Page 42 of Untamed

What time was it?

My comatose body remained settled in a comfortable position. Head foggy from deep sleep, I managed to push aside the curtains to get a glimpse out my windows. A dim, orange hue painted the sky. Why was he here, outside my bedroom, so early?

Thump-thump-thump.

“Beatriz, I talked to Papá yesterday.” The floorboards creaked outside my door. “We are able to move forward with the second part of our arrangement.”

I rolled out of bed and stuck my feet into gold slippers. While tugging my robe over my arms, I crossed to my door and unlocked the latch. “Buen—”

Cosme pushed into my quarters, wearing a clean jacket, crisp trousers, and polished tall boots.

“Buenos días.”

“Like I said, I talked to Papá about your situation, and he won’t bend on his Zichri-not-on-our-ground policy.”

“So, you woke me up to let me know you still can’t help after all those lessons with Uncle Uly. Lovely. Can I get my last hour of sleep, or do you have something pressing to share?”

“You’re coming with me and some of the Dotados on an official mission.” Cosme smiled, hands on hips as if he’d bestowed some grand favor on me.

I yawned. “Good. Is this your way of making up for your inability to sway Papá?”

He patted my shoulder. “Get ready now. We leave an hour past dawn.”

“Cosme, you’re going to need to spill a little more information than that. Oh, and have the maids bring up a strong cup of coffee.”

He rolled his eyes. “We will leave without you if you’re late. Make sure to pack several ball gowns.”

“Where are we going?”

Cosme strutted out the door and spun on his heel. “We’ll be away for a month. We’re going to pay my ex-betrothed a visit.”

Whatever joy had settled into my countenance vanished in a blink. “You aren’t serious?”

“Serious as a rotten tooth.”

“So, instead of getting an hour with Zichri, I must endure Princess Monserrat?”

“Something a little better than that.” A peculiar look twinkled in his dark eyes, and he swaggered down the hall to Laude’s room and banged on her door.

I let a trickle of power drip along my arms. An instant connection formed between us as he spoke to Laude in hushed tones. He radiated lightning bolts of energy that read like anticipation, though something more touched his emotions. I let more power flicker out my pores, and Cosme whipped his gaze toward me.

I swung my door shut and yanked a cord beside my bed, calling for the maids. What in all Agata had he planned?

At the entrance of the palace, I sipped my coffee from a pewter mug while I waited for my brother and Laude to appear. A male servant trudged down the stairs with my black chest. Another servant hauled Laude’s garish trunk, decorated with enormous red flowers and swirling green vines. It matched the owner of the trunk who bounced on her toes with excitement.

Laude sparkled in the silky blue dress that matched her eye color and accentuated her figure. She’d added a touch of rouge coloring to her lips and adorned a braided crown with small white flowers. It’s beyond me how she managed such intricate details on her person when we were given but an hour.

Should I have put on something prettier? I shook my head. Why would I possibly care to impress any of Cosme’s Dotado companions? I smoothed the side of my plain braid and adjusted my brown outer dress. Though my bodice had pearls and umberbeads to add style, a sudden pang of insecurity washed through me.

The newest letter in my sleeve pocket weighed heavy with Zichri’s childhood story. I had a short epistle to him in my grasp, so he’d know not to send word this month. Would my maids hand Jaime the note? Would he even be allowed into the palace with Cosme and Laude gone?

Cosme strode out of the throne room in a flurry. “Papá sends his regards, and Mamá says she’ll meet us at the docks.”

I caught his arm before he flew out the front door. “What’s going on?”

With an annoying grin in place, he tipped my chin. “Like I said, we’re paying my ex-betrothed a visit.”

“You’re acting odd.”

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