Gleam (The Plated Prisoner 3)

Adequately dismissed, I waste no time turning and fleeing the building, the growled chirps of the animals following in my wake. When I exit through the stone archway, my ears pop, like I just passed through her magical sound bubble.

As I rush back to the castle, my head is in chaos, panic gripping me at Queen Kaila’s conversation—at her terrifying power.

Midas just might have met his match with her.

I need to tell Slade and the others what happened, but I don’t dare try to sneak out without Lu, and I don’t know where the messenger hawks are being kept. I really wish we’d come up with a way to communicate with each other for instances like this, but for now, I’ll have to wait until I see Slade tomorrow night in the library.

For right now though, I have to try and save someone who loathes me. I’m not sure if that discussion is going to be any better than the one I just had.

Mist might hate me, but I hope that hate will dim in the light of my warning. Because if it doesn’t...her life, and the life of her unborn babe, are in danger of being snuffed out.

Chapter 39

AUREN

The problem with my mind being so frantic is that I forget just how late it is. I make it to the saddles’ wing, only to be barred from entry. There are two guards sitting there, both of whom I recognize as the usual ones watching over the saddles’ door. The gray-haired grumpy one and the younger blond with the patchy beard, who I’ve just permanently decided to call Grump and Patch in my head.

Grump shakes his head as I approach. “Can’t let you in, my lady.”

“I know it’s late, I just need to speak with—”

“None of the saddles are here anyway, Miss,” Patch tells me.

All my bluster blows out of me in a puff of disappointment. “Where are they?”

Patch scratches his jaw absently, his golden armor gleaming despite the darkness of the corridor. “In town. King’s orders. They were sent to...entertain some of Third Kingdom’s visiting dignitaries.”

My shoulders crumple in misfortune. “Okay. Sorry to disturb,” I murmur before turning away.

Behind me, the guards have an exchange, and when I hear shuffled footsteps, I look over my shoulder to find that Grump is following me. When I frown at him, he says, “You shouldn’t be walking at this time of night alone. I’m surprised the king doesn’t have a whole legion with you at all times.”

My smile is tight. “He’s happy to give me a bit more freedom these days,” I say before I turn back around, hoping like hell he won’t report this to Midas and find out just how badly I’m lying. However, I’m not actually breaking the rule. It’s still dark out, which means I’m allowed out of my rooms so long as I have a guard...which I now do. Sneaking out part notwithstanding.

“Shall I bring you back to your rooms?”

I shake my head. “I need to speak with someone.”

“At this hour?” he asks.

“The king asked me to tell her something.”

That shuts him up, which is good, because my nerves are frazzled enough as it is. I was hoping I could’ve spoken with Rissa about this, but since she’s not here, I have no choice but to go directly to Mist.

Keeping my steps quiet, I try to tamp down my driving need to run. I don’t like this castle at night. It makes the glassed-in walls cast off a dark reflection of my silhouette, like a specter to mirror my movements in sinister intent. No matter how much I try to brush it off, I swear I can still hear the disembodied voices of Lu and me replaying in my head.

Remembering the way to Mist’s rooms is a little bit difficult, but I somehow manage it without getting lost. It’s just my luck too, considering I’m dreading the confrontation.

There’s one guard walking his rounds on her corridor, but he doesn’t try to intercept us once he notices me. Stopping in front of her door, I take a deep breath and try to steel my spine. I’m not sure it works.

Not wanting to prolong this, I raise my hand and rap on the wooden door. Once. Twice. By the third time, the guards are looking at me like I’m crazy, but I don’t stop. I just keep knocking persistently, louder and louder, my mind racing.

When I’m practically pounding on it with my fist and Mist still doesn’t answer the door, I start to really panic.

Did Queen Kaila already do something to her? Is she lying in there right now, body already growing cold?

The door suddenly wrenches open. “Mist,” I breathe out, relief like a crashing wave that surges past me.

“What the hell are you doing?” she snarls, hastily closing her robe as she ties a knot at the front, clearly disheveled.