Renegades (Hotbloods #3)

“We’d better hope Yorrek does come,” Navan murmured as we stood in one of the small annex rooms that looked out over the gardens. It had been three days since my bathroom visit with the queen, and preparations were well underway for the garden party, with coldbloods running around like headless chickens, carrying crates of lights and boxes of glittering decorations. The national holiday had been announced the morning after I’d spoken with Queen Brisha, to a truly joyful reception from her people, and now the day had come.

In the streets, brightly colored ornaments were being strung up, and lanterns hung from every available space. Once darkness fell, it would look beautiful. Even now, it looked like something out of a fairytale, with Vysantheans rushing around, calling to one another, smiling broadly. Musicians set up in the squares that connected streets together. Everyone seemed happy, and part of me wished I could be out there among the common folk, enjoying the evening without a care in the world.

Instead, the group of us had been asked to attend the queen’s private garden party, where the alchemists had all been invited as honored guests. A high table had been arranged at the end of one of the sprawling, deep green lawns, where they would be required to sit for speeches and drinks. It was this table that my eyes were set on as I gazed from the annex window.

“There’s no way he’ll refuse her invite,” I replied. “If he does, he could lose his job, and I think that scares him more than any potential stalker.”

Navan nodded. “Do you think he might be right?” he asked after a moment, his eyes trailing a skinny young coldblood as he tripped with a box of lights. “About someone stalking him?”

I shrugged. “I’ve got no idea. From what Bashrik and Angie have been saying, he’s a bit of a kook, but there must be a reason he’s barricaded himself inside like that.”

“And you’re absolutely positive Queen Brisha has invited him here?” Navan pressed, his brow furrowed.

I nodded. “She caught me in the corridor yesterday, and I asked if she’d invited all the alchemists. She said yes. I can only assume that means Yorrek, too. He’s one of her best. There’s no way he won’t come,” I reassured him, though I didn’t feel as confident as I sounded. I knew there was a chance Yorrek could stay in his fort, refusing to come out, even if it cost him his job.

“I hope you’re right,” Navan said.

“Me too.” I grimaced. “Can we go over the plan again, one more time?” I asked, trying to recall every point we’d discussed the night before, in the sanctuary of Angie and Lauren’s chambers. The others hadn’t been entirely happy about what I’d done—Bashrik had nearly torn out his own hair—but they understood the reason. At least, I hoped they did. Angie, at least, had spoken to me over breakfast, which I had taken as a good sign.

“Bashrik is going to distract the queen with his smooth moves, though Rask knows what they are, while Lauren keeps a lookout for anyone who might be after Yorrek. The last thing we want is someone else snatching him while we’re trying to,” Navan said wryly, making me chuckle. “Then we’re going to separate Yorrek from the herd, and get him to follow us into this room, where Angie will be waiting to tie him up. I’ll administer the hypnosis serum, and we’ll ask him questions until we get the intel we need. After that, we erase his memory with the Elysium I so valiantly pilfered from the military surgery ward, and it’s a job well done, all around,” he concluded dramatically, cupping his hands over his mouth to make the sound of hushed applause.

“It sounds so easy when you put it like that,” I murmured, staring out into the gardens. We were only one floor up, but nobody could see us here, though we could see everything going on below.

Navan grinned. “It will be easy. What could possibly go wrong?”

“You had to say it, didn’t you?” I muttered. He put his arms around me, leaning his forehead against mine.

“Nothing like a bit of overconfidence,” he said.

“Yeah, until it gets us killed,” I said, only half joking. “And you’re sure the hypnosis serum is finished? You cooked it all up?”

He chuckled, raising his brows with irreverence. “‘Cooked it all up?’”

“Well, I don’t know how you make a potion, smartass,” I said, nudging him in the stomach. “I presume there’s some cookery involved?”

“It’s more like being a mad professor,” he explained. “But yes, you can rest assured that the serum is all finished. It’s a good one too, by the looks of it. Bashrik almost started spilling every secret he’s ever had with just a whiff of the stuff.”

I nodded, taking a deep breath. “I suppose we’d better get moving,” I said reluctantly, unfurling myself from his arms.

“Can I see the dress Queen Brisha sent up for you?” Navan asked with a wink.

“I haven’t even seen it yet. You’ll see it at the party,” I said, pouting playfully. We exited the annex room, locking it behind us with the key Navan had stolen, before heading upstairs to our rooms.

We parted ways in the elevator, as I stepped off at the floor with Angie and Lauren’s apartment on it, while he went on up to our chambers, where Bashrik was meeting him, so they could get suited and booted.

I was eager to see my friends again, especially with such an exciting night ahead. It would also be stressful and downright nerve-racking, yes, but I couldn’t remember the last time we’d all gotten dressed up to go out together, and I figured we should all try to enjoy it as much as we could. In Vysanthe, we had to take advantage of every bit of levity we could find. We’d go crazy with the pressure we were all under, otherwise.

I rapped at the door. A moment later, I heard rustling in the apartment as somebody approached. Angie opened it with gusto, ushering me in and handing me a glass flute filled with something pale and sparkling.

I sniffed it warily.

“Relax, it’s not alcoholic,” Angie chuckled, taking a sip of her own. Still dubious, I did the same, soon realizing that she was telling the truth. It was a sweet, sparkling drink, but I couldn’t taste any hint of alcohol.