He clicked his tongue. “You won’t dare harm me. It would attract too much attention. You think this is frightening?” He leaned in close. “This is a taste of what lies ahead if you fail in your duties.” He cupped my cheek and forced me to meet his gaze. “Her fingers will be the first bones we break.”
I memorized his face. “I will kill you for this.”
“No, you won’t.” He let his mouth hover a breath above mine. “But you’ll want to.”
I refused to be the first to withdraw. “Is that my motivation?”
“If that’s what you need. Use it.” His gaze darted to the right. “Ah. There we are.”
He turned my head a fraction so that I caught a glimpse of Maisy from the corner of my eye.
Before I could knock him aside, he bent to my ear. “In two days, I expect a pyre to be lit.” He let me go. “You choose whose corpse feeds the fire. Pascale or Maisy will do just as well to me. Break your vow, and you force me to fulfill mine.”
With a frigid smile that promised retribution, I assured him, “Two days is plenty of time.”
Maven Colleen would have her satisfaction. Her son’s death would be avenged.
By the time I was finished in Erania, Maisy’s gift to Lourdes would be a requiem.
Chapter 2
Hard knocks on our bedroom door brought my head around as I finished braiding Maisy’s hair. I cinched my robe closed and raked fingers through my frazzled hair before greeting our eager visitor.
“Care for something sweet?” Armand extended a tray of baked goods. “You missed breakfast.”
Small hands tilted the tray downward. Maisy hefted the plumpest sweet roll I had ever seen, thanked him around the first bite then plopped back down in a chair to eat.
Clasping the halves of my robe tighter, I accepted his offering. “You didn’t have to do this.”
“No, I did.” He ruffled his hair into appealing disarray. “I celebrated too hard last night. I should not have said or did the things I, well, said and did. I saw a beautiful female, and the bottles of akash loosened my morals more than they should have.” He grimaced. “Now you’ll think I’m a drunkard.”
“No,” I assured him, closing the door in his face. “I doubt I’ll think of you at all.”
He wedged his foot in the gap. “Was my behavior so unforgivable?”
Yes. Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice… Maisy was in no need of a sibling.
“I appreciate the food, and the apology,” I said, “but your sister is expecting Maisy.”
He grasped the door, holding it open. “Allow me to make this up to you.”
The night I was escorted to my parents and presented as a harlot, he had said those same words.
Tired of his charade of gallantry, I cracked the door a fraction wider, aimed my heel at the toe of his boot and brought it down hard. Surprised, he jerked his foot back, and I slammed the door closed.
Ripe curses battered the air, and I grinned. “Be careful where you put your hands next time.”
Maisy giggled between bites. “You don’t like him very much, do you?”
“Males like him are dangerous. They would say or do anything to get their own way.” I set the tray down and snatched the half-eaten roll from her hands. “He thinks he can buy your goodwill with sweets. Despite the fact I said you eat them only in moderation, it was mousse last night and the tray of rolls this morning. Those actions are not the ways to get into my good graces. Speaking of which, no more sugar, all right? The next time Armand brings you a treat, thank him and decline.”
Her forehead bunched in concentration. “What if Maven Lourdes offers me one?”
I polished off Maisy’s sticky breakfast in two bites. “You thank her and ask for fruit instead.”
“Do they have fruit here?” A sparkle lit her eyes. “Or vegetables?”
“If it can be purchased with gold, the Araneidae own it.” I headed toward the foot of my bed and knelt before the large trunk there. Inside, the clothing ran the gamut from subdued to seductive. One constant remained—there was a staggering assortment of colors. After my exile from Erania and my parents’ decision I should join the Maratus, the exotic clan’s vibrancy called to me in a way nothing had in a long time. It was one secret tie to the clan that had accepted me, nurtured me and saved us.
“Was it…?” She hesitated. “Was it bad living here?”
