Page 50 of Untamed

I snapped my mouth shut, heat burning my cheeks. If I hadn’t halted the flow of words, I might have dug myself even more deeply into a grave of unpardonable lies.

“Go to him. I’m sure he longs for your company. The Ancient One knows we’ll be home in Giddel soon enough with nothing to do but ponder a way to keep busy.”

How I wished her words to be true and life could be filled with only gardening, conjuring daydreams on the beach, andsneaking to the kitchen for a late-night snack. My heartbeat tapped at my temples, and I swallowed hard.

“Thank you.” The words escaped as I skittered down the darkened passage. If only Beatriz understood that I hadn’t been pondering a way to fill my time. After the trip, I certainly wouldn’t be in Giddel. Best not to dig through the possibilities, especially if I succeeded in my ventures as the queen’s assassin.

The men had disappeared somewhere in the ship and their voices echoed. Was that Jaime? I continued to stride down the hall and opened the door to the deck. Sailors busied themselves with ropes and chatter. I spotted Jaime in deep discussion with Lucas.

Oh, Ancient One let it not be so. Lucas has been such a good friend to Cosme and is vital to destroying the last relic. Show me how to test his loyalties.I finished my prayer, remembering how the queen had gotten me to promise to destroy the relic and the whyzer who wielded it.

Working up my courage to join the men, I sped across the deck, hoping for a booming voice to crack the sky and tell me what to do. Why was I going along with the queen’s crazy, sensational plan?

Chapter 22

Beatriz

Inky darkness filled ourcozy little room, and warm covers encased my body. Laude and I had decided to sleep a few hours before the Dotado meeting, but I lay awake conjuring every possible way Cosme and Zichri could have orchestrated this reunion. Minerva could have transported everyone into Giddel or out of it. This must have been how Jaime had appeared in the palace unnoticed by the guards, and why Cosme always had mud-caked boots, even when he’d just been in his room all day. Then there was the masquerade we would attend. A foreboding latched to my heart and whispered:Turn the other way.

Someone tapped on the door.

“Beatriz, are you ready?” Zichri’s voice filtered through the bedroom door.

Laude’s finger sparked to life, and she flopped over in bed. “Why does Cosme have to make the meeting so late when we’re to arrive at Aracibel tomorrow? He should want us to be well rested to meet the backstabbers and power-hungry royals.”

I slipped out of bed and into comfortable shoes. The plain blue dress I wore served as better public attire than the linen nightdress I was accustomed to wearing. I clipped a hooded cape around my neck, ready to finally get my answers.

“Princess, if I hadn’t promised your brother and mother that I wouldn’t leave your side, I’d stay right here under these covers.” Laude sat up and yawned. Her crumpled yellow dress would look pretty once the wrinkles were smoothed out.

“You promised my brother you wouldn’t leave my side?” I raised an eyebrow like Mamá.

Laude bit her lip. “Guilty.”

“What else did he make you promise?” My voice came out terse.

“Things.” She massaged her forehead. “Your brother wants the best for you.”

I let out an exasperated breath. “His manner of showing affection truly touches my heart.” My tone remained flatter than pressed flowers in a book.

Tap-tap-tap.

“Are you coming?” Zichri asked.

I opened the door. Zichri stood just on the other side, leaning one arm on the doorframe. The way his hair fell over his temples and the earnestness painted on his face sent warm tingles flying through my insides. My lips curled despite my previous annoyance.

He leaned in to kiss my cheek in greeting. Warmth spread from his soft touch like ripples from a rock thrown in still waters.

“I’m so happy you can finally join us.” Zichri pulled back to a respectful distance. “Ready, Laude?”

It was as if he’d doused cold water over my head. What did he mean byus? Was it that we took so long to answer, or was this confirmation of my suspicions that he’d met secretly with the Dotados for some time now?

Laude skipped to my side and looped an arm through mine. “Is Jaime already there?”

“Yes, Señorita Laude.” Zichri had a familiar tone with her that he hadn’t had months ago.

We had sung the evening away and shared a meal, recalling our adventures through Valle de los Fantasmas. That could be it, but the whole evening something had felt off.

Zichri led the way as we sped through the bowels ofLa Lavia. We took the stairs down into a darker part of the ship. Laude kept her index finger aflame, giving us enough light to make it through the passages.

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