Page 33 of Between Smoke and Shadow
Viana starts to ask something else, but I cut her off.
“What’s her name?” I ask, nodding toward Rune. When Viana only stares blankly, I say it again. “Your handmaiden. What’shername?”
I watch Viana, her cheeks warming as her eyes flicker between me and the woman who waits on her at all hours. I look at Rune then. She’s blushing harder than Viana, her cheeks so red they look sunburnt. She’s started trembling, and I feel a prickle of guilt. I might be embarrassing her more than her tormentor.
“Luna. No, wait. No, it’s Rain.” She smiles like she’s just passed a test. Her lips tilt then, almost coy. “Forgive me, my prince. I’mpatheticwith names.”
I don’t respond. I’m watching Rune again. Her skin has returned to its sickly pale shade, and she’s gone motionless. Back to unaffected.
“It has gotten late, my lady,” I say, forcing a smile. I raise a hand toward the servants. “Let’s pack up your dessert and be on our way. We’ve got an early morning. Wedding arrangements to be made.”
“Oh yes,” she says. Her momentary disappointment vanishes at mention of the wedding, and she’s back to giddy babbling.
Within ten minutes, we stand at the doorway of her quarters. Rune is a few steps behind Viana, motionless as usual. Still, I’m distracted by her. She’s frail and defenseless, and yet she never cracks. There’s something fascinating about her, but I know better than to get invested—especially with her.
“Thank you for a lovely evening,” Viana says.
When I turn toward her, she’s already leaning in. I meet her partway, force myself to taste her lips and hold her waist, as if I don’t know who she is. As if I don’t know what she does when no one is watching.
She deepens the kiss, clinging to my shoulders and pressing her tongue into my mouth. Her nails are sharp against the skinof my neck, and she moans. I’m sure half the building can hear us—and even if not, I know there’s at least one person witnessing this.
Watching me kiss the person who degraded her, who made her bleed.
I pull back, feeling a stiff sickness in my stomach. This is what I’msupposedto do, I remind myself. Viana will be my wife, and eventually she’ll mother my children. There’s nothingwrongwith what I’m doing.
And yet, I want to vomit. At the very least, I should take a hot shower and maybe gargle boiling water. I can taste the mule soup she had for dinner and a hint of the chocolate cake she took so long to eat.
“I look forward to seeing you in the morning,” I say, prying her fingers from my shoulders. She wants me to come into her room. I can almost hear the words before she asks them, so I take a quick step backward. “I will send a guard for you in the morning. And don’t worry about your handmaiden’s shoes. I will send a new pair for her immediately. It’s best if you focus on us, don’t you think?”
She nods, eyes glossy.
“Come along, Rain,” she says finally. She slips into her quarters, and Rune is quick to follow. I try to catch her eye, but she doesn’t look at me. Then they’re gone, closed behind a door and painfully silent.
Part of me wants to linger in the hallway in case Viana releases Rune early. I could explain that I’m forced to wed Viana, that I never would have chosen such a cruel bride if I had the choice. And maybe Rune would understand, maybe she’d smile and say it was all right and that she didn’t blame me.
I force myself to leave, because even if Runedidunderstand, it wouldn’t change the truth. I am marrying a heartless womanand together we will leave this world, condemning all the commoners and servants with it.
ELEVEN
RUNE
I sit on the floor of my bedroom, submerged in darkness. The automatic light shut off hours ago, and I don’t trust myself to stay awake in bed. Luckily the elite servant quarters are nicer than the low ones. Rather than stains on the tile and bad smells in the air, my new bedroom is clean and all my own. Since coming to the Tower, this is the first thing that’s ever beenmine.
I stretch my legs in front of me. I’ve been wearing the shoes Harrick sent me, but I took them off. They’re too new, the soles too thick and noisy. Viana burned the last pair in a fit of rage, just hours before her date with Harrick. The beautiful gown he gifted her was too small, and I had no idea how to fix it.
Viana felt badly afterward, once a mender had adjusted the dress to perfection. She even came close to apologizing, I think. I’ve since decided her temper is a beast within her, a vicious creature she doesn’t know how to control.
I’m still thinking about her—and that explosive hatred—when a dull buzzer sounds, marking the hour. I move to my feet, blinking any exhaustion from my eyes. It’s two in the morning, late enough that most in the Tower will be asleep. I tighten my mask over my eyes and fumble through the darkness until Ireach the door. I lean on it, the metal cold against my ear as I listen.
After a few silent beats, I ease my door open and sneak into the corridor. Then I’m off: bare feet tapping across the marble floor, breaths shaky but silent. The lights are dimmed, providing just enough visibility to navigate turns.
The Royal Training Arena is only one level below mine. I’ve dreamt of returning since I first saw that unlocked office, and now that I’ve snuck Viana’s access code, I finally have the chance to dosomething. A way to redeem myself for failing Caleah, and to hopefully make it right. Even if I can’t find a map to the prisons, I’ll be happy with just about anything. The next time I meet with Vale, I’d rather not show up empty-handed.
So, despite the pathetic odds of finding something truly useful, I’m creeping down the service stairwell. I stop on the fiftieth floor and crack the door, listening, watching. I can hear my own heart, the way it slams against my ribcage. With each beat, there’s an echo ofdon’t get caught, don’t get caught, don’t get caught.
I repeat Viana’s access code, my lips moving silently, as I take off again. I don’t know what happens if I enter it wrong. Maybe a blaring alarm or a poisoned arrow or a swarm of guards with magicked gloves. I’d rather not find out.
The panic stews in my gut as I run, working its way up my throat and into my head. The endless stretch of mirrors makes me nauseated, and without Viana here to lead the way, I keep getting confused. I have to backtrack three times before I finally see the silver doors to Hall D.
