Page 16 of Untamed

Cosme’s sitting room welcomed me with morning sunshine lighting up the dust that had gathered at Cosme’s continued denial of a maid entering. A tall fellow with tight curls lounged in an armchair, and Mouse Face stared at me from another seat.

On the small couch, Minerva hung her crossed ankles off the side with matching crossed arms as if she were trying to makeherself unseen. She couldn’t achieve invisibility in that gown because it was simply a work of art. The sleeves hung like wine-colored flames from her elbows, and the gold stitching on her underdress formed a lattice pattern.

“Buenos días.” My tone contrasted with the dreary sensation in the room. I had to choose to see the possibilities in each day or I simply might melt into oblivion.

“Buenos días.” Minerva’s whispered response was all I got.

“Love the dress. Where’d you get it?”

“Himzo.” Again, she shrank into herself.

My eyebrows rose at such happy news. I’d have to add to my list for living in Himzo: good fashion.

Cosme walked around me without a hint of compunction for leaving Beatriz in ignorance. “We’re having a Dotado meeting at Milo’s estate. Jaime said that you have information for us.”

I shot Minerva a sidelong look. She bowed her head and curled her shoulders, not meeting my eye. She had the I’m-guilty-of-something posture. The man from last night had a hold on her, but I couldn’t make the accusation until I had more information. She waved a glowing palm over the corner of the room. The air swirled and sparkled in an oval shape. Through the portal, Milo’s sitting room appeared as if through a fog. I guessed this girl could whip up different types of portals. Very interesting.

Cosme’s curly-haired friend strode through, and though his appearance was a horizon away from Blondie—as I liked to call Lucas, he had something alluring about him. Blanca, my old maid friend, would have gawked at him, but she’d abandoned talking to me like all the rest, so that wouldn’t happen.

“Go ahead, Laude.” Cosme gestured toward the portal but plopped into the seat beside Minerva. His attention was consumed by the secretive girl. “When will you join us?”

“Midday.” Minerva grasped the armrest and pushed herself up.

Cosme inclined his body toward Minerva. “What is it?” He caught me staring. “Go ahead, Laude. I’ll be right behind you.”

Eavesdropping through the portal might not be so easy. I gnawed on my bottom lip and meandered across the polished floors playing the dolt.

“I can’t say.” Minerva dropped her voice low, sneaking glances in my direction.

Cosme waved at me. “Do you need me to hold your hand?” Cosme reached for my forearm, but I yanked it back. “You look nervous, that’s all.”

With my fiercest glare, I pinned him under my attention. He hadn’t been sarcastic like he had the habit of doing with Beatriz, but the idea of the prince touching me didn’t sit well. I sucked in a breath and jumped into the portal. White light filled my vision, and a force yanked my body forward. My foot caught on the floor. I pitched forward and flung my arms out to try and catch my fall.

“Whoa there!” Zichri caught me and swept me up like a baby. “It’s good to see you again, Laude.” His dark eyes smiled down at me with amusement.

Beatriz should be here.

Heat raced up my neck and to my cheeks. Snickers erupted around the seats in Milo’s sitting area. While the light in Giddel glowed with yellow sunbeams, this room had a dim quality made darker by the orange stain on the wood panels covering the walls.

“Those Giddelian ladies really know how to make a big entrance.” Blas smacked Jaime’s back and laughed.

My eyes rolled upward and then toward Zichri.

He fluttered his lashes and smashed his lips into an unamused line. “I’m looking forward to hearing about what yousaw yesterday. Could you do me a favor?” He set me on my feet like the dashing beau he’d always been with Princess Beatriz.

“Maybe. I mean yes, but what is the favor?” I pushed back the curls that were supposed to be tamed by my tight braids but, of course, had their own ideas.

Zichri plucked a folded paper from his pants pocket. “Could you leave this note for Beatriz to find?”

I took the parchment. “You know she’s going to grow suspicious about how you manage to send her new letters so quickly?”

His mouth tipped into a crooked smile. “She might need some encouragement.”

“What are you two talking about?” Blas shouted from his seat two arm spans away. His blue-green eyes waited with expectation as if he deserved to know every detail.

“About yesterday, ehh?” I asked loudly and nodded to Zichri. With quick movements, I stuffed the letter in my pocket, deciding to leave it on her desk. She really did need something to lift her spirits, and this just might do the trick.

Mouse Face snuck in through the portal and lurked around the edges of our circle. The man had the gift of hearing which made for an amazing lookout, but the way his nose twitched, and how he always remained quiet, sat like a lump of coal in my stomach. But the man probably couldn’t help that he looked like a mouse.

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