Page 74 of Queen of the Night
“…like the moon,” I say slowly.
I’d forgotten that Jethonan had mentioned something about that at the beginning of all this.
Jethonan retrieves a familiar book from the shelf near the tall windows across the room. The same book he’d shown me before. He opens to a page, then flips a few more, then begins reading and grunting to himself before slapping the book closed. It was hardly enough time for him to have even read anything.
“She’s a Black Tulip,” he says decisively. “I double-checked for your peace of mind, Your Majesty, as I’ve known from the moment she left my office the evening before your Lucent Mountain journey. She obliterated the gloam I had planned to use for experimentation, seemingly byaccident.”
I do recall him acting strangely that night, but that’s not unusual for Jethonan. What if it just escaped due to her messing with the lid? I find his arguments are convincing, but still, doubts linger.
I stand before one of the windows, fold my arms across my chest, and look out over the tiny bits of glowing light that shine amongst the shops and along the streets in the darkness of night. “Explain to me why my magic didn’t recognize her until the middle of our journey.”
“There is an explanation; it just has to be found,” Jethonan says, sounding overly patient. “Why don’t you find her and ask?”
I laugh sardonically. “Another problem I haven’t yet mentioned. She saw my mark, and to say she wasn’t happy is an understatement. She ran as soon as we returned.”
Jethonan moves behind his desk and tinkers with a twisty, curling glass tube as a bright-colored liquid sluggishly moves through.“Yet another piece of evidence to indicate our assumption is correct.”
He’s right. But I can’t let go of the question I previously posed, and will again.
“Again, why did my magic not recognize her until two days ago?” Exasperation bleeds through my voice now.
Jethonan gives an overly patient sigh as he flicks a piece of his equipment a few times, and suddenly green liquid begins to pour from a miniscule spout and into a bowl. “My lord, thereare ways for a person to hide their magic. It is uncommon, as it is usually quite unnecessary, but surely possible. I can inquire?—”
“No.” I sigh. “It won’t be necessary. You are correct that we have enough evidence to assume sheisa Black Tulip.”
I quit fighting the painful truth. After everything we’d been through together, knowing how much I needed the help of a Black Tulip, still she hid? Told half-truths? Refused to trust me? Betrayal as hot as a knife taken straight from the fire stabs me in the chest.
I run a hand through my hair. “All this time…”
Jethonan stands, giving me his full attention now. “Trust is more easily gained with patience and kindness than anger and retaliation, my lord.”
Then my expression has given me away, again. Or maybe it’s my fists, now clenched so tightly my knuckles have turned white, but words intended to calm enrage me further.
“She lied to me!” I shout so loudly I can feel the veins in my temple bulge. “She knew, andstillshe lied. Concealed her identity and led me to believe my magic was broken. Refused to give me a tulip from the field,” I say through gritted teeth. “Even after she knew I wouldn’t kill her.”
“Ah, yes. And that right there is the question:Doesshe know that?” Jethonan asks.
Further words of anger boil up, and I’m ready to defend myself. My kingdom is on the brink of destruction and this troublesome, stubborn, beautiful woman may very well lead to my downfall.
“Please release the sword, I have no weapon to protect myself with.” Jethonan eyes my hand warily, where I find it wrapped around the hilt tightly.
Ilook up at him with a glare. I feel justified in my feelings, and I allow my anger to grow, fanning its flames until it’s an inferno. I’m ready to stalk from this room and head to the training grounds, sure I’ll find someone to battle with to burn off my anger.
But words of pain keep falling from my lips. “She watched me at the Field of Tulips as I waited torturously when she could have given me one all along. She knew…”My plan.
The plan where I approach Lucentia. I don’t say it aloud because at this point, it may be all that’s left for me.
“She knew what?” Jethonan asks, curious.
I shake my head.
Jethonan takes that as permission to continue, warily eyeing my sword. “Keep in mind, their entire magical faction was, at one time, murdered simply for the fact they were Black Tulips. By a king and his originators, no less.”
He bends to adjust the heat of a blue flame beneath a tiny pot as bright-green liquid steadily drips, makingtingingnoises that fill the silence.
My first inclination is to argue, but then I remember the look of stark, genuine fear on her face in the velvet widow cave after she’d seen my mark. How it lingered in her gaze ever after. How she reacted when Darvy, Rhosse, and I were trying to remember the list of names. A list of names that likely included hers.
I release my sword hilt and collapse into an overstuffed chair near the windows. The flames of anger still lick at my pride, but mostly all that’s left is hurt and weariness.
