Page 18 of Untamed

The men all stopped moving and cocked their heads toward me.

Jaime said, “You’re going to identify which of Zichri’s brothers threatened Minerva.”

“In the palace?” I scrunched my nose and my palms grew sweaty.

The answer was evident in each of their nods. I’d have to see the mean brother and maybe meet him. Princess Beatriz was going to be so mad that I took so long in Cosme’s room.

“Can I at least fix my hair before we go? I mean, they’re royalty, right?” I asked.

Chapter 7

Beatriz

Thank the Ancient OneLucas had a sense of decorum and left me alone in my quarters after a long day of stilted conversations. I picked an encanelado from a bowl on my desk, letting the sweet nutty flavor roll over my tongue as a plan hatched in my mind.

Why wait for Laude to return from Cosme’s quarters when I could spy on them?This could prove my worth as a non-gift-wielding member of the Dotados. Then when I hand Monserrat’s letters to Papá, I might be able to sway his decisions about Zichri.It was settled.

I crossed my bedroom, determined to take the hidden passages to Cosme’s suite. Years had passed since I’d last attempted to find his bedroom through the maze behind the walls. But I’d had much practice locating the kitchens recently,and his room should be easier to find. I swallowed the lump at the back of my throat.

The open closet door beckoned to me. I snatched the lamp beside my bed, but there was no fire. Laude had become my living lamp with her ability to spark flames with the snap of her fingers. This meant I had to find a lantern in the middle of a sunny day or endure the darkness. No time to waste, I chose darkness.

The feeling of tiny spiders crawled up my back. These passages had a plethora of cobwebs knitted in every corner. I pressed forward into the small room with shelves all around and a large chest at the opposite end. With a shove on the metal edge, the box slid back, revealing a dark opening. The small window above the chest let in enough sunlight to see half a flight of stone stairs.

What other choice did I have, if I wanted to find out what they were hiding?

I descended. My fingertips glided along the rough walls of the cavern. Blackness surrounded me, soaking me into its cool tomb. My heart thumped. I dipped my foot to find the next step but, instead, hit it soundly against the floor. I shot my arms out for balance and fumbled for the wall in front of me. Cold stone met my touch. Power pulsed under my skin along with my nerves. I grappled with the energy, stilling my fluttering pulse with three slow breaths.

The stairs behind me shone like a beacon of light compared to the rest of the hidden passage. They begged me to give up and wait. Wasn’t that what I’d done these last three months? I’d waited for Zichri to settle problems in his kingdom. I’d waited for Cosme to let me into his group.

Beatriz, you can do this. You’ve always wanted to do spy work like Cosme. This is your chance.

I moved deeper into the darkness. My boots scraped against the floor. I held one arm to my side and the other extended forward. There’d be a wall in front of me soon. And just like I expected, my hand collided with the wall. I yanked my stubbed pinkie back but kept walking. I had to prove myself. Even with a gift, no one took me seriously. I turned left, leaving behind any remnant of light.

The voice inside my head told me,You’re insane. Go back. You’ll eventually find out what Cosme is hiding.

But the part of me that couldn’t wait lumbered forward. This section of the maze would be the easiest to traverse. It was a nearly straight shot across the palace’s front wall. I cringed with each blind step forward, but I persisted.

My boots scuffed the floor. My heart hammered against my breastbone, and inky blackness surrounded me with no hint of light to come. I kept my arms outstretched, expecting to reach cold stones. Instead, cool air smoothed between my shaky fingertips. I moved forward, unable to stave the onslaught of my mind.

Why couldn’t I ever be happy? I had everything I thought I needed, yet no attachment or ability could act like a salve on my soul’s wound. Truthfully, neither Zichri nor my gift was within my reach. Papá would disagree with my thinking and tell me I needed to use my gifting to reap the benefit of an ability. But how could I ever use my gifting again?

My palm hit something soft and sticky, possibly spiderwebs. I flinched. Something crawled along my arm. I yelped and shook off my hands.

In all my fervor, my foot caught on the skirt of my dress. I tipped forward, and my arm shot in front of me into more cobwebs. A small screech escaped my lips. My elbow hit the ground just before my hip. The impact on the stone vibrated throughout my bones.

Warmth blossomed along my elbow. Blood.

I pushed off the ground, coated with sticky webs. Imagine if I’d hit my head and lay on the floor bleeding. How long would it have taken someone to find me? But I had to go on. The stale feeling of defeat bubbled in my stomach.

Oh, Ancient One, I can’t even make it halfway across the palace. Help me to finish this half-developed plan.

Grappling for the walls, I shuffled onward toward Cosme’s room. I’d have to pry information from Laude.

The dark walk onward felt like an eternity as every blind movement nailed in further doubts about my memory of where Cosme’s room was located. Empty space opened to my left and a wall barred any movement forward. I kicked to my left to find a step to what I hoped was Cosme’s closet. Climbing up, I reached over my head and met a cold, metal latch that clicked open when I turned it. Relief flooded through me like a warm tonic. I raced up the stairs and stepped through the closet to enter Cosme’s bedchamber. From across the space, I heard voices carry through the doorway to Cosme’s sitting room. I tiptoed closer. My chest tightened.

“Truly, do you trust her?” Laude asked.

I let a slow breath flow between my lips.

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