Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

Kora once more woke to find Derek gone. The spot on his side of the bed was cool to the touch, but it only took a thought about the pleasure he had wrung from her the night before to cause her body to flush with heat.

Words weren't needed. They had spoken with touch, soothed with their mouths. He'd stroked and caressed, teased and tormented, and coaxed orgasm after orgasm from her. Even now, the memory of him inside her, thrusting deep and hard, made her clench her legs. There had been little sleep, but neither had cared. She'd needed him. It was as simple as that.

There might not be much trust between them, but the one thing they did have was passion. Undeniable , fiery passion.

And if she wasn't careful, it would bypass all reason.

Kora turned her head to look at his pillow and the indentation where his head had been. She had no idea if he was running an errand, getting breakfast, or going to the temple. It rankled that the priest had intentionally left her out. She'd wanted to see inside, but she would gladly miss it if it meant she didn't have to be around any of the priests.

She rose and took a relaxing bath before dressing. Kora hung the gown in the wardrobe next to her cloak before tucking away the sandals. Her feet had frozen at the party. The cool temperature didn't seem to affect others. Or maybe they just hid it better. Many of the guests had commented on how unseasonably warm this autumn was. And all she could think about was how cold she was.

The patter of rain drew her attention, and she peeked through the shutters to see a swath of gray clouds perched over the city. She frowned at the sky before heading downstairs for the morning meal. Ada greeted her warmly and assured her the rain would stop soon. Kora was surprised to discover that the storm had indeed faded to a drizzle by the time she finished eating. Kora retrieved her cloak and set off while the weather allowed.

Kora headed up, looking for signs of Derek as she walked. He had reservations about her going after Villette on her own. She had the same misgivings. She had enough doubt without adding his. Wishing she didn't have to do this alone wouldn't change the situation. She had to deal with things as they were.

She strolled through the streets on her way up to the mountaintop. She needed to see the palace on her own. She had a story ready if anyone stopped her, but no one paid her any mind. From their perspective, she dressed in the blue of Stonemore , so that meant she belonged. If only they knew the truth.

Kora tightened the cloak in an effort to keep the cool, damp air off the bare skin of her chest. Surely , the residents wore different shirts during the winter. Not that it mattered. She wouldn't be there long enough to find out. Either she would triumph over Villette and beat a hasty retreat, or she would perish. One way or another, the nightmare would finally end.

The trip to the top was uneventful. Most were still inside and hadn't ventured out yet. She knew some could be watching her from the safety of a building, so Kora kept up the pretense even when no one was around.

Her steps slowed when she reached the eighth level and saw the palace. The sandstone appeared a deeper red after the rain. Even more so when set against the gray sky. She counted the steps from the entry gate to the door as well as the number of guards. She noted the carriages and the wealthy occupants who disembarked. She debated whether to engage someone in conversation in the hopes of learning who they were going to see, but she decided not to draw that kind of attention to herself. Her plan of dressing as a soldier was still the most solid.

To that end, she focused on the comings and goings of both soldiers and servants. Kora strolled from one end of the level to the other. Many milled about in the palace gardens as if hoping for a glimpse of the Divine . Kora rolled her eyes and wanted to tell everyone it was Villette . That she had lied and deceived everyone.

" I figured you'd make your way here."

She spun at the sound of Derek's voice. He sat on a bench beside a tall pot filled with tiny purple flowers. She had been so intent on watching the servants and soldiers that she had missed him altogether. " Did you?"

" It's where your target is."

So it was. She glanced at the grand structure, hoping to hide the fact that she was perturbed he had left their bed. She had to remind herself that they weren't a couple. They were two individuals with a mutual attraction, sharing a room. That was all. And yet she found herself asking, " How was the temple?"

" I've not gone yet. I had other things to see to."

" You could have woken me." Gah . Why did she sound so peeved? She was, but he didn't need to know that.

