Page 4 of Forsaken Royals

Luckily, she emerged from the shadows moments later. She was a similar height and build to me, but her hair was strawberry blonde instead of a deeper auburn like mine. We made the clothing swap quickly, and she put the spell on me.

“Woah, careful,” I said, steadying her as she finished.

“I’m good.” She took a deep breath and rested her hand against the alley wall. “It’s just an intense spell, but I’ve done it before. I have a snack ready, and I’m going to bed as soon as I get home. I’ll be good in a bit.”

“Thanks.”

That settled my nerves for a moment. Maybe I’d get through this alive with that strong of a spell.

“Good luck.”

I stepped out of the alley and walked toward the boundary of the palace grounds. Walking as if I were meant to be there was more difficult than I thought it would be. Every inch of my skin crawled with awareness. Was I going too fast? Or too slow?

A few enforcers nodded at me when I walked by, so I was probably overthinking it. I made it to the door and held my breath as I went in. No alarms went off. No enforcers appeared to arrest me. No spell immediately rendered me immobile.

I took another step into the large, empty hallway. Still nothing.

I walked as quickly as I could without arousing any suspicion, then made a left. I’d memorized the layout of the building, but actually being in there was different. It was so opulent, with its heavy, ornate rugs and richly colored walls. Paintings lined the walls, too, mostly portraits of significant fae from history or the Royals’ families. I wanted to take it all in, but I didn’t have a moment to spare.

I wove through the palace undetected until I made it to the area where the vault was. The Lunar who I’d exchanged clothes with had a password spell to the room, which I did with a flick of my hand. My heart nearly exploded out of my chest at the delay between me finishing the spell and the door opening. Hopefully it wasn’t a bad omen.

The vault was tucked away around a corner. I paused, taken aback by the amount of magic pulsating around it. Shit. I closed my eyes and tried to sense how many spells were on it. Every spell left a trace, like a scent in the air, but more skilled fae could minimize that scent to where it was untraceable. I felt at least five traces of magic, all of them from barrier spells—my specialty after all these years of sneaking into places.

It took me longer than I’d hoped to get through the spells, but eventually, the vault popped open. The artifact was right in the middle, on a pedestal, a small golden sword encrusted with jewels along the hilt and sheath. I didn’t feel any additional magic around it, but the kinds of fae who worked for the Royals were probably so good that they’d create a nearly untraceable spell.

I checked my watch again, because I didn’t have any time to waste. I grabbed it and left.

I quickly put the spells back into place, then shoved the sword down the back of my pants. The jacket of my uniform covered up the bulk, or at least, I hoped it did. Using a cloaking spell on it was a risky move. Sometimes fae were so used to using magic to solve our problems that we missed the easier solution right in front of us.

I slipped into the hallway again and nearly choked. Another enforcer was at the far end of the hallway. I froze. Did they see me leave the room out of the corner of their eye? I must have caught his attention, because he looked my way. My stomach leaped into my throat. This was it. It was over. It’d felt too easy, hadn’t it?

But then he waved and kept walking.

The relief was so intense that I nearly dropped to the floor. Instead, I turned on my heel and hauled my ass out of there. I tried not to run once I got outside. The farther I got from the palace, the faster I walked. Finally, I reached the point where I’d exchanged clothes with the Lunar, outside of the palace’s influence.

I did it.I’d pulled it off.

I broke into a run toward my motorcycle and leaped onto it. After turning the key in the ignition, I sped off toward where the Moon Oracle was staying. Checking behind me the entire ride there, I still couldn’t believe that I had done it. I pulled into the underground parking lot and hopped off, the sword digging into my back.

The teenage guard at the door’s eyes widened when he saw me. I had to smile. I hardly believed it, either. A few more young guards ushered me into the Moon Oracle’s room. She sat in a large, soft chair in the corner with a cup of tea, as if she were having a comfortable night in. Her eyebrows rose when I walked in, then even higher when I pulled out the artifact.

“You did it.” The Moon Oracle stood, putting her tea down. She put her hand out, but I pulled the artifact back. “What’s wrong? Can I have the artifact?”

“I need the information on my parents first,” I said. “Then you get it.”

“The information is at my office.” The Moon Oracle took another step toward me, but I took a step back. Her guards sat up, as if they were moments away from hopping to their feet and escorting me out. “I’ll give you the information about your parents tomorrow. The money I promised you is already in your account.”

“But the money was an added bonus to me. I was in it for the information on my parents.” I gripped the sword tighter. “I need to know.”

The Moon Oracle stepped closer, her movements smooth, but the look in her eyes was urgent.

“If we don’t get the artifact now, people will die,” she said. “Please, Arden. This is bigger than just you and me.”

She extended her hand, staring deep into my eyes. Their clear blue shade was almost hypnotic in its intensity. Shehadsaid that the artifact was important, and she’d never let me down before.

“Okay.” I passed her the artifact, and her shoulders relaxed. “Tomorrow morning. First thing at your office.”

“Of course.” She ran her fingers along the sheath of the sword. “First thing tomorrow morning.”

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