I drew in a deep breath before facing her. “I loved this place. I love it still. It’s the people I don’t trust, and you shouldn’t either. Just remember while you spend the day with Lourdes, she would sink an arrow between my eyes faster than I could blink if she learned the truth about why I came here.”
“Why are we here?” she asked in a quiet voice.
“You are here to compose a song.” I glanced back at the trunk. “That’s all you need to know.”
She gave a reluctant nod. “How long should I distract her?”
“Keep her occupied for as long as possible.” I patted her cheek. “I’ll work as quickly as I can.”
Bracing my hands on the floor, I wondered what sort of mother all this made me. As harshly as I was treated by my parents, was I harsher with Maisy? This was her first time seeing me at work, and she was playing along better than I could have hoped. From birth, she had known what role our clan chose for me. We had never tolerated secrets between us…except of course for the biggest one of all.
Gods be damned. Maisy had a good life, an almost normal life, until my wretched past had reared its ugly head. I came home one night to find my serving girl’s throat slit while my daughter slept in the next room. Three males awaited me, all with swords drawn, and I would have killed them, I should have killed them, except that they offered me a chance to have the revenge I had craved for a decade.
But at what cost? A daughter for a daughter? Pascale for Maisy? How could I assign more value to one’s life than the other’s? As Maisy’s mother, how could I not choose her?
She was my world. Pascale was a distant echo from a previous life.
Rubbing my eyes, I admitted it was easier blaming revenge as my true motivator. Instead of the stone-cold, paralyzing fear that someone dangerous knew my secrets and had threatened to expose them.
No one knew Maisy was my child outside the Maratus, with the exception of my parents, which meant I had been betrayed. Soon my enemies would learn of her existence, would try to uncover her father’s identity, then use her as a bargaining chip, not realizing he had tossed her aside before her birth.
Granted neither of us had suspected my condition at the time. Not that it would have mattered.
Armand had chosen his family over me, and my family had chosen to wash their hands of me because of it.
“You don’t look well.” Maisy pressed the back of her hand to my forehead. “Are you sick? You always warn me not to play outside in the snow without boots and a coat and a hat that covers my ears.”
I took her hand and kissed the top of it. “I say all that?”
“That’s one rule.” She snorted. “You have more of them than Erania has snowflakes.”
“Ouch.” I put a hand to my heart. “I’m wounded.”
“No you aren’t.” She folded her arms. “I stopped falling for that trick when I was five.”
“Well then…” I looped an arm around her waist, hauled her into my arms and flung her onto her bed. I dove after her, going for all her ticklish spots until Maisy was squealing at the top of her lungs.
Gasping, she sat upright. “Did you hear—?”
“Ha,” I gasped. “I stopped falling for that trick when I was, um, well I don’t fall for it anymore.”
Fingers poised above her ribs, I cocked my head toward the door as harder knocks sounded.
“See?” She used the distraction to scoot off the bed. “Someone’s at the door. I bet it’s Armand.”
“You don’t have to look so happy about it,” I groused. I didn’t like the idea of her liking him.
It
was petty of me, but she was my girl, and the last thing I ever wanted was for him to reject her.
She yanked the door open before I could do more than retie my robe and cross my legs.
Instead of Armand, Lourdes stood there. “Good morning, Maisy.”
She bowed her head. “Good morning, Maven.”
“I realize part of your process is spending time with those you compose for, but would you mind if we spent that time in the stables?” Her grin turned mischievous. “You see, my husband and I were gifted a pair of kittens yesterday, and we must bottle-feed them for a few more weeks in order for the kits to bond with us. I was hoping you wouldn’t mind if we started our day there. What do you say?”
Maisy whirled toward me, hands fluttering with excitement. “Do you mind?”
I stood with as much grace as I could manage. “This is your day to spend with the maven. If you want to play with kittens, then by all means, play with kittens. Do you think you can do me a favor and deliver Tiah while you’re there?”
Her gaze darted to where Tiah slept on her perch. “Must she go?”
