding in agreement, I backed away, letting him shift and fly off before taking the stairs back to my chambers. Getting ready alone meant I’d need every last available minute to prepare for tonight’s ball. My skill with a sword far exceeded my skill in styling my hair or applying makeup. With Kade and hisfriend suddenly far too engrossed in our lives, I’d need to be even more vigilant than before. Both my Hidden Henchman mask, and the mask of a perfect princess would need to be flawless to keep up with whatever Fate decided to allow next.

I shivered once, fidgeting with the bracelet around my wrist as I stood in front of the dining hall doors. The silky golden dress I chose for tonight’s dinner caressed my skin reassuringly, akin to an old friend, I couldn’t delay the inevitable any longer. I, Illiana Dresden, could survive a simple dinner.

Smoothing my hands over my dress, I steadied my nerves and pulled the door open. Those inside rose to their feet as I passed.

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