Page 71 of Queen of the Night
“Wait here,” Lillath instructs. She hustles through the door.
I drop my pack on the floor and lean my back against the wall, uncaring that the state of my clothes has me looking like I just climbed from a river and rolled in the dirt. That awful, lonely, sad feeling is still heavy in my heart, and I can’t bring myself to care about my appearance. Another ache stabs my heart, wishing Ikar was still by my side. I’ve grown used to his steady presence, our banter, teasing him, how safe he makes me feel. The irony—here I am begging for help from the Tulips as I wish myself with the king. I’m a traitor if there ever was one.
A moment later, the door swings open again.
Lillath motions me inside. “Tatania will see you now.”
I push off the wall with a tight smile, grab my pack, and enter the room to find a neat desk that is Lillath’s, but we don’t stop there. She leads me through a connecting door into a larger room with a fancier and larger desk and enormous windows that offer a breathtaking view ofthe forest beyond.
Tatania stands behind the imposing desk, unnaturally still, eyes hard. “Sit.”
I buck at the command, but force myself to sit without argument. I’m supposed to be groveling; apparently, I’m not very good at it.
She takes a seat behind her desk, her gown artfully settling around her, and then she waits.
I swallow, not sure how to begin. “I came to pay the dues… I know they’re late.” I pull the broken bracelet from my pocket and set it on the desk. “But I have the money, and I’m hoping you can help me get my bracelet replaced.”
Her eyes catch on the bracelet with stark disappointment that causes a spike of shame to knife through my chest. “You’ve endangered not only yourself, but your sisters with your rash actions. What is your excuse for choosing not to pay the dues?”
I curse inwardly. How do I explain a choice that even to me sounds blazing idiotic?
I clear my throat. “I gave Renna the money she needed to secure her safety and took a job that paid well enough I can now pay mine.” It’s the truth… without the part where I decided I didn’t want it anymore.
I’m pretty impressed with myself for wording it so well—makes it sound not quite so bad.
Tatania’s expression is stony. “It seems to me you decided you no longer needed the protection of the Tulips. What changed your mind? Why do you find you now need us?”
It sounds horrible when she puts it that way. I see the trap set but can do nothing to avoid it.
“I may have…”Don’t lie. I swallow. “Ididcome in contact with the high king.”
Tatania’s eyes widen in alarm.
I rush to spit out the rest. “He doesn’t know who I am, but I realize the danger now.”
“Hmm.” Her displeasure is almost palpable as she leans forward and adjusts the already perfect placement of parchments on her desk. “Though I’m tempted to leave you to your own devices for the danger you put your sisters in, it would leave the rest of us at further risk. I will send a message to the bracelet charmer, but it may be days, or even weeks, before we get it back.”
So, no warm welcome back, but she’ll get me another bracelet. I should be fine for a few days or weeks, right?
She sits back stiffly, and I cringe at the disapproval in her gaze. “I’ll send a message to Mama Tina once it’s ready. After hearing of the mercenaries in search of us, I’ve sent the other Tulips into hiding. I expect the same of you.”
Another command that riles me. I sift through my pack and pull out the hefty amount of money needed to pay the dues from my pack, sliding it across the desk with a stiff nod. I take her extended silence to mean she’s done with me, and I’m halfway to standing, but I abruptly sit when she speaks again.
“The king,” Tatania says, and my eyes jerk to meet hers. “What did you think of him?” Curiosity flashes in her eyes, though she tries to hide it.
I decide to be honest. “He’s a good one, from what I know.” I hesitate to share the rest, but I figure I should come clean. “He searches for a Black Tulip to bridge with and has the black tulip flower in his possession. It sounds as if he needs one of us to restore lucent for the kingdom.”
Her brows raise and eyes widen simultaneously. “He has a black tulip, you say?” Concern knits a fine line betweenher brows.
I offer a simple nod, because I’m for sure not admitting that I was part of the team to help find it.
“I’m proud that this knowledge didn’t sway you, however you came about it, and that you returned for safety. I’ll send a message to our fellow Tulips with further warning.” She looks at me with an eyebrow quirked. “Though I believe you’re the only one who needs it.”
I press my lips together to keep the saucy words in my mouth from escaping in response to that. But I can’t resist asking, “If one of us doesn’t bridge with him, what will happen to lucent… and gloam?”
Tatania waves a dismissive hand. “The kings made their choice when they killed our sisters and chose to elevate originators.”
I sit up straighter. “It’s just, it seems a little harsh to hold that overthisking and watch gloam slowly eat away our kingdom and?—”
