I nodded. “One more thing. I need another charm for my eyes. They’re lightening more each day.”
Vicer winced. “The woman we usually buy the charms from had to flee the city. Another was just killed.”
My chest tightened until it was difficult to take a full breath. Without a charm, my eyes were noticeable. It was a risk we couldn’t afford to take.
Tibris went still. “So, we’ll find someone else.”
“The charms are becoming difficult to find. Changing your eye color is the latest trend. Charms are being fixed on to bracelets, rings, earrings…”
“I’m trusting you with my sister,” Tibris hissed. I reached out and squeezed his arm, unused to such a tone from him.
Vicer held up a hand. “I know. Just keep your head down, Pris, and I’ll have a new necklace for you in a few days.”
Not for the first time, I hated the strange color of my eyes.
“We need to go. One of the queen’s other ladies followed us here,” I said. Who knew if she was wandering around, hoping to glimpse us again?
The walk back to the castle was long, but it gave me time to think.
“I know you want to get them out, Pris,” Tibris said when the castle came into view. “But…just think before you do anything that could get you arrested. I…I can’t lose you too.”
Something in my chest wrenched. “I know. I will. We’ll figure it out. Together.”
He nodded, and I headed to my room, my mind replaying the curiosity in Vicer’s eyes when he learned about Lorian.
I couldn’t blame him. I was curious too.
I knew Lorian wasn’t the Gromalian Prince. He’d slept on the ground next to me. He’d stayed in the kinds of inns only villagers could afford. And he fought like someone who enjoyed it. Not just because he was trained.
And sometimes when he fought, he moved faster than the eye could see.
Maybe that was his power.
It would certainly explain a lot.
Lorian must look similar to the real Gromalian prince. But the moment the Gromalian royals learned what was happening, the ruse was up. Lorian and the others were dead. My body turned cold at the thought.
Unless the Gromalian prince was incapacitated. I’d traveled with the mercenaries to the Gromalian border. The fae handed Lorian a vial. It was possible the fae either kidnapped or killed the real prince and Lorian took his place.
In that case, the Gromalians wouldn’t even know their prince was gone, unless someone who knew the prince interacted with Lorian.
I swallowed at the thought of that much brutality. But the fact remained that without Lorian’s help, Asinia could be dead now. I owed him.
And still, I needed to be careful. I didn’t know what his power was…or much of anything about him.
But I knew when he touched me, as he did last night, I felt like I was flying. Guilt coiled in my stomach, and I pushed open the door to my chambers.
Daselis was waiting. “The seamstress will be here soon.”
Hello to you too. “The seamstress?”
“The queen said you need a few new dresses. Something fashionable for the balls. You may as well undress now.”
A few minutes later, I was wrapped in a bath sheet, the seamstress casting a critical eye over me. She was an older woman with a slightly hunched back and deep frown lines.
“Drop the sheet.”
Thankfully, Daselis and Erea had made themselves scarce. The seamstress began her measurements. And I turned my attention on the mirror in front of me.
My heart pounded as I met my own eyes. The charm on my necklace was no longer working at all.
“One of the queen’s other ladies had to leave town suddenly before picking up her dresses. I can tailor them for you. I’ll work on hers in the coming weeks.”
I barely hid a wince. Guilt stabbed into me at the thought of the woman who’d rushed back to her village.
“Thank you. What’s your name?”
The seamstress angled her head from where she was measuring my waist. “Telean.”
“I’m Setella.”
She just nodded. When she stepped back, our eyes met.
And the blood slowly drained from her face. “Your eyes are beautiful.”
I cleared my throat, glancing away. “Thank you.”
My heart skipped several beats and then began to race. Had she seen one of the pieces of parchment that were likely circulating with my face and description on them. I opened my mouth, but the words wouldn’t come.
Any minute now, she would run from the room and alert the guards.
I forced myself to meet her gaze. “Please,” I got out.