“Close quarters don’t agree with her.” I went to scratch my sleeping falco’s chest. “I spoke with the stable master about lodging her with the other falco until we’re ready to leave. If you could drop her off while you’re there, you would save me from making a trip.” And ensure theirs lasted longer.
Maisy turned to Lourdes. “Do you mind?”
Lourdes admired the dozing bird. “As long as she won’t bite, I don’t see why not.”
“She won’t give you any trouble, Maven,” I assured her. Tiah was well trained, and having her someplace safe meant I wasn’t tethered to the room to care for her. It was better for us all if she visited the aviary for a while. A touch of same-species socialization wouldn’t hurt her, even though she preferred solitude.
Falco were notoriously temperamental, and Tiah was no exception. She would make me pay for this later.
Maisy glanced between us. “I can pack Tiah’s things.”
“I would appreciate that.” I patted her shoulder as she passed. “Remember her toys.”
“What are your plans for the day?” Lourdes looked to me. “If you don’t mind my asking.”
“I thought I would explore your lovely home.” I jerked my chin toward Maisy. “There’s also the matter of a birthday coming up soon. It seemed a waste to visit your city and not tour the Hall of Artisans.”
“If you desire a guide, my brother Armand is available.” A smile played about Lourdes’s lips. “I noticed the two of you talking last night.”
I searched for hidden meanings in her words, but I found none. Her offer seemed genuine.
“Thank you, but no.” I held my voice level. “Males grow bored at market so quickly.”
“That one might surprise you.” She confessed, “He’s a flirt, always has been. You have to pay less heed to what he says and pay more attention to what he does.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Armand went to his room alone last night.” She studied her fingernails, which were painted cream with gold tips, an accessory from last night no doubt. “I found that interesting.”
I kept my temper in check. “You expected me to go with him.”
“No.” She smiled past me at Maisy. “You struck me as a female with better sense than to indulge him. In fact, I expected your snub to send him sloshing into the arms of another female, one who might covet his title enough to ignore the alcohol staining his breath.”
I rubbed my forehead. “Is it so unusual for him to show restraint?”
Had others noticed his interest in me? Had they assigned it any significance? Would they be watching me too? That was one more complication I didn’t need.
She took her time answering. “He shows great restraint in all matters except those of the heart.”
My eyebrows climbed. “I wasn’t aware it was possible to keep one’s heart tucked into one’s pants.”
“Be sure to stop by his stall.” She chuckled. “You might find something that appeals to you.”
I stopped just shy of cursing. Now I had to visit the hall, or when she asked Armand if I had been by to ogle his wares, he would admit I hadn’t, and then he would use it as an excuse for confronting me.
Mustering up my false enthusiasm, I sealed my fate. “I’ll do that.”
“Good.” Lourdes called to Maisy, “Do you have everything you need?”
“I think so.” She tucked the small bag of Tiah’s supplies under her arm and headed for her bed, where she grasped a satchel with markers and paper. She whistled for Tiah, who cracked open one eye and fluffed her feathers. Only after I shooed her did she hop to the end of her perch, then glide down to Maisy’s shoulder where she closed her eyes.
As Maisy stepped over the threshold, I asked, “Will I see you for dinner?”
She looked to Lourdes.
“If you don’t mind, we made plans that include Maisy.” Lourdes glanced behind her and grinned. I assumed her husband must have arrived because her polite smile heated to one of genuine warmth.
Paladin Rhys came to Lourdes’s side and kissed her temple. “We should go.”
“We will have Maisy back to you at a decent hour.” Lourdes stuck out her hand, and Maisy took it with a grin. “I hope you enjoy the day, Nicolette. Don’t worry. Maisy is in the very best of hands.”
Once they had left, pulling the door shut behind them, I returned to my wardrobe. I shrugged out of my robe and began preparing for my day. I strapped a thin knife to each thigh then stepped into a diaphanous skirt that tickled my ankles. To offset its rich saffron color, I paired it with a simple white peasant blouse. The looseness of the top meant I could hide my lock pick and the vial of poison across my rib cage in a series of pockets sewn into the bottom hem of my breast band.
