Page 88 of The Queen’s Shadow

‘It’s not just her I need to find.’ I whispered. Looking at the wreck that was Rycon, I felt a wave of guilt roll through me. I was spending all this time here, searching for Kasha, and I still didn’t even know what court Amon was in. I wasn’t doing enough. I needed to try harder.

Amon pressed his aura through me in protest at my thoughts. ‘Don’t you dare think like that. If you came for me before you found Kasha, I would be furious. She needs rescue more urgently than I do. I will be fine.’

I scowled. I wasn’t sure about that. His imprisonment hadn’t exactly been a walk in the park either, based on the small amount I had been able to get him to share with me.

‘You wouldn’t be talking like that if the situations were reversed.’ I said. ‘If I was captured and you were trying to find me, the entire continent would be on fire.’

He chuckled softly, his voice rolling like velvet through my mind. ‘This is true. Though it is also a very good example of one of the many ways that you are stronger than I am.’

Just then, Jeremy and Cerenah walked in. Dressed in their own restructium suits, they were each holding grease stained paper bags which I knew would hold some form of breakfast sandwiches or wraps. Cerenah also had a cardboard tray filled with to-go coffee. I was starting to miss the wide variety of healthy breakfast food options that were always available back at court.

I took a coffee from Cerenah gratefully. I didn’t waste any time gulping back a scalding sip. It wasn’t the best coffee I had ever had, but coffee was coffee, and it was early as fuck. I shivered happily as the caffeine hit my veins and I felt Amon smile against my mind.

‘Does that taste good, my love?’ He asked and I almost choked on my drink.

‘How do you make everything sound so dirty?’ I asked, laughing. He just gave me a dark chuckle and stroked his power through my limbs, making me shudder.

Jeremy tossed a foil wrapped sandwich in Rycon’s direction. He caught it one handed without opening his eyes or lifting his head up off the back of the chair. Cerenah handed me my sandwich and curled into the remaining armchair to eat hers.

“So, what’s the plan?” Jeremy asked, leaning against the wall as he unwrapped his breakfast.

“Rycon thinks he might have a lead. What did you say the place was called?” I asked, and he reluctantly sat up in his chair. He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees as he unwrapped the egg wrap Jeremy had tossed him.

“The Gilded Harlot,” he grunted, before taking a large bite. Jeremy gave him a considering look, but kept quiet.

“The Gilded Harlot is open at all hours. It’s more of a lounge than a brothel.” Cerenah informed us. “I’m surprised you’re interested in starting there.”

“I got a tip last night that some patrons were bragging about being granted access to the chameleon.” He said gruffly, staring at his wrap as if contemplating whether or not he wanted another bite.

“From who?” Jeremy asked quietly. “When we were out together last night, I didn’t hear anything about this.”

“You weren’t with me when I received the tip.”

“You went out alone again?”

“Yeah, I did.”

Jeremy’s jaw clenched and he frowned.

“It’s not safe to go out on your own. We should stick together.”

Rycon tossed his half-eaten wrap with perfect aim into the tiny hotel trash before standing up. I tensed, worrying for a moment that he was going to snap at Jeremy. However, it seemed he didn’t even have the energy to be a dick today.

“Listen Pops, thanks for the concern, but I’ve got it under control.”

‘He really isn’t himself.’ Amon murmured in my mind, and I nodded.

‘Told you.’

“Alright, are you all done eating? Let’s get going.” He said, looking back at Cerenah and I. I nodded, tossing out the foil wrapper from my breakfast on my way out. Jeremy grabbed my arm as I walked by, nodding at Cerenah to go ahead and follow Rycon without us.

“What’s going on with him?” He asked me quietly. If I didn’t know any better, I would say he seemed concerned.

“I honestly was wondering the same thing myself. He looks like he’s fighting the world’s biggest hangover.” I murmured.

“Can’t you do that magick mind stuff to see what’s going on?” He asked.

Amon barked out a laugh in my mind. ‘Oh, I like him.’ He purred, his tone amused. I mentally swatted him.