Page 7 of Her Blind Deception (The Dark Reflection #2)

Chapter Seven

I felt some regret as I approached the quarters housing my delegation, my quarters for three years now. Three wasted years. It was difficult to fathom how it all could have gone so drastically wrong in such a short time. Of course, not even the most senior political advisor could have predicted King Linus would marry his whore, and everything else had fallen like a line of dominos. Though, this latest development explained everything. And finally, finally, I had to concede that it was time to go.

Servants scattered as I passed, bowing and curtseying, all dressed in the livery of the Brimordian royal household. I was tired of the colour purple, tired of this miserable city, tired of the way they splashed their druthi magic around on cleaning products and lighting like they had endless amounts of it. Which they did, given that they controlled access to the Yawn and the fall spawn market. I would have controlled it if I’d married Gwinellyn and ascended the throne as I’d meant to, and I could have offered my people some of the riches Brimordia was currently squandering. I’d been so close.

I flicked a hand at the man shadowing me, and he drew to the side to wait as I opened the door to my bedchamber. I slammed it behind me, making the woman waiting in the receiving room jump out of her seat. Senafae was still wearing the dress she’d worn at the play, but her blonde hair was unbound now, swaying about her shoulders. She had a hand to her chest, like I’d scared her.

‘Nightingale,’ I said, reaching out a hand. She approached more cautiously than she used to, as though hesitant to touch me. I stroked a hand down her cheek, displeased with how gaunt she looked. She’d once been radiant, a perfect, shining beauty, but the surgeon I’d found to take care of her pregnancy must have bungled the operation somehow, and her recovery had been imperfect. It was such a shame. ‘Did you learn anything?’

‘I told you I wouldn’t,’ she said. ‘I tried, but she doesn’t trust me anymore.’

‘Then you haven’t been trying hard enough.’ I brushed a lock of hair away from her face. ‘I thought you’d put in more effort. If not for me, then for Logan’s sake.’

‘She’s not a forgiving person.’ It sounded like a whine to me. Sounded like excuses . ‘I pushed her too hard last time we spoke, and she hasn’t forgotten it.’

‘Then you’ll have to build back the trust you’ve lost.’

‘I don’t want to do it anymore.’ She dropped her gaze to the ground, as though the lack of eye contact could make the words seem any less hostile. ‘It makes me feel like dirt, to be her friend and work to undermine her.’ We’d had this conversation before. She said she wanted me to be king so that I could have my own court where I could recognise Logan as my son the way my brother wouldn’t allow in Oceatold. But she was increasingly reluctant to do anything about it.

‘So what do you want instead? You want to be her friend for real? You think she’ll want that if she learns about how you spied on her? Or about how you fed Linus stories about her? Or how about how you slipped a nagwis into her bed? You’ve been working to get her out of the palace for too long to turn around and pretend it all away.’

‘Don’t you think it would be better to have her as a real ally?’ she asked desperately. ‘You know she’s in trouble. Why don’t you offer her help?’

My lip curled in revulsion at the idea. I thrust Senafae away from me. ‘She doesn’t deserve help. She defiles the throne by sitting on it, and now… now …’ I pressed my fingers to my forehead as the rage combusted in me, trying to control it. It was too late for this. By the morning, I would be on my way back to Oceatold to warn my brother and prepare for what was to come. Brimordia was no longer my concern, and there was no advantage to having Senafae try to worm back into the good graces of the whore who wore the crown. Especially not when she kept wavering about what she was willing to do. She’d likely as not turn and inform on me instead if left to her own devices.

Senafae was shrinking away from me, I realised. I sighed, letting the rage go. No point to it. ‘It doesn’t matter now, nightingale. I’m about to order everyone to get ready to leave. We’ll be gone before midnight.’

‘Oh.’ She straightened a little, and a brightness came into her eyes. ‘You’re going to take me to Oceatold?’

I considered her, regretting how faded she’d become. She really had been very beautiful. ‘Of course, sweet one.’

‘I’ll get to see Logan?’

This I didn’t answer, only smiled. ‘Don’t leave here tonight. I need to keep everyone together.’

‘Of course.’ She took my hands, pressed them to her mouth, her eyes dancing with some of the old joy I’d used to see there. ‘Thank you, Tallius. Thank you.’

Regret flickered in me. ‘I’ll have someone draw you a bath,’ I said as I pulled my hands out of her grip. I watched her for a little as she flitted into the washroom, stayed to listen to the few notes of song that drifted through the door as she sang to herself. Then I left the room. The same man who’d followed me there was waiting by the door, ready for the order. He was one of my most trusted personal guards.

‘In the bath. Make it quick,’ I said. He nodded, and I left him to his task to get the rest of my delegation ready to leave. How could she have possibly thought I’d take her to Oceatold? Logan was happy as my brother’s ward and I wasn’t going to bring a maisera to court with me.

But I couldn’t leave her behind to spill secrets, either.

A purple-clad footman opened a door for me, and I passed through to where my delegates gathered. Yes, I was looking forward to going home and leaving this sordid palace behind me.

I thought of what I’d seen the night before with a shiver of unease. Whatever the fate of Brimordia, I would not stay around to share it.