Page 15 of Untamed

He chuckled. “You are keeping my betrothed company tonight. That’s something.”

I rolled my shoulders back. This was it. “Then, perhaps, you might want to tell Papá about all the kingdom work I do with you using my gifting.” I winked. “You’d get Papá to stop bothering you, and I’d have time with Prince Zichri.” I reached for my sleeve pocket, unsure if this was the opportune time to tell him of Monserrat’s father’s betrayal.

His expression sobered.

The extra information about Zichri may not have been the best idea.

“Beatriz,” Cosme had the timbre of a light scold, “I don’t even know what you can do.”

“I can feel other people’s emotions and sometimes things happen.” I squeezed my arm over the bulk of letters within my garment's secret compartment. “You saw what occurred last time.”

“No, I didn’t see what happened. I only saw Prince Lux’s corp—”

One sharp look from me got him to shut his mouth, but the damage was done. My stomach became an angry beehive, and I let go of my sleeve. “Then you know I’m dangerous.”

Sympathy drooped the corners of his eyes. “I will not lie to Papá and Mamá for you. It might be time you learned about that part of who you are.”

Tingles raced up and down my arms, aching to release the power. “No.”

“Then have it your way. I’m not willing to spin fake truths.”

“Is that Beatriz?” asked a familiar voice from within my brother’s sitting area.

Fantastic. I get rejected and Cosme’s ever-present friend is here to console me.I whirled around, grunted, and strode several paces. Why did I even bother? He never cared about my situation in the past. Part of me longed to shove Monserrat’s part in the betrayal in his face, and the other part wanted to use the information in my sleeve to prove I was a contributing member of his spy group. Guilt wrangled my insides at my horrible thoughts.

Forgive me, Ancient One, I prayed. How can I ever be good enough when I am who I am?

Whispers echoed through the passage, and I noticed Laude hadn’t retreated with me. She spoke to Cosme and Lucas in hushed tones in a conspiratorial fashion.

“Laude,” I called to her, “are you coming?”

“I’m going to borrow her for a minute.” Cosme released his iron grip on the door to usher her into his quarters and let Lucas out.

She met my gaze. “Don’t worry, Princess, I’ll be back quicker than it takes me to braid your hair.”

The door slammed shut leaving Cosme and Laude in his sitting room, the headquarters of the Dotados, and Lucas in the corridor with me. Laude took an excruciating amount of time to braid my hair, so I wasn’t sure how long she anticipated being away. Several other Dotados always accompanied Cosme, so I didn’t need to worry about Laude’s reputation, but why wasn’t I invited? I remained shut out. A hollowness settled through my body like I was a husk, moping about the corridors of the castle.

“May I accompany you, Your Majesty?” Lucas caught up to me wearing the expression you’d find on a cheerful puppy.

A reflexive eye roll shot up and around, but I nodded despite myself.

Lucas had been around when we were younger and disappeared for many years. I hadn’t recognized him when we'd danced at my specialceremoniamonths ago. The last time I had seen him, he’d had rounded cheeks and a shy personality. But these past few months had sparked old memories. Now, he seemed to always have an extra flicker of light in his blue eyes when he saw me.

We strode in amicable silence, which I much preferred to conversation since my mind whirred with its own questions. Why did Laude get to sit with the Dotados in one of their special meetings? And why didn’t she seem fazed at Cosme’s abrupt invitation?

If Cosme could keep secrets from me, I could keep him in the dark about certain details too. I patted my sleeve pocket, started toward the stairs, and an idea bloomed.

“Would you like a walk about the garden?” Lucas kept in step.

“No, I have another idea.”

Laude couldn’t hold her tongue once she started talking. I might have to pick up her favoriteencanelados, the ones from the candy store that coated the walnuts in sugar and caramel just right. She’d spill every last secret.

Chapter 6

Laude

Lucas escaped Cosme’s sittingroom with one target in mind: Beatriz. He’d wasted his efforts ever since the ceremonia all those months ago. She drank in every one of Zichri’s letters as if they fed her parched soul, and I couldn’t blame her. Zichri had risked himself for her over and over again. But Cosme’s friend had a mysterious sort of appeal that made me wish I had more friends to match and watch live happily ever after. I blurted something to her, and Cosme shut the door.

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