Page 28 of The King's Man 2

So many colours and soft and prickly textures. I sniff at the heady mix of dried flowers that have been worked into masks on one wall. Another wall displays animal masks, and yet another, monster-like creations.

“Constantinos’s mother used to love masquerades,” Nicostratus says. “She still makes masks every year. She made most of these.”

“They’re so intricate.” I finger a simple mask the colours of river-pearl, blues and greens that shimmer and change. “Beautiful. If they’re his mother’s, can we use them?”

Nicostratus is quiet for a long beat. “We won’t have time to craft enough from scratch. She would want him protected, no matter the cost.”

I swallow and pick up the pearl mask. The same shades of turquoise as the border on my soldad. “Will you tell your brother?”

A smile. “I tell my brother everything.”

“And if he’s against it?”

Nicostratus sidles up to me and whispers into my ear, like a secret. “I’ll fight him; I’ll win.”

“Because you’re stronger?”

“Because he always lets me.”

I shake my head, imagining them tussling in the garden or whipping magic about, clashing to make fireworks and ending their feuds breathless with laughter.

Nicostratus lifts the pearl-mask I’m holding. “You like this one?”

I lift my soldad for him to see. “It matches, don’t you think?” I swallow and meet his eye, speaking softly. “My favourite gift.”

His eyes spark with mischief, but as his face inches closer, the playful glint fades, replaced by something quieter, heavier. My chest pounds, heat pooling in my cheeks as the space between us narrows. His breath brushes my lips, and for one suspended moment, I forget where we are.

And then he murmurs, “I wish it had come from me.”

Irock back on my heels, clutching the soldad so tightly the hard edges even cut through my glove.But it is from you.

It’s supposed to be from you.

It’s...

The attic of masks swirls, closing in to crush me. I fix my stare on Nicostratus’s obliviously smiling eyes.He has no idea.

“I wish it had come from you too,” I say, thickly.

I slam my eyes shut. All the clues have been there.

I’m closer with his majesty, Evander said.

“Amuletos?”

I open my eyes.

Nicostratus settles the mask into my free hand. “You should take this one.”

“It’s... stuffy in here, I need to...” I head for the exit; Nicostratus kills the lights with a wave and descends with me.

“You look pale,” he says when we’re outside and I’m gulping air. “I’ll take you back.”

I wave a hand. “Give me a moment.”

“With company or...”

“Alone? Please?”

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