Page 30 of Death of the Glass Angel
Lacing his fingers through hers, Talon touched her hip and ran a hand down her upper thigh. He brushed the hidden dagger beneath her gown and hastily returned his hand to her waist.
“Thought so.” He murmured as he led her into a Sigillite waltz. “Planning on knifing someone tonight?”
“Planning on tailing someone.” She corrected, leaning to whisper in his ear. “Why drink with them when I could shadow them instead?”
“And here I thought we’d be shadowing Heras.”
“Oh, no. Her sons are far more suspicious.” Des watched Avalon return to Dinu, gesturing toward Felsin. “They look like they’re planning to leave early together.”
“And the knife?”
“Call it insurance. One can never betoo careful.”
9
Des
I watched the stars for the first time when I was sent to my death. They should have displayed only doom, but I saw something more. I saw life. I saw people. And painted on that great canvas in the heavens, for the first time in my life, I saw hope. And the next day, I met Aevus.
-Excerpt from Alfaris’ personal journal
Des glanced behind her as she slipped out of the palace gates. Nobody pursued her. Good.
Talon stared at her with raised brows. “You’re going to get in trouble.”
“Not if I return before my escort notices I’m gone.” She insisted, searching the road for their quarry.
Avalon led the heirs down a bend in the road, past a flurry of gaudy-dressed nobility and soldiers. Hiding in the shadows not lit by street lanterns, Des kept a fair way behind them.
Taking a set of stairs out of the palace district, the nobles descended into the bustling lower district. Yanking off her heels, Des quietly padded down the stairs before darting behind the nearest building. Tracing a path to the roof, she grabbed a loose brick and climbed from the window’s edge to the roof sill.
Crouching, she crossed the roof and watched the other heirs from above.
“What are you doing?” Talon breathed beside her. She hadn’t heard him ascend behind her.
“Getting a better vantage point,” Des whispered.
“The best way to follow someone is to blend with the crowd, not climb around, drawing attention.” He sighed. “Too late now, I suppose.”
“Do you follow people often?” Des asked, rising before he could answer and leaping the gap to the next building.
This city resembled her home. Flat roofs on square buildings clustered together—perfect for this sort of thing.
And for a simple merchant, Talon kept up with her effortlessly. He landed beside her and followed the bright spot of Avalon’s blonde braid as it rounded a bend. A door opened in the shadows of the next street, spilling firelight into the night.
“I know that place,” Talon murmured. “Follow me.”
Crossing the roofs, he stopped atop the building the nobles entered and patted his pockets. Freezing, he smirked and looked up at her.
“Do you have a lock pick on you?”
“Yes.” Des pulled a pin out of her hair. She’d tucked it in there, just in case.
“There’s a hatch.” He tapped his foot on hollow metal. “Here.”
Kneeling beside him, she felt around for the latch in the dark. Trying to hide her nerves, she studied the lock before pushing the pin into it.
She could lock pick, sure, but oftentimes it took a few tries. The last thing she wanted was for him to see her fail.
