A Queen of Thieves & Chaos (Fate & Flame, #3)

“A mortal baker in a queen’s chamber. Mark this day for yourself. I know I will.” Corrin sweeps into the bathing room, a white gown and robe draped over her arm.

I huddle in the grand tub, centered in a luxurious marble room that is truly fit for a queen and not me, my weary body begging for rest even as my mind is wired with worry. “Is she asleep?” I fed Suri while the bath was drawing. Hopefully, that will hold her over until dawn.

“Sound as a nethertaur, underground.”

“You are comparing my child to a Nulling beast?”

“Your sweet baby? Never. That boy of yours, however …” She snorts. “Do you need help?”

“No, I think I’ve found the last of the straw and vomit. If you wouldn’t mind passing me that towel.”

Corrin collects it, but instead of handing it to me as I climb out, she begins drying me off.

It earns my laugh. “I can do that myself.”

“I know you can, but it has been an eternity since I helped anyone in this chamber. Princess Romeria did not care for any assistance at all. Though, she was never your typical elven royalty, was she,” she adds, more to herself.

Corrin may not speak about the exiled king and Princess Romeria, but I sense she is loyal to them. What might she know of Princess Romeria’s secrets?

Clearly the princess has a few. Somehow, she got into a city under lock, and with a new face and coins that bear the mark of the tainted. As far as Kazimir’s description of the caster and the legionary, the looming warrior at Romeria’s side when she came to the stable must be one and the same, and her hands were covered in blood. The more I think about it, the more I believe Boaz was right about coincidences—though wrong about intentions.

It is all far too coincidental.

Which means Princess Romeria saved Atticus’s life, even though many could argue he doesn’t deserve her grace. How would Atticus feel, knowing this? Would it change his opinion of her?

“Is the priestess finished?”

“I have not been there to check. I cannot imagine she will have the energy to continue too long tonight, though. They have been running her ragged, marking all these mortals, day and night. I hope she has enough in her for the king. Here, this should fit you well.” She holds up the gown.

“It’s beautiful.” I test the material with my fingertips. It’s made of silk with a wide collar and a delicate lace overlay across the waist. “I have never seen anything so fine.”

“It was Princess Romeria’s.”

I pull my hand away as if burned. “Oh, I couldn’t—”

“She will not mind, believe me.” She eases it over my head. “A more generous heart for mortals, I have not seen before.”

I slip my arms through the holes. The material tumbles to the floor.

“Take a look.” Corrin gestures to the dressing mirror.

Even with only candlelight to illuminate the reflection, I feel transformed. Elegant, the silk subtly clinging to my curves. “I should hope Kazimir approves.”

“Do not play games with me. There is only one immortal you seek approval of, and you will surely get it in that. I will not bother with more warnings because you will not listen to me.” She gives me a knowing look before collecting my soiled dress from the marble floor.

But my mind is still lingering on the princess—on why she was here. “They are saying there is a caster within Cirilea, and she was there when His Highness fell.”

Corrin’s hands stall. “They did not recognize her?”

“No. Kazimir said he’s never seen her before. She was with a legionary, and she tried to heal Atticus before the king’s guard arrived and they ran.”

“I imagine they will find her soon enough.” She examines my soiled dress. “Well, it isn’t a wonder the captain sent you in here.”

I get the sense Corrin is dismissing the topic intentionally, but I don’t push. We both have our secrets and perhaps it’s best to keep them that way.

“The laundress should be able to get the stains out.” Digging into the pocket, she pulls out the baby booties. “What are these?”

“Oh! Just someone thought I might like them.” I scramble over a suitable lie. “One of Dagny’s girls.”

“That was nice of them. They’ll keep Suri’s feet warm at night.” She sticks her hand in the other pocket.

I suck in a gasp as she pulls out the gold coin and holds it up to the light. I’d forgotten about it.

Her eyes dart to me but she doesn’t say a word as she strolls over to the bathing chamber door, to chuck the soiled dress out while doing a quick scan. Seemingly satisfied, she pulls the door shut again and marches back, holding the coin between us, the double crescent moon facing me. “Who gave this to you, and do not dare lie to me, Gracen. I cannot protect you and your children if you do.”

I swallow my growing anxiety. “From Princess Romeria. Queen Romeria now, apparently. Of some kingdom.”

Corrin’s eyebrows climb halfway up her forehead. “She was here? Inside the castle?”

“By the stables, when I went to look for Mika. It was her, but she had a mask on to disguise herself. Silver when it was off and a new face when it was on. It was like nothing I’ve ever seen.”

“A fates’ token, surely.” Corrin’s hands wring with her thoughts. “And the exiled king? Did you see him?”

“No. Just her, the warrior, and a young mortal named Pan. Very friendly. He’s the one who gave me the coin and the booties, from an old friend in Freywich.”

“You said a kingdom. Where?”

“High in the mountains, near the rift. Pan called it Ulysede.”

“They traveled all the way back down here?” She purses her lips with doubt.

“I do not know. We had so little time to speak. They were running from the king’s guard. Her hands were covered in blood.” I drop my voice even lower. “I think she was the one who saved Atticus, Corrin.”

Corrin bites her bottom lip. “Yes.”

I knew it. “Now it is your turn to speak truth. What do you know about this?”

“Far more than I wish I did.” She sighs. “They are one and the same.”

My mouth gapes. “You mean Her Highness is a caster?”

“Yes, a powerful one, though no one here knows that. No one, except Wendeline, and she has suffered greatly to keep that secret.”

Wendeline. “Her Highness gave me a message for the priestess that I must pass on.”

“About what?”

Tell her we had it wrong and the door is already open, but the prophecy is real.

I falter. “It is best I do not repeat it. I do not want you complicit in this.”

Corrin’s face tightens. “Be very careful, Gracen. If the king suspects you are conspiring with her—”

“I’m not! Truly! And her message didn’t sound like that. It was about prophecy.”

“It will not look like nothing to the king, and certainly not to Boaz.” She shakes her head, tucking the gold coin in her pocket. “I will keep this for now. I do not want you caught with it.”

“But it is obvious that Her Highness does not mean the king harm.”

“Is it?”

“She saved him! Why else would she do that? Maybe if Atticus knew it was Romeria—”