Page 41 of Untamed

That night, I ambled hand in hand with Jaime alongPlaza Principal. The Himzo Palace stood like a hulking mass of rock with spiky fingers reaching into the overcast, night sky. With the weight of Queen Cottia’s request pressed over my chest, I could explode.

Her plan started tomorrow, and I hadn’t objected.

“Why so gloomy?” Jaime shook my arm. “You haven’t said a word since we left Milo’s house.”

“How do you handle war?”

His face scrunched and twisted as if he’d bitten into a sour lemon. “That’s an odd question.”

Tears sprang to my lashes. “How do you live with yourself when an enemy dies at your hand?”

He swiped at my cheek and cupped my face in his rough hands. “Are you talking about our trip? We only plan to uncover who’s behind the alliance. Minerva and Lucas will be with us the whole time to whisk you girls away should danger arise.”

“Queen Cottia has other plans.” The words spilled out like a jar crashing to the floor.

“You haven’t mentioned them before. What are they?”

“Just nonsense. Really, I passed the time with Queen Cottia, letting her train me, and I technically haven’t rejected her plot.”

“Cariño,” The caring note in his singsong accent sent an explosion of butterflies swarming my insides. “If these plans don’t suit you, why do you accept them?”

I sniffed back the liquid that poured down my nose. “I can’t say.”

“You can tell me anything.” The sincerity in his eyes broke something inside my trembling soul.

“Queen Cottia asked me to”—I sniffed—“kill Whyzer Patro, and to destroy the last relic. And I was supposed to ask Lucas to join me, but I didn’t and—”

“Wait, wait, kill Whyzer Patro?” His eyes bulged, and I couldn’t blame him for his shock.

I nodded ardently.

“How do you know about him? He’s imprisoned in the Himzo dungeons.”

Shaking my head, I said, “He has the last relic, and he’s the Black Knight.”

“How?” Jaime snapped his mouth shut and shifted his jaw in thought. “Let’s assume what you say is true, how do you plan on killing him, a whyzer?”

“Poison.” My fingers went to a pocket along my hip, touching the smooth fabric. “But I don’t think I can do it.”

“Why would the queen enlist you to do such a big job?”

The tears wouldn’t stop coming. Passersby watched me from afar. Some even drew nearer and snuck side-eye glances at us, so I dropped my voice. “She says it’s unexpected and only the unexpected can defeat someone like him.”

“But she’s putting you in danger.” He hugged me, and I clung tightly to him as I cried. “She’s wrong.”

Pulling away from Jaime, I decided one important thing; I must tell him the truth about who I am. We might never be free from the royal blood that flows through my veins.

Chapter 17

Beatriz

Thump-thump-thump.

I gasped awake. Silky sheets tangled around my legs and darkness pressed against my eyelids. A slight crack in my bed curtains let a dim spear of light spill onto my bedding.

Thump-thump-thump.

“It’s Cosme.” My brother’s voice filtered from outside my bedroom door.

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