Page 44 of A Taste For Lies (The Apex Kingdom #1)
Chapter 44
TARAN
“ W e have two days until the Samhain masquerade,” Alora states. Her dark hair swishes, and her burgundy dressing robe flares as she paces Maeve’s sitting room in the candlelight. She looks like the wildcat Carter often calls her. “During which time, Taran and I need to cement the link so I can access his power. We need to find a way for me to breach the throne room door, and we have to determine a plan for getting past Rhegar.”
Alora, Maeve, Carter, Astrid and I are conducting this planning session under the cover of night. Alora seems convinced that Mei is on our side, but I won’t take the risk. I'm already taking too many risks with her.
“Also, you can’t be seen outside your room before the ball, as you should still be recovering from the boar attack,” Maeve chimes in.
Alora looks down at her perfectly healed legs as though she’s just realized she’s pacing.
“We could push the heist back,” Carter offers. “I know Samhain is a good opportunity, but there will be more.”
My jaw clenches. On one hand, I’ve been waiting for this night for eight years , and after Ethan, I can’t take another execution. On the other hand…my gaze meets Alora’s. We haven’t yet discussed what will happen after she steals the amulet .
Mine , my stoneclaw growls.
“I can’t stay,” she admits, eyes stuck to mine. “The key master was very clear—his vow of silence only extends for so long. He wants me out of the country when the job is done, and so does the guild master. Eleni already gave the guild our timeline in our first meeting.”
My muscles bulge with the force needed to contain my reaction. “Where will you go?” I bite out.
She winces. “I can’t go back to the Shanterran Guild. Not after connecting with my lynx and showing obvious signs of being an Apex. That would be a poor thanks to give my mentor for his years of support.” She rubs at her breastbone, a habit. Since she awoke, memory restored, the pain has yet to return. “Eleni has always longed to see Thalassar, her homeland. I hoped you might be able to help with passage for us both the night of the heist?” Her big amber eyes turn pleading, and it slices right through me.
Maeve shoots me a concerned look. “The Thalassarian pirates aren’t only rumors. It would be a treacherous journey.”
Alora’s chin drops. “I have nowhere else to go,” she says in a small voice and damn if it doesn’t pierce me to my core.
Stay here! I want to shout, to bellow at the top of my lungs. Stay here with me . But how can she? She’s right. As soon as she accesses her lynx, her days at the palace are numbered. As a recently emerged Apex with barely any control over her gift, there will be no hiding it. I’ve already piqued the court’s interest in her—piqued my father’s interest in her—through my own inability to suppress my feelings. It will be a miracle if this ruse can hold the two days more until Samhain.
“I might know someone,” Carter admits.
Astrid snorts. “Of course you do.”
“He’s a Thalassarian captain. Well, smuggler is more accurate. He docked yesterday. If we make it worth his while, he might be willing to wait until Samhain to depart. You’d be as safe as you can be traveling with him. ”
The Lynx’s head snaps up, her expression alight with hope. “You can give him my payment for the amulet. That is, if I can get an advance?” Her gaze darts to me.
“We’ll take care of it,” Maeve answers after a long pause in which it becomes obvious that I’m incapable of speech.
“Thank you,” Alora breathes. Though she speaks to all of us, her attention is still snagged on me. “I’ll send Mei to make Eleni the offer.” A note of vulnerability enters her tone. “Hopefully, she’ll choose to join me.”
Maeve frowns. “The tailor? Why wouldn’t she?”
A shadow passes over Alora’s face. “The key master said she loves Ravenscrest. That it’s a proper place for her to pursue her talents.” She twists her hands in her dressing gown. “She may not want to brave pirate-infested waters to leave it.”
“She will,” I tell her, my voice guttural. “Eleni loves you. She won’t want to leave your side.” We stare at each other for a long, silent moment.
Maeve clears her throat. “Shall we get on with the planning then? Time is of the essence.”
“We can attempt the linking tomorrow night,” I suggest.
Carter frowns. “That’s cutting it close.”
