Page 100 of Death of the Glass Angel
Eros struggled into his nightshirt, messing up his curls in one swift motion. “Mom bought it for me this morning. I’m still deciding on a name for her.”
“Hm.” Janus tilted her head, observing the cute little creature. “What about Des?”
“Des,” Eros repeated the word and nodded. “I like it. It’s a royal name.” He tilted the dragon to watch over Janus’ bed and rolled over. “Could you snuff the lights? I’m already in bed.”
“Tch.” Janus rose to blow out the candle. “If you’ve got her, why can’t you sleep in your own room?”
“Why have one protector when you could have two?”
Janus shook her head as darkness swallowed the room and felt her way back to her bed. “I guess. Seems to me like Des is keeping me safe, too.”
25
Janus/Des
I was never accused of my crimes, never prosecuted. No wanted posters displayed my face, no people whispered of my misdeeds. How could they have? By all rights, I did not exist.
-Gemellus’ private journal
On the journey home, Janus had constructed several excuses. Now sitting in her suite, safe and warm, a cup of warm tea in hand, her words escaped her. Kalid sat across the table, exhausted and concerned, waiting for her response.
Janus had always liked Kalid. He had always been kind to Janus, even if he lamented his job at home. And after the harrowing events in the ruins, his pudgy face was a great comfort.
“I snuck out.” Janus finally admitted, tapping her fingers on the mug. “I was worried about Talon.”
Kalid sighed. “I figured. Felsin came looking for you like he knew. Did-”
“No.” Janus cut him off. “Felsin helped save my life.”
Kalid drummed his fingers on the table before nodding, accepting her answer. “And nothing explained who they were?”
“No.” Janus shook her head.
Leaning back in his chair, Kalid released a heavy exhale. “Your brother is going to have me executed.”
“He won’t. You weren’t on watch that night.” Janus pursed her lips. “Who was? He’s going to be executed.”
Chuckling, Kalid stood. “I have a thousand people to question and report to. You.” He pointed at Janus. “Don’t move.”
“Yes, sir,” Janus said quietly.
Grabbing his cloak, Kalid swept out the door. Extra guards stood watch outside but had been instructed to give Janus privacy in her room. Tugging her blanket around her shoulders, Janus picked up her tea and sat on the edge of her bed. The blankets and curtains were a pleasant pale yellow but did little to brighten her mood.
With a clink, Janus set her teacup down on the night table and rose. She fished through her bags, producing the strange glass bulb with bright wings. It had been labeled ‘The Glass Angel.’ A title.
The rare rose of the desert. Only one bloomed each year.
Turning it over, Janus ran a hand through her hair. Des had pulled the ponytail free while sitting in her cell. Janus could remember it. But despite the free-falling locks, a clip still pinned back her bangs. The rose-shaped hairpiece Gemellus had given her for good luck.
A hairpiece meant to resemble the glass angel.
The winged necklace sat quietly in Janus’s hands, a stunning piece of jewelry. She turned it over a few times, watching the chandelier’s light bounce off the pale blue hidden within the lustrous metal wings. This pattern was familiar, but Janus could not place why.
A knock sounded at the door before it swung open, and Talon walked in, his bandaged arm safely concealed beneath a dark gray coat. His signature pale blue jacket had been tarnished with blood and dirt.
As he closed the door behind them, Talon spoke chipperly. “Your guard wasn’t sure if they should let me back in. I mean, everyone attested that I was kidnapped with you, but they briefly wondered if I wasn’t the culprit. Tsk.” He shoved his hands in his pockets as he wandered over.
Janus frowned. “They really can’t tell you’re a-”
