Page 20 of Untamed

Chapter 8

Laude

I should have beengetting ready to go to sleep, but instead I was sneaking through the hidden passageways in a ballgown with my finger aflame to light the windowless path. Because that’s what you do when you’ve got a secret mission with the Dotados. They’d given me more than a couple hours to fix my hair. Instead, we’d waited an extra day so I could spend the evening chatting with Beatriz, and Cosme could spend some time with Princess Monserrat—the girl to whom he was supposed to be promising his affection and life.

My boots scuffed the old stones as I snuck to Cosme’s room. He had left a note on my desk after supper:

Tonight, we might have better luck finding out which prince you saw. Dress for a ball and meet me at sunset.

Cosme

He didn’t specify how I should get to his room, but I didn’t want to risk Beatriz spying on me and asking questions, especially since my silky teal garb was suspicious. She’d already tried to sweeten my tongue into spilling what had happened two days ago. My mouth had a bad habit of saying exactly what was on my mind, but these secrets weren’t mine to tell. And truthfully, how could I disappoint her with the news of my leaving? She seemed so very alone.

The darkness closed in around me. I concentrated on stretching the orange flame. Needle-like pain stabbed my finger pad, and the fire grew a fraction, but the pain became too much. My hold slackened, and the flame retreated to its normal height. My gifting had never been extraordinary.

Scuff-scuff

I whirled around, but the inky blackness behind me gave no hint at the cause of the noise. Only a couple of turns left. I lifted my skirt, speeding the next stretch, and looked over my shoulder. More orange light shone against the stone walls and cast my silhouette in long shadows. Heart pounding, I held my finger high. Someone slammed into me.

My body bounced backward, and I shrieked.

A lamp clinked to the ground and went out.

The man in front of me hollered almost as loudly.

Recognition flickered into my mind as I noted dark cropped hair, brown owl-like eyes, and tan skin. Cosme.

“What are you doing in here?” Cosme didn’t hold back his accusation.

Then I noticed Señorita Minerva hidden behind Cosme with her hands clutched around a wooden box. Yesterday’s affection to his betrothed now demonstrated his excellent acting ability.

“I could ask you a very similar question, especially since you told me to meet you in your room.” I jabbed my fiery index finger at his chest, forgetting the flame.

“Are you mad?” he shouted and dodged my touch.

My flame went out. Blackness entombed us. “Why isshealways with you? I don’t get it. Forgive me, but how am I supposed to trustherwhen she’s being used by one of Zichri’s brothers and won’t admit it?” I panted, my chest filling with air and huffing out frustration. The Ancient One knew I never would have said anything so abrupt if I’d had to look into Cosme’s eyes.

“Light your finger.” Cosme commanded.

My teeth bit down onto my lip.

The war in my head waged.Laude, why did you say everything on your mind? Now, you’re going to face the consequences, and they won’t be good, and you’re going to be kicked out of Cosme’s good graces and never see Jaime again.

“Laude, please light your finger.” This time, he sounded less annoyed.

I let the tingle of power twirl up my index finger and sparked a flame.

Cosme straightened his posture to the regal one King Ezer used when speaking to diplomats. “Minerva, please show Señorita Laude the contents of your box.”

She passed Cosme a furtive glance but undid the latch and cracked open the lid. My wavering flame reflected off golden jewelry with especially shiny edges etched with mountains.

Cosme bent over and picked up the lamp that he’d dropped.

“What are they?” I looked down my nose with suspicion, inspecting the material and the box for something hidden.

“They’re lesser relics,” Minerva whispered.

“And not all of them.” Cosme clapped the lid shut. “Minerva and I are tracking down the relics and hiding them. No one can know about this, Laude.”

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