She murmured a few words, and the black sand began to move, tracing itself outward in thin lines across the parchment until it began to resemble a map.
A cold feeling rolled across him. “You let her go on purpose.”
Nadiya said nothing, her lips moving with the spell, attention trained on the sand as it hissed and skittered, drawing the city.
He grabbed her shoulder, and pointed to the bit of bone. “Where did that come from?”
Nadiya stopped talking. The sand stopped moving. She gave him an impatient look. “Her pet owl.”
Understanding landed like a weight on Alucard’s shoulders. “You wanted her to escape.”
He hadn’t noticed Rhy joining them, but the king sucked in a breath. “Why?”
“Because,” explained Alucard, “the queen is using her as bait.”
Rhy stared at his wife in horror, but she’d already turned her attention back to the spell. She began again, the sand continuing until the king slammed his hand down on the parchment. Nadiya stopped, and met her husband’s gaze.
“This is going to take time,” she said, “and focus. So if you don’t mind—”
“I mind,” snapped Rhy. “What have you done?”
“What I thought best,” said Nadiya. “We need to find the Hand. They want to find the girl. It made sense.” She looked to Alucard. “You would have done the same.”
It wasn’t a question. Rhy stared at Alucard, waiting for him to deny it.
Alucard sighed. “I’m not sure I agree with the method.…”
“Speaking of methods,” she said, eyes narrowing, “you may disagree with mine, but don’t you ever steal from my workshop again.”
Alucard flinched as if struck. “What are you talking about?”
“The chains,” she said. “The transfer spell.”
His stomach dropped. “What about it?”
“Don’t pretend.”
“Nadiya,” he said, voice hardening. “What about it?”
Her expression slipped, accusation cracking into confusion as she said, “It’s gone.”
Just then, Kell returned, breathless. “Lila’s not in the palace.”
“No,” said the queen. “She left an hour ago, on foot.”
Kell swore. “Of all nights…” And Alucard closed his eyes. Of all nights.
“Is there a moon?” he asked.
“What does that have to do with anything?” demanded Kell, but Alucard wasn’t asking him. He was asking the queen. The queen, who worked in a windowless hold beneath the water, and yet, always seemed to know exactly what was happening above it.
“Is there?” he asked again.
“No,” said the queen. “It’s a moonless night.”
Alucard let out a heavy breath, and turned to Kell.
“I know where Lila is.”
* * *
“How long will this take?” asked Rhy, pacing the queen’s workshop.
“Longer, every time you make me stop,” said Nadiya. In truth, it was taking longer than it should because the map had changed. Twice now, it had rewritten itself, sand lines finishing, only to crumble and re-form, drawing new streets, which she took to mean the girl—Tes—had been moving. Or was being moved.
Now Nadiya finished the commands a third time, waiting for the lines to settle.
Rhy stood across the table from her, glaring. She had seen the king grieve, and laugh. Seen him forlorn, and happy, frustrated, and in pain, but she had rarely seen him mad. His gold eyes burned into her, not with passion, but anger, disdain. His mouth crushed into a line, as if he were biting back words.
“If you have something to say,” she said, “then say it.”
“How could you do it?”
“Do what?”
“Put this girl in danger. Treat her life as if it is disposable. As if it matters so much less than mine or yours.”
“It does.” There was no malice in her voice, only a grim resolve, but Rhy looked at her as if she were a monster. Her gentle husband, so kind, and so na?ve. Nadiya knew Alucard made a habit of indulging him, but right now, she could not.
“Lives are not equal, Rhy. It is folly to think they are. It makes you a good person, yes, but it will doom you as a king.” He flinched. “And it will be the death of the Maresh,” she went on. “Perhaps you cannot die. But you forget, I can. Alucard can. Your daughter can. So if you want to play the part of saint, go right ahead, but I have no such delusions. I have worked too hard to keep this family safe. Let’s hope a single girl is all we have to sacrifice tonight.”