Niya’s pulse thumped a new beat of readiness, an unknown patience keeping her seated and waiting.
She hesitantly allowed herself to glance at Alōs. He was once again in conversation with the princess in her new diadem.
His smile was charming, but there, edging the corners, was the twist of a jackal’s grin.
Their old games might have ended, but new ones had just begun.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Alōs waited in the shadows of an alcove, a spiral column his separation from the plush-rugged hall that stretched out on either side. The royal wing sat quiet, save for the pacing guards: groups of two every quarter sand fall.
His breaths were even, but his cool magic twisted quickly through his veins along with his growing anticipation. This was it. This would be his final act to allow him to sever his responsibilities to the kingdom that had banished him.
He could dare to dream of sailing untethered, a truly free man, into the open waters.
Yet even at the thought, Alōs winced, feeling that never-ending tug deep in the center of his frozen heart.
Ariōn, it whispered. You could never truly leave Ariōn.
Couldn’t he, though? I have done far worse, he thought.
The sudden weight of guilt that fell upon his shoulders was momentarily distracted by the black line of the binding bet along his wrist growing hot. As it always did when she drew near.
There was a new jump in his magic, readiness solidifying as a blur of red hair slid into the alcove where he stood. He inhaled the scent of honeysuckle as Niya pressed herself in close beside him, sharing his shadows as the soft material of her wrap dress brushed against his hand.
Alōs was momentarily dashed back into her shared bedchamber from earlier tonight, where they’d stood alone in a sea of plush bedding. He had caught the tail end of the message from her family, saw the track of tears on her cheek. Something heavy and rather uncomfortable had shifted within his chest then. For he was quite certain he did not like it.
Despite their tumultuous history, Alōs had never seen the fire dancer cry.
Not even when he’d known he would be breaking her heart.
Or had come to collect for the secrets he knew of her.
Or had been forced to lay a whip to her skin.
Niya had remained a statue of contained power, a lost god staring him in the eye, silently promising her own retribution greater than any pain he might have laid upon her that day.
It was enough to take anyone’s breath away.
Bring a lesser monster than he to his knees in a plea for forgiveness.
But Alōs had not been seeking to be forgiven, only to be forgotten.
“Did any see you approach?” he asked Niya, his attention returning to where they claimed shadows deep within the mountain palace.
“Would I be standing here if they had?” she asked, her blue eyes dancing, alive and excited as they met his. “You’re not the only one who can hide behind columns.”
Alōs ignored her jab. “The guards appear to be on double patrol tonight.”
“A smart order,” said Niya. “Since pirates do roam about.”
“Yes,” mused Alōs. “But their caution forces ours. We must be quick and quiet. Kintra said the crown was brought to the princess’s quarters, which are down the hall to the left. Two guards stand outside at all times.”
Niya nodded. “That shouldn’t be a problem.”
“No,” he agreed, “but we don’t know where it is kept within her rooms. It could be in a safe or simply sitting out on her dressing table.”
“Shall we place a bet on where we’ll find it?” Her white grin gleamed bright even in the dark.
Alōs shook his head and, despite his earlier somber mood, found himself smiling in return. “You truly are your own worst enemy.”
“Says my actual enemy.”
His eyes found hers once more. “I thought we had made peace, fire dancer?”
“Yes, but habits are hard to break.”
“So I am your habit?” Alōs arched a brow. How impossible she made it not to flirt.
“Don’t flatter yourself,” she said. “Now, shall we talk more or finish this?”
“How close do you need to be to trance the guards properly?”
“I could do it from here,” said Niya, “but it’s best if I can see them first.”
Alōs peered out of their alcove. The hall extending to the princess’s wing remained empty. Large flaming bowls lined the way on either side, dancing light and shadows along the painted murals. There would be no columns to hide behind after this. They would be prey running across a barren field.
“All right,” Alōs murmured. “Let’s get closer.”
Alōs moved from their safe, shadowed corner and slid silently down the corridor, Niya quick on his heels.
He had left the party at its height, the dancing and music growing quick and heady. The princess was spinning about with lords and ladies of her court, and the king and queen had long since gone off to bed. All parties properly distracted from Alōs and his whereabouts as he disappeared from the banquet.
“Wait,” whispered Niya, coming to a stop beside him. “I think I feel someone approach . . . a group.”
Alōs cursed. “How close?”
“Close,” said Niya, beginning to retrace their steps. “They must have come from the princess’s rooms. I wasn’t able to sense their movements until now. The stone walls are thick in this mountain palace.”
Alōs looked down the hall behind them. They had traveled far from the alcove.
“They’re almost here,” said Niya, fire flickering alive in her palms. “We won’t have time to run back the other way. We’ll have to fight them.”
“No. We cannot risk raising any alarms.” He pulled them beside one of the flaming bowls. “Can you trance them?”
Niya’s gaze went out of focus for a moment, her magic slipping from her, orange mist testing air. “Yes,” she began, “but . . . I fear a few have the gifts. I don’t have time to make it subtle; they will know something was done to them once my spell breaks.”
Alōs could hear a rumble of approaching voices now, see forms turning into their hall from the far end. A foreign sense of panic seized him as he locked eyes with Niya.
By the stars and sea, he thought, I must be mad for attempting this. But it was the quickest way he knew how to hide in plain sight. “Don’t hurt me,” he warned, crowding Niya until her back hit up against the wall.
The flames beside them reflected in her startled eyes.
“Hurt you? Why would—?”
“I’m going to kiss you, okay?”
Her eyes snapped wide, palms pressing against his chest. “You most certainly w—”
“We have to,” he quickly urged, hearing their guests getting closer and closer. “Lovers are never considered threats, while roaming pirates—”
“Lovers? You’ve lost your—oy! Don’t touch me there!” she hissed, knocking away the hand angling for her waist.
“I have to.” He placed his slapped hand on the wall beside her head instead, his large form enveloping her further. “As you said, you cannot currently spell them without them learning of it later, and we cannot fight, for that will surely raise alarms. So unless you can think of another way to get out of why two pirates are in these very off-limits quarters of the young princess—”
“You there!” a voice called toward them as Niya’s eyes held his. Time stilled as he watched a barrage of thoughts and feelings tumble through their blue depths.
But Alōs had not gotten this far, gone through so much, to be caught. He would not be stopped this night. Niya had to understand this. Her own fate hung in the balance as well.
“Please,” he whispered. His last attempt.
“Halt! You are not meant—”
But the rest of the guard’s words were lost as Niya pulled Alōs down to her lips.
They were soft and full, just as he remembered, yet her body was seized in tension, her grip hard on his arms, nails digging into his skin. Alōs held steady. They were two roaring waves fighting for dominance. But this time, Alōs no longer wanted to fight.