Page 58 of Untamed

“Well, are you all going to tell me why you’re having a secret meeting onLa Laviawithout me or do I need to pry it out of you?” I planted a pointed look on Jaime because everyone knew he was the one I’d pry information from.

Cosme chuckled. “Ignacio said the walls of the palace are crawling with people behind them, so we’re all staying here. We’re sending Fermín and Ignacio on patrol during the dinner so we won’t be ambushed during the festivities. Lucas stays with me and Minerva with you girls.”

“Beatriz won’t like that.” I glanced at Minerva. “No offense. She just doesn’t know you.” A painful second passed where Minerva and Cosme gave each other the endearing love-of-my life glimpse. Did Jaime and I look like that and make the entire room uncomfortable? I winced and continued, “Well, I have a confession to make.”

The heads in the room spun toward me. I chewed on my bottom lip. Jaime had encouraged me not to keep Queen Cottia’s plans to myself, and I wanted to burst at the seams from all this time holding-my-tongue business. “I can’t go home with you.”

“What do you mean?” Zichri’s eyebrows drew together.

Cosme straightened into his regal posture as if he might command me otherwise. “Have you told Beatriz this?”

“No, I have not, but I promise it’s to our benefit. We must follow the ma—” my throat constricted. I gulped in several deep breaths. “Can we get someone to destroy the original and break this curse?”

Cosme gestured to Fermín, and the fellow nodded.

“Thank you. As I was saying about whomever is behind these attacks. Queen Cottia has her suspicions and there is something about me you must understand.”

Zichri shifted in his seat and twisted to meet my gaze. Jaime gave me encouraging nods.

How much to share?

“Cosme, I am the daughter of your mother’s maid, which you know, and I’m also the product of Pedroz.”

The air in the room stilled. I had to continue. “You see, I-I have a claim to the throne, and apparently, it is stronger than the current regent’s.”

“What?” Cosme’s voice was a whisper.

Minerva smiled, a genuine one with teeth and laugh lines like I hadn’t seen from her before. “Do you need help getting into the palace?”

“You can do that?” I almost jumped out of my seat.

She laughed. “I’m tied to a few kingdoms and know their comings and goings. You’ll need to gain the council’s favor.” Something in her countenance shifted and shriveled. “They’re not happy with the new regent but,” she bit her lip, “dare I ask?”

I bobbed my head with fervor. “Dare you ask what?”

Minerva eyed Cosme, as if she requested permission to continue speaking.

“Are you asking if I’m legitimate?” My words came out squeaky from my throat closing in on itself. The story behind how I came to be hurt in a way I couldn’t explain. Thorns wound their way around my lungs even considering what had happened to my dear mamá who I never got the chance to meet.

Cosme chuckled with not a hint of mirth. “Did Mamá train you?”

“She did.”

“In gifting or,” Cosme tipped his chin downward, “in her special skills?”

The lump in my throat had to be the size of a hurricane. My tongue turned limp from how ridiculous and outlandish my mission sounded, even to me. “I’ll need someone to transport me.” I pinned Lucas with a look that shouted my request at him.

Jaime shook his head, probably still unsure about the fellow’s loyalties. But Minerva already had the job of transporting Beatriz, and I didn’t want to risk Beatriz’s life when things could turn deadly in the snap of a finger.

Zichri gestured for my attention. “You know, this Black Knight might like the idea of installing a young, impressionable queen in a major port city.”

“So long as Laude has a way of taming whoever leads the new rebellion,” Cosme added.

“Taming?” The question flew off my lips.

Cosme steepled his fingers, as if he calculated something in his head. “How does Mamá want you to dispose of the Black Knight?”

I bit so hard on my bottom lip that I tasted blood.

---