I shake my head. “I can’t be seen going to her room again, and she can’t be seen leaving it. Smuggling her next door to Maeve’s sitting room in the middle of the night is one thing, getting her across the palace into the Sacred Redwoods is another.”
“It will work,” Alora says, her voice sure. “And it’s a nice-to-have, really. Taran’s already identified the room the amulet is in.” She gives me a tentative smile. “You can also show me how to connect to my lynx. It might not happen tomorrow, but at least I’ll be able to get the basic foundation down so I can practice on my own.”
Actual physical pain cracks my ribcage at the reminder that she’s planning to leave. How am I supposed to accept this?
“Taran?” Her tone is uncertain .
“Yes, of course,” I grit out. “For getting into the room, I have an idea.” I nod to Carter, who reveals two tiny glass-stoppered vials from his pocket.
“I snatched these from Lord Winters’ lair before he fixed his door.” He grins. “Taran can fill them with his blood, and you can use that to get in.”
A measure of relief washes over her face. “Excellent. Now all that’s left is the guard.”
I scowl. “Rhegar. I don’t want you anywhere near him.”
Maeve tilts her head. “It might not be him on duty. That’s why we’re planning it for Samhain. He should be with Lord Winters in the ballroom.”
“Could we ensure that somehow?” Alora asks. “Give him a reason to feel vulnerable and want his guardian at his side? A reason for him to be on time to the masquerade?”
Maeve cuts me a sidelong glance. “The only thing I know that motivates Lord Winters is protecting his daughter from Taran.”
Alora’s eyes darken with what might be jealousy, and my heart leaps in response. One side of my mouth kicks up. “I can work with that. I’ll play the role of the distraction this time, Lady Lynx.”
“She’ll still have to get past another Apex,” Astrid points out. “They won’t leave the amulet unguarded no matter how big a distraction you pull off.”
“Leave that to me,” Alora responds, that clever mind already at work. “Talking my way past guards is something of a specialty of mine.”
“We don’t know what you’ll encounter in the room itself.” Maeve’s mouth sets into a grim line. “It’s a complete unknown.”
“You’re not wrong. But that’s where my training comes in,” the thief assures us. “This is what you hired me for.”
That night in Count Zhao’s study feels like a lifetime ago. Once more, she’s planning to run, and once again, I want nothing more than to chase after her.
An idea forms and takes root. Yes , my stoneclaw growls approvingly. “Very well, Lady Lynx, we’ll defer to your expertise.”
“How will I get the amulet to you once I’ve stolen it?”
“You can use my blood to access the passageway.” I think for a moment. “The closest entrance will be two doors down from the old throne room in the far wall. It’s a sitting room my parents used to use for private meetings. If it’s even in use anymore, it should be empty that time of night, with the masquerade going on.”
“I’ll wait for you there,” Carter tells her. “I can take the amulet and lead you to the ship. Tomorrow morning, I’ll secure your and Eleni’s passage with Captain Ataxas. Maeve can tell you once it’s in place so you can send Mei to the guild.”
“A thorough plan,” Alora says, but her uncertain expression belies her confident words.
I rise to my feet. “Let’s get you back so you can rest.”
“I feel as though that’s all I’ve been doing,” she complains.
Maeve shakes her head. “Need I remind you that you were knocking on the door to the underworld mere days ago?”
I lean out of Maeve’s chambers, quickly checking the hallway for foreign scents.
The tantalizing smell of jasmine winds around me. “Taran, I—”
I give her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, Lady Lynx. We’ll talk more tomorrow night. For now, you need your rest.”
After another moment of hesitation, she follows my direction, slinking to her own suite. My eyes track her until she’s safely ensconced in her own room, then I stride back to my friends.
“Are you alright?” Carter asks me in a quiet tone. Maeve and Astrid wait for my answer, their expressions pitying. Have I been that obvious? I snort inwardly. Of course I have.
“Better than alright,” I respond, a wide grin taking over my whole face. “I’m going with her.”