I ran a comb through my hair then twisted it in a tight bun. I wrapped a gold silk scarf about my head to conceal my bright hair. As for the rest of me… I turned a circle. I would pass for Araneidae. After grabbing my bag from the bed, I was armed for a day of perusing stalls in the Hall of Artisans.
At least, if anyone asked me, that made for a handy excuse. Business crawled in the nest during this time of year, or it had back in my day. The busiest times were in the brief summer, when warmer temperatures lured traders into the city. The rest of the year there was only minor trade among what guests dared to visit and the clan families. The hall was more of a showcase than a hub of commerce.
Still, all artisans enjoyed having their egos stroked by admirers. The day after such a prestigious event, when goodwill toward the ruling family would be highest, I bet Armand was already purring.
With one last glance at the mirror, I set out to test my memory of all the private tunnels Armand had been so kind as to show me before Lourdes had discovered us. That was the most glorious thing about touring such an expansive nest, the hundreds of identical tunnels and seemingly infinite rooms.
I smiled. If I was caught, it would be so easy to claim I had gotten lost.
Despite the previous night’s festivities, the nest crawled with Araneidae eager for ears to bend in discussion of their favorite gifts presented to their maven and paladin.
I noticed a handful of my fellow guests. They were easy to identify since they wore clan colors that clashed with the gold the Araneidae wore. In the old days, after such an event, the tunnels teemed with foreign guests. Between the plague and the tragic deaths of the previous ruling pair, they appeared to be entertaining in smaller numbers than they once would have.
Through the bustling heart of the nest I strode until the hall grew quiet and people dwindled.
After a while I was alone, and I breathed easy for the first time since arriving in Erania.
The tunnel gradually narrowed. Its ceiling lowered. Gilded accents shone through a patina of years. This was part of the original tunnel, its innermost network, but it had weathered aging well. Through an archway I spotted
the faded painting Armand once took pains to show me. I ran a finger along the underside of its frame until I felt a depression in the wood. I pushed, releasing a clasp that swung the portrait outward, revealing a lever. Exhaling, I wrapped my hand around the pull and gave it a gentle tug until I heard the sound of a seal popping. I glanced over my shoulder and watched the wall opposite me glide to the right and open into the blackness of an unlit tunnel. Once I reset the lever, I snapped the picture into place, bolting for the dark as the mechanism hit its apex and began closing.
The panel slid shut on my heels.
Hands to the walls, I followed the once-familiar path into the ruling family’s private living area. I had used one of the escape ports to enter. I believed there was a formal door farther down the hall. If there was, I had never been shown it. Armand had sneaked me into his room, not given me the tour.
The best part of this tunnel, besides the ease of access, was the peepholes. By the time I reached a dead end, I was certain I was alone. No guards lined this private hall. They all trailed their masters.
According to Lourdes, Armand was hawking his wares while she and Rhys accompanied Maisy to the stables. Henri, the middle brother, kept to his lab. He even slept there rather than in his formal room. Channing was the youngest. At his age, I bet he spent his days with his nurse or his peers.
That meant the only sibling I was in danger of crossing was the one I had come for, the one who I had yet to see, which made me all the more curious about what had twisted the joyous girl I recalled into a murderer.
What could have turned her heart against the parents she had loved so dearly? Against her family? A girl in her position had wealth and status. Had she acquired darker ambitions as well?
I had no way to know, no one to ask, and I couldn’t let it matter. Pity could not sway me.
Through another sliding door, I entered the most restricted area inside the nest.
Padding down the hall, I passed a door and smelled cologne. Faint. Warm. Familiar.
I touched the knob leading to Armand’s suite, compelled to glimpse his rooms…his bed.
Araneae Nation: The Complete Collection Page 85