A Girl in Black and White (Alyria 2)

City folk from the Northside were trickling into the golden arches of the palace, while some were leaving to walk the streets. Lanterns lit the night, the stars bigger and brighter as if they’d been pulled closer to the land just for the ball.

Untouchables stood in formation around the palace, their dark eyes taking everything in from the slit in the white cloth covering them from head to toe.

The king’s guard clashed with the Untouchables, each of them glancing in the other’s direction with the same look: you don’t belong here.

I leaned against an iron lantern, watching the flock of people flit from here and there while debating if I should go in. The day and my actions were colliding in my head. I vaguely remembered the highlights, but everything else blurred like I’d been in a hazy world created by a dark intoxicant. I wanted to go lock myself in my room until it passed, but I didn’t know when Agnes was returning from her meeting; she’d been gone all day, and I didn’t want her to suspect me of ditching the ball that any girl my age would kill to attend. It was hard enough hiding this darkness—I didn’t want to bring any more attention to myself.

After Roldan left, I had to compel a servant to clean up the blood in the main drawing room, and, the Titan had, in fact, trailed it in the house. I didn’t know if I made the best decision in getting my revenge because once this magic wore off, I vowed never to use it again. When I was alone, it felt as if I was sinking further in each minute. And I knew I couldn’t protect myself as a normal Sister, not from him. Let’s just hope he decided we were even and he’d move on. Though, I couldn’t stop the uncertainty of how far he would go to convince me to open the seal.

A quiet rustle of wings brought my gaze to a nearby lantern, where a crow sat perched on top, his eyes on me. I paused, having an inkling of unease, but I brushed it off when I noticed Maxim walking out of a palace archway, stopping to speak to one of his guards. When he looked up and saw me leaning against a lantern, he observed me with a frown before heading my way.

He stood before me, dressed in a white, short-sleeved jerkin, white pants, and leather boots. My eyes fixated on the silver buttons on his shirt and belt . . . the orange lantern light hit it just right—

“What are you wearing?”

I was sucked out of my trance. It seemed the silver pull was a little stronger while dark. How convenient. His words processed, and I glanced down at myself. “It’s the newest style.”

“Looks like you stole it right off a barmaid.”

It did. It really did. I looked like a cheap working woman. Sunny had gone all out with it, in the worst way.

“Everyone likes barmaids.” I picked a piece of lint off my sleeve.

“That’s because they’re free with their favors, not because of what they wear. Though, now that I think about it, it isn’t so bad,” he added in an amused drawl.

“Go away, Maxim. You’re a traitor, and you’re ruining my quiet.”

“You’re at my palace telling me to go away?”

“It’s not yours, you stole it. And not even in an honorable way,” I said, thinking about how he snuck his men in at night while the king was away.

“What happened to the ‘milords?’ I preferred that.”

“I’m sure you did. Why are you being nice? Aren’t you cross you didn’t get your vote?”

He smiled deliciously—I mean, devilishly. “I got it.”

My eyes narrowed. “How?”

“How did you put it, ‘It’s my business, none of yours?’”

I had a feeling it was very much my business, but I didn’t respond, or we’d talk circles around each other for an hour.

Maxim held his arm out in a silent invitation to walk me in.

I raised a brow. “And make you be seen with a barmaid? How could I tarnish your inflated, self-indulgent reputation?” I put my hand over my heart in concern.

“It’ll survive. I merely do not trust you out here.”

“Even at the risk of touching me after last night?”

His gaze didn’t waver. “I’ve seen a lot in my life. A busty, slightly mad wench doesn’t worry me.”

“No,” I said matter-of-factly. “I im

agine you have a few of those in your harem.”

My gaze caught on two king’s guards trading places with another, and a smile brightened my face. Joining Maxim’s side, I linked my arm in his. “Fine. But we have to go in over there.” I pointed in the direction.