Page 76 of Mirror of Malice
Penn stepped back, threading my fingers with his in one smooth move. “I’m her betrothed.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Penn’s words rang in my ears, and I yanked my hand from his. “Your what?” I whisper-yelled.
His face remained bored, but his eyes flickered. “We have an audience, dear.”
I looked back at the guards, all of them staring at us with confused looks. I smiled. “Will you just excuse us for a moment?” I glanced up at the wave still lingering in the air. “And please don’t drown us. We just need to have a quick chat.”
I grabbed Penn’s arm and pulled him back a few paces. “Betrothed?” I said.
This was too far. I knew he liked to play his games, to make me feel uncomfortable. For whatever sick, twisted reason, he enjoyed it, and for whatever even sicker reason, I did too. But this? I couldn’t be betrothed to him. Even if it was fake. That would take things between us too far, be too much of a risk, especially if anyone found out his true identity.
“How else am I supposed to get into the water court?” Penn asked.
I hadn’t actually thought about it.
“Their borders have been closed for a year. No one knows why. They’re not going to let just anyone in. But if I’m your betrothed, that shows you trust me.”
“Not as far as I can throw you,” I mumbled.
“You can’t throw me at all,” Penn said.
“Exactly,” I snapped.
I looked back at the guards, the one in front now tapping her foot impatiently. I smiled again and waved. “Just a moment,” I called out, then glared at Penn. “What happened to us being partners? To making all our decisions together?”
“I told you about this,” he said.
“No you didn’t!”
“In my head,” he added.
I groaned out in frustration.
He flicked my arm. “You’re cute when you’re annoyed, Lilypad.”
“Stop that.” I pushed away his finger.
“It’s just pretend,” he said. “And you know I’m right. This will be the quickest way to get us both in and to find that weapon.”
So this wasn’t another one of his games to fluster me. It was his plan. That’s why he had just been kissing my jaw like that. He was putting on a show before we’d even arrived, and I’d been a fool, thinking he actually wanted me. Yet again, I was just a tool to him. A means to an end. Exactly like I’d been for Jasper. It stung more than I wanted to admit. I hated myself for what I was about to do.
I grabbed his hand, and together, we walked toward the guards. “Sorry about that. I just needed to speak with my... betrothed for a moment. Please, I’m not lying, and if you’ll just let me see Princess Gabrielle, I’ll prove I am who I say I am.”
The guards once again looked unsure, but finally, the lead one nodded, the tight bun on her head bobbing with themovement. “Fine. But you’ll be entering the water court on our terms.”
She flicked her hand and the wave crashed down, water splashing up and flying to wrap around our wrists like handcuffs. The guards turned. “Come,” the lead one said. “And if you try anything at all, you’ll get thrown straight into the sea.”
“Welcome to Apolis,” Penn muttered.
We stumbled behind the guards,over the sharp rocks that jutted out, slick with sea water. The rocks led upward in an incline. At one point my feet slipped, but I fell backward into Penn’s hard chest.
A flowing river circled the water court, fed by the ocean and cutting through the rocks. We crossed a glass bridge, see-through, giving a view of the fish and other sea creatures that waded through the river.
Despite being handcuffed with the water links, Penn steadied me. “Careful, Lilypad,” he said, no doubt playing up his role as the concerned fiancé.
I muttered a “thank you” and we continued on, climbing the rocks until we crested the top, and I sucked in a sharp breath. Apolis had always been the most stunning of the courts, in my opinion. Besides Elwen, of course. White houses with orange terra cotta roofs spread out among the cliffside, dotting the stone terrain, with a market and small village on a flat terrace that overlooked the ocean. On the far side of the cliff stood the brilliant castle, white and gleaming, perched right on the edge of the rock. It rose so tall it looked like it touched the sun.
