Page 11 of The Time Of Queens

Pip had assured me that this would be the perfect opportunity to look in his room. She told me to check the walls for any hidden panels that would open like the one I knew about which led to my escape. So, like a crazy person, I went feeling up his walls, running my hands along the wooden panels in hopes of finding something.

Of course, in the end, all I found was that the place really needed dusting and his pillow was too much temptation for me not to pick up and sniff. So yeah, another reason for me to look crazy, but then again, what could I say, other than I missed my husband. Meaning I would take any small comfort I could get.

Unfortunately, this was also how I was discovered, as none other than Sophia walked in! Naturally, I dropped the pillow pretty quickly the second she cried out in anger,

“What the hell do you think you are doing in my brother’s room!?”

“Oh shit,” I muttered, making her eyes narrow.

“Just wait until my brother hears of this, you will be thrown out of this house this very night!”

I swallowed hard and tried to reason with her.

“It’s not what it looks like,” I argued.

“It looked as though you were trying to steal his dagger.” I looked back at the bed I had just jumped up from, to see that she was right, the same dagger he had held against me last night was there under his pillow. And of course, it looked gilded in gold and encrusted in jewels… it would certainly fetch a pretty penny.

Fuck!

“I don’t suppose you would believe me if I told you I was smelling his pillow, would you?” Her face told me all I needed to know. “Guess not… okay, look, there is something about me you should know.”

“Yes, that you are a common thief that has clearly fooled my friend into trusting you, so no doubt you can rob her blind as well! I also assume this to be the very reason behind your excuse in wanting to visit the country,” Sophia said, throwing even more accusations my way.

“Hey, I like the country,” I argued. “But that is so not the point here.”

“No, it is not, for I could not care less what you prefer, as the only thing you will soon see is the view from a jail cell!”

Okay, so double fuck then.

“Sophia, wait!” I shouted after she had turned and was making her way to the door.

“And who do you think you are to call me by my first name?!” Damn it, but she was snooty. So, I told her,

“I’m your sister.”

She froze and turned around slowly, then she looked me up and down and suddenly burst out laughing.

“Well, that’s a little insulting,”I muttered dejectedly.

“You?! And what is this folly, for you to believe you could ever be related to me?!”

Jesus, she had a sharp tongue when she wanted.

“Wow, this is going well… Right, okay, here it is. I am married to your brother, just not the one downstairs… so he doesn’t know… God, I am really terrible at this.”

Her eyes widened a second as if she couldn’t believe the audacity of me to tell such lies. Not that I could really blame her with how badly I was at explaining this shit.

“Yes, you are, for your lies are utterly preposterous and I have heard enough of them.”

It was at this point that I had no choice but to tell her,

“I am the girl from last night! The one who escaped your brother!”

She turned once more, even slower this time, and the second I saw her glowing eyes of hatred, I knew it was anotheroh shitmoment. This was confirmed when she told me,

“Then whatever spell you cast ends with your life.”

“Wait a minute, spell? I didn’t cast any spell,” I argued, quickly walking backwards as she stalked towards me.

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