Callista tapped her foot, and she huffed. “Did you believe we were unaware of their presence?”
“Not at all. I mean…” Thalia’s weight shifted from one foot to the other. Of course the Queen had been unaware. If she’d been aware, she would have sent out her guards to capture Adrian and Charles. “I only meant—they were alone. In the hall near the holding cells. I tracked them.”
“I would hardly call what you do tracking. Now, if you please”—Callista began to shut the door—“I must return to more pressing matters.”
Thalia shot out a hand to stop the door from closing. Her cheeks and forehead cooled, a stony mask of dignity freezing her face. Callista was going to listen.
“There is someone else, too,” Thalia said. “A spirit elemental.”
My heartbeat roared in my ears. How could Thalia possibly know? I inhaled slowly through my nose, trying to slow my vitals as to not drown out the thoughts I invaded. I needed to hear their plan if I was to take action wisely.
Callista stepped aside, sweeping her arm in invitation. “Fine,” she said in a measured tone. “Come in.”
The lights brightened, and Thalia’s eyes widened at the polished marble flooring. Golden light reflected off the floors and highlighted the papered walls: sanguine panels with gold-leaf designs. A grandiose crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. Parlor chairs with scrolled legs and deep-buttoned chaise lounges upholstered with deep red and royal blue velvet adorned the room, barely clad men and women sprawled on their cushions.
Thalia made a contrived effort to conceal her amazement—oh, how she coveted each item, how she envied the very air the Queen breathed. She returned her gaze to Callista, but the Queen quickly turned and glided over to four young men who stood at attention.
They were the elders of the Maltorim, each in their early teens, some appearing even younger than the Queen. All shared the same pallid skin and coal black eyes and dressed in the same draping black robes with wide sleeves. Callista indicated a parlor chair, but Thalia remained standing.
“Tell me,” Callista said, still facing the other Maltorim members. Her body stilled, not even a twitch of a muscle or a sway of her stance. “How do you know this witch you speak of?”
“She found my coterie. She’s been with Charles since at least October.”
“Here it is March,” Callista chided, “and you hadn’t alerted us sooner?”
Thalia rummaged for an excuse—something to cover her selfish ploy to gain a place on the Maltorim, an excuse that would cover how she’d wasted time trying to find a way to personally deliver us to the Queen.
“We didn’t learn until recently,” she finally offered.
Callista growled and spun toward Thalia. “You just told me they have been together since autumn! Why had you not told me when I visited the States?”
Thalia bowed slightly in effort to soothe Callista. “My Queen, we only recently learned of their true natures. When you visited—in September—we weren’t aware of her then. Once we were, it would have taken too long to wait for one of your trackers to be sent.” The first statement was said in truth, but Thalia was uncertain of her final remark. She hoped to draw attention to herself as a suitable tracker for the Maltorim.
Callista sneered. “So it is then. Where is this girl now?”
“Here, I believe.”
“You believe, or you know? Can you not track her, Thalia?”
“She doesn’t have a real scent, she—”
“What?”
“She has a scent. What I mean is, it’s weak.”
“Everyone’s scent is weak to you,” Callista replied, rolling her eyes.
“No,” Thalia said sharply. “Hers is distinct. Just mild.”
“Distinct?” Callista’s eyebrow rose pointedly.
Thalia steeled herself against the Queen’s words. “Yes, distinct. You know, the way the forever girls are said to smell. Not human, and yet, not immortal, either.”
Had she really been able to tell that much that night in the alley? That would mean she’d known before Charles or me. No wonder she’d said I would be valuable.
“You cannot just toss that around, Thalia. A forever girl.” Callista scoffed. She stared into the distance a moment, then her eyebrows pulled together and she lifted her gaze. “Truly?”
“I am certain,” Thalia said. “I will bring her to you to see for yourself.”
“See that you do not return without her.” She started to pace away, but turned around once more. “Alive, mind you,” she said with a sickly-sweet smile. “I want to meet this…witch.”
Thalia bowed briefly. “One more thing, my Queen….”
“Say it.”
“If I bring you this girl, Charles’ fate is mine to decide.”
Callista narrowed her eyes. “Fine. Though you must wait until we have extracted the information necessary to unlock the key.”