Page 2 of Queen of the Night
I’ll admit it: I messed up.
I kick a pinecone off the slightly overgrown forest path, cringing as I think about attempting to explain my recent choices to Tatania, the leader of the Black Tulips, but if things go well from here on out, I won’t have to. I still won’t need the dratted bracelet that costs an exorbitant amount of money to keep me hidden, and no one will know that I took a very lucrative contract offered by a man that I was eighty-five percent sure wasn’t a criminal before he told me he’s really a high-ranking officer of the high king.
I peek at Ikar who walks beside me. I was angry when he told me that he’s an officer, but I soon realized that anger would only make me look suspicious. Now, I’ve settled on reluctant acceptance. While his profession would make most women feel safe, I would have preferred he admitted he actuallywasthe Class A criminal I believed him to be.
A smidgeon of guilt blossoms as I recall the oath I spoke with the Black Tulips to never work for the high king, his officers, or anyone close to him because of the danger it presents to the Tulips… but there’s no going back now—the contract is signed. Besides, while I may not be planning to pay the Black Tulips any longer, I still need money, and this job will pay more than I’ve made in two years combined. All Ikar and I have to do is find a simple magical flower for the king and survive the Lucent Mountains. Then I’ll never have to pretend to be an originator again. I’ll finally befree.
So, here we are. Friends once more—friends that shared a spectacular kiss the night before leaving Mama Tina’s and haven’t spoken of it once. I won’t be the one to bring it up now that I know for sure we can’t ever be together romantically. The thought saddens me more than I care to admit. I’ve grown so fond of Ikar these past days that I can say for certain I’ve never felt anything stronger for another man, but I refuse to look closer at those feelings when they’re forbidden.
I glance at him carefully, secretly admiring his mussed brown hair, strong jaw, striking blue eyes, and the straight line of his nose interrupted by a bit of a bump that only makes it more perfect… but people like him don’t court people like me. He must realize it, too, because he’s kept a horribly polite and gentlemanly distance since the night of our kiss.
I’m drawn from my thoughts when Ikar tugs the hood of his cloak over his head, draping his handsome features in shadows. Rupi peeks from within, huddled near his neck, and I purse my lips as she turns her head and one sassy black eye meets mine. She still favors him even after he admitted that he’s a high officer, and I can’t quite forgive her for that yet.
I frown. “What are you doing?”
“Attempting to enter the city without recognition,” he saysas we begin walking again. He makes further careful adjustments to his hood. We’re still a good distance from the city, and we’ve passed maybe two other travelers. Why the need for secrecy?
I lift a brow. “For a supposed law-abiding citizen, you’re acting blazing suspicious.”
“I’d prefer to reach the castle without being stopped. I’m well known in this city, and the charm I used to hide my identity has likely worn off.”
“You really are a criminal, aren’t you?” Better that than an officer. A girl can dream.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but for the thousandth time,no. I am not a criminal,” he says in that matter-of-fact deep voice of his.
He continues to adjust the hood until it shadows his face to his liking. When he’s finished, all I can see is his jaw covered in a day’s growth of stubble. But I think that even if I saw him covered in his cloak, I’d recognize his long stride, broad shoulders, and tall stature. He’s not one to be easily disguised, with how his confident presence nearly radiates off him.
I continue to watch him, curious. “So you admit to using a charm all this time.”
He looks my way, likely gauging if I’m upset with him again.
“They don’t work on me, you know,” I divulge the secret. I’d bet all the money I make on this contract that no one knows that small, almost useless, detail about the Black Tulips.
He stops walking. “…and you didn’t recognize me?”
“Should I have?” I laugh. “You’re just an officer, not theking. Even then, I’ve never seen him, so I guess I wouldn’t know.” I shrug.
The muscles of his jaw clench—a sign that I’ve hit a nerve.Does he really think he’s so important that commoners such as myself would recognize one of the high king’s glorified soldiers? He needs to leave Moneyre more.
Out of habit, I move to put my hand on my short sword, but it slides off the empty leather sheath. “I don’t have a sword,” I whisper, followed by a groan as I consider how much it’s going to cost to buy one.
I grabbed an extra dagger from Mama Tina’s that I intended to sell in my future shop, figuring I needed it now more than my future shop does, but I’ve never had the funds to purchase extra swords to keep on hand.
Ikar interrupts my worried thoughts. “I’ll take care of it.”
Of course he heard.
I want to yank the hood off his head so I can see his face. Is this mybosstalking, or the man I recently kissed offering to buy me a weapon?
“Consider it part of the job,” he adds.
Well that answersthat. I refuse to be disappointed. I can be professional, too.
“Thank you. I’ll return it when we’re finished,” I respond primly.
He doesn’t acknowledge my gratitude. “Have you ever used an enchanted weapon?”
I shake my head, refusing to remind him out loud how poor I am, and decide to change the subject. “How long will we be in Moneyre?”
