Page 86 of Till Death

“It’s not a bad day because of your birthday, if that’s what you’re thinking,” Thea said.

“I wasn’t,” I whispered, because Paesha’s ornery smile had been so genuine earlier.

The Huntress extended her body, twisting and turning. Each movement was a carefully orchestrated symphony of sensuality, a tantalizing ballet of curves and contours that seemed to stir the night air. But the second the music had started, that haunting first note that Orin always delivered with absolute perfection, her tears began to fall.

There was no question that every step she made had been performed hundreds and hundreds of times, each twist a conjuring of emotion as she moved, not as a performer in a burlesque show, but more. Divine.

“Dancing with our ghosts again?” Hollis asked, joining Thea and me along the iron railing as he clicked his pocket watch shut and slipped it into his coat.

“I guess so.” She shrugged, handing him what was left of her drink.

As the old man tipped the glass back, I couldn’t help my burning question. “What kind of a man would leave her and never come back?”

Hollis choked on his drink as Thea’s jaw slacked, her usual cheerful tone turning grave. “She traded a life of servitude to the Maestro to save him, but it didn’t matter because once the Death Maiden has your name, there’s nothing to be done. His name was Ezra Prophet, and he didn’t leave. You killed him.”

Chapter 35

It wasn’t guilt that followed me through the lonely halls of the Syndicate house. I knew my role, and there was nothing to be done about it. But maybe it was embarrassment. I supposed even shame. No wonder Paesha had hated me so easily.

The Maestro kept the whole house busy for days. Paesha hunted someone, Thea and Hollis were crafting at all hours of the night. Quill usually stayed close to the theater with her friends, so it was mostly just Elowen and me. Orin had found every possible excuse to stay away, solidifying the wedge. Elowen went to shop for groceries, and the rest were called to practice for the show. Even the dog had somewhere to be when I did not.

There was only one person I could think of to keep me company. Someone who might have answers to several of my burning questions. But she’d been so distant. Even preferring the company of Orin over me. Still, I snuck into Paesha’s room and stood before the familiar mirror, holding my breath. Letting the anticipation buzz below my skin. Hardening myself in case she didn’t welcome me.

I’d convinced myself whatever friendship I’d had with Ro was long over. As soon as I wielded no power as a royal, I was of no use to her anymore. But when the silvery reflection rippled, her invitation clear, I hesitated, wondering if I should really face her after all my hateful thoughts these past months.

But something within me needed closure from that part of my life. So, I stepped through the threshold, into the hall of mirrors, and descended the familiar steps to find her standing, arms crossed, waiting for me.

“Took you long enough,” she huffed in greeting.

“I’ve tried to come so many times. You’ve denied me. You don’t get to turn my absence on me when you’re in control.”

“There’s a new king, and he’s bad news. I’ve been spying and busy.”

“So that’s where you’ve been? Just lurking in mirrors?”

She scowled. “I don’t lurk. I just happen to hear things from my hall. I cannot be held accountable for people with loose tongues.”

Narrowing my eyes, I fell over the edge of my fury, letting it show, regardless of the consequences. “I’ve been married off, assaulted, imprisoned, nearly murdered, homeless, and denounced. I’ve seen you for five seconds when you ran into me at Lady Visha’s, and then you vanished. I understand you’re busy, but are you my friend or not, Ro? Just be honest.”

Her deep eyes filled with hurt. “Of course I’m your friend. But that doesn’t mean I can be available to you all the time. I’m sorry if that’s hurtful, but friendship doesn’t mean codependency, Dey. I have to keep an eye on this world if I want to survive in it. It’s the only way I can protect my friends.”

“Friends as in plural.”

“Just because I’m your only friend doesn’t mean you’re mine.”

My spine straightened. Maybe I’d relied too much on Ro and this distance was to teach me one of her many lessons. I’d wanted her to confess about Orin, though, and she hadn’t. “I have other friends. Good ones. But there’s so much pain and history there, I don’t know how to navigate it.”

“I’ll always be here when you need me most, but it’s important that you learn to live out there, too. I cannot be your crutch… Come on,” she said with a heavy sigh, her cropped brown hair pushing into her face. “Let’s sit as we used to and catch up.”

I followed her through her quaint little home, swiping the long vines from the ceiling to pass by until we entered her parlor. Of course, everything had been completely changed since the last time I’d visited. “I’m afraid we’d be here for days if we had to go over it all.”

She lifted a shoulder. “I’ve got nowhere to be today. You?”

“I’ve got nowhere to be, forever, unless Death comes. Because I’m wanted by Icharius Fern.” I sat heavily on her plush green couch, letting the full cushions nearly swallow me.

“No one is brave enough to hunt you.” She poured tea into two dainty teacups and set a beautiful tray on the table between us. “But the king is trouble. And I’m afraid he’s been working with the Maestro, which is an even bigger problem.”

“A problem we’ve already seen. And I’d like to believe that no one is brave enough, but let’s be honest. I can be overpowered. My lovely new husband was proof of that.” I waited, a subtle nod to the elephant in the room. But she never acknowledged the mention of Orin, so I continued. “I won’t kill if I don’t have to, and as soon as these idiots start figuring that out, I’m going to be in trouble.”