Page 29 of Decoy

I waited several minutes after the guard had departed the now abandoned corridor, obsessively studying my mental map of the palace for anyone else I might encounter. When I was absolutely certain I was alone, I took a longer, more obscure route back to the corridor whose windows overlooked the garden I’d hinted to a high ranking member of Estoria’s court as the place I often took a late night stroll. To my relief, I didn’t encounter anyone…though I thought I imagined some sinister presence lurking in the shadows, watching me.

I pressed my face against the windowpane, but even beneath the silvery sheen of moonlight penetrating the velvety clouds, I could tell the grounds were abandoned, with no sign of potential assassins lurking within the long shadows cast by the ornate shrubbery.

Still I waited. After several restless minutes I’d just begun to wonder whether it’d be better to search on foot considering whoever prowled the grounds was likely to do it more covertly than strolling in plain view of my vantage point—when my breath suddenly caught upon noticing something.

Therewassomeone—a dark, looming figure slinking just below me. Excited, I quietly opened the window and inched my head out just enough to better look up and down the garden path. I squinted through the thin light…but it wasn’t the prince I’d baited who tipped his head back to flash me a mocking grin, buthim.

My annoyance was too acute to suppress my frustrated curse. “Are you following me?” Perhaps he’d changed his mind about killing me after all.

Lord Luke chuckled. “How do I know you’re not the one following me? Earlier you tracked me down without a weapon, but now that you’re adequately armed, I have reason to wonder what conniving plan you’ll concoct.”

He made me sound like the enemy whenhe’dbeen the one to attempt to poison me. Unbelievable that the man could tease me after his devious actions tonight.

I was far too annoyed to even bother with a response. Only the fact he’d returned my dagger kept my anger from escalating past the breaking point, but my aggravation was too acute for me even to attempt to maintain my quiet stealth.

I snapped the window shut, loud enough to draw the attention of a guard patrolling a nearby hallway, who seemed very confused to find me out of bed at such a late hour. He insisted on accompanying me back to my bedroom, preventing me from taking a detour to the royal treasury to make another attempt on that door.

Another failed investigation to add to my many others.

Once within the sanctity of my room I began to pace, my mind a chaotic storm as I revisited the events of the night—from first detecting the noxroot poison, to my encounter with Lord Luke, to all that’d followed.

Adrenaline still pounded through my bloodstream…along with another emotion that had emerged from the ashes created by the lingering sense of danger—howaliveour confrontation had made me feel, the way he’d ripped away the mask this scheme had forced upon me to allow a glimpse of my true self to emerge. It’d felt wonderful to show him that part of me, to seize back a portion of my lost control by demonstrating my skills with a knife and holding it up to his neck…before he’d ruined it all by disarming me.

Humiliation burned my cheeks at the memory of that failure, made worse when he’d woven the illusion I held the upper hand, toying with me like a plaything before drastically turning the tables. I’d be certain to never underestimate my opponent in such a way ever again.

The question that remained was why hadn’t he killed me after his failed poison attempt? Perhaps I’d been too easily snared in his careful web that he desired a greater challenge, as if this was nothing more than a sinister game. Surely he wouldn’t have armed me if he didn’t possess every confidence that his skills surpassed mine, as he’d already so aptly demonstrated.

My clenched fists tightened around the hilt of my dagger. If it was a rematch he wanted, I’d happily accommodate. Even midst my determination I sensed the danger of such a wish, the chasm between our skills too large for me to cross before our next encounter.

I’d previously believed my skills adequate to navigate the dangerous dance with whatever threat lurked in the shadows, but for the first time I felt ill prepared for the scheme I’d agreed to. The threat of death returned, almost as acute as it’d been within the dungeon—the sense that my life was slipping away, only this time I had no idea when my execution date would be.

Anxiety assaulted me in waves before I managed to rise above it to keep from drowning. I refused to go down without a fight, especially when Lord Luke’s abundance of confidence had caused him to make several grave errors—his failed poisoning had tipped his hand that I was his target, he’d demonstrated his skills to disarm me while in a place where he’d seemed at a distinct disadvantage, which would now put me on my guard, and he’d armed me with a much more effective weapon. When we next met, I’d be ready.

Sleep felt like a waste of time when my new resolution urged me to train, but I managed a few restless hours before I rose shortly before dawn. Guards remained posted at my door, so I once more opted for the window. On the rooftop I remained wary for any sign of Luke, but thankfully I didn’t encounter him.

I crept silently across the roof until I neared the side overlooking the vast garden. I exercised greater precaution in the footholds I chose along the wall during my descent; one slip would be a mistake that sent me plummeting to my death. As a result, it took twice as long to reach the ground.

By then, a sliver of daybreak tinged the horizon, providing me with enough light to illuminate the ornate hedgerows shrouded in morning mist. I searched for an abandoned section of the grounds where I wouldn’t be disturbed by any member of the court coming across the supposed princess throwing knives and found a poor unsuspecting tree in a somewhat secluded area that would make the perfect target.

I passed the morning repeatedly throwing my dagger, an exercise that proved more effective when I imagined not the steady trunk or leafy branches I was aiming for but Lord Luke’s smirking face. Over and over I threw my blade until sweat coated my skin and I lost all hope for my carefully arranged hair, a state far from the perfect image of a princess but which made me feel closer to my true identity as Blair, a welcome sensation midst these circumstances.

The sun bathed my training ground in rays of golden warmth, signifying the long yet fulfilling hours I’d spent practicing. I continued to train…until a sudden voice yanked my concentration away from my target.

“This is certainly a surprising discovery.”

I startled, a movement that directed my aim away from the tree to land my blade in the grass several meters away. I swiveled around and came face to face with the advisor, watching with a deep frown furrowing his wrinkled brow.

Apprehension prickled my skin. Such an important man had likely risen at such an early hour for the sole sake of watching me, an unwanted reminder I was under constant surveillance—by the enemies I still didn’t know and those who’d entangled me in this arrangement in the first place.

He raised a single eyebrow. “I admit I never imagined I’d discover a royal desecrating the beauty of the grounds rather than admiring them.” He gestured to the tree, and too late I noticed the many gashes I’d inflicted along the bark, impossible to hide from any passerby.

My cheeks warmed. “I—” Shame trapped my words. I’d been so consumed by my training that I’d failed to notice his presence, another grave slip-up I couldn’t afford. Ever since the night I’d been caught, mistakes had piled around me, as if my capture had stolen all my previous skills, leaving me nothing with which to arm myself.

The advisor continued studying me as he waited for an explanation I didn’t have. When my silence extended too long, he spoke again. “I admit I didn’t imagine the extent of your abilities when you were chosen for this task. I’m still debating whether they’ll prove advantageous or detrimental to our cause.”

Fear cinched my heart at the thought he might regret choosing me; the moment I ceased being useful was the moment my life would be forfeit. Memories from the dungeon bombarded me, along with terror so thick and tangible it suffocated me long before the promise of the noose coiled around my neck.

With a steadying breath I forced the image away.Switching you for another would only arouse suspicion. For the moment you should be safe. There’s no need to fear. It was my only protection.

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