He grinned, his eyes crinkling in the corners as if he could read her mind. " Next time, I will. What are you about today?"

" Planning ." It didn't go unnoticed that he hadn't said where he'd gone, and she wouldn't ask—even if she was dying to know. Secrets . They would be the death of her. The ones she kept and the ones she wanted to pry from Derek .

" Hm ," he said and got to his feet. " I can't blame you for not wanting to divulge anything."

She examined his rugged face but couldn't find any anger in his features or words. It was a surprise. He didn't push for anything, which directly contrasted with what she fought within herself.

A muscle ticked in his jaw, and irritation flashed in his eyes before he turned his attention to the palace.

" Everything all right?" she asked.

His face tightened, but he didn't answer.

Kora found herself moving closer to him while glancing around. Maybe he'd spotted something she hadn't. After all, she hadn't seen him sitting on the bench. She saw three women coming up the street and a couple at the steps of the palace, gazing up at it in wonder. Others were in the garden behind them, and one man in particular stared at Derek for a long moment.

She stepped behind a bush and peered through the foliage at the stranger. The muscular body and handsome face had others staring after him. His attire suggested wealth even beyond what she had seen the night before. His hair was a mix of light brown and dirty blond that brushed his shoulders. His hands clasped behind his back, he looked toward Derek each time he stopped next to a flower.

Kora turned her head to her companion to find his hands fisted, and his body rigid with tension. His gaze was locked on the palace, and he seemed unaware of anyone or anything else. Including the stranger. She put a hand on his upper arm and felt the coiled muscle. " Derek ."

His gaze snapped to her. Gradually , he relaxed.

" What just happened?" she asked

He shook his head. " It's nothing."

" It looked like something." She turned to look at the stranger again, but he was gone. " I don't want to alarm you, but there was a man watching you."

Immediately , Derek's eyes scanned the area. " Where ?"

" I don't see him anymore."

" Would you know him if you saw him again?"

" Aye ."

Derek nodded once. " Describe him."

Kora told him what she had noted. It worried her that the stranger had vanished so quickly. She turned in a circle to look for him and caught a glimpse of his backside as he went around the side of the palace. " There ."

Derek didn't go after him. Instead , he watched until the man was out of sight.

" Where does that path lead?" she asked.

" Into the palace."

She shot him a glance. How did he know that?

" I asked," he said as if reading her mind once again.

" Should we follow?"

Derek shook his head. " I doubt it was anything."

" I don't know. The way he stared…it was as if he knew you. There was surprise, too, though."

" He probably mistook me for another. It's been some time since I've been to Stonemore . I don't know anyone here. By the way, we received another invitation for tonight. I was told it would be a small dinner affair."

Kora shivered as a gust of wind blew past her, followed by a smattering of rain. She didn't want to go to another party on the off chance she might have to face another priest. Not to mention the relentless questions from those who acted as if it was their right to know everything about her.

" It's a good way to pick up interesting gossip and learn about scandals. People let their guards down at parties with the alcohol flowing." He turned to face her. " But we can decline."

She smiled tightly, recalling the clothes, food, and lodging he was paying for. " I will accompany you as we agreed."

" I won't hold you to that."

" It's our deal."

He bowed his head. " Shall we walk the garden? You might get better views of the palace."

They turned together and walked side by side. She watched droplets of water form at the edges of petals before dropping to the ground.

" Can you discover if there's another exit to the city?" she asked.

He glanced at her. " I can try. Are you worried about something?"

" Me . And leaving."

" No one will ever know," he replied firmly.

She passed a fragrant, dark purple bloom. " Someone will know. Someone will see." If she succeeded. If she didn't…well, it wouldn't matter.

" If anyone comes for you, fight. If they manage to kill you, I'll get your body."

" That isn't what I'm asking."

" It needs to be said."

She shook her head. " You've been seen with me. Regardless of how things go, they will likely tie you to me. You need to be able to get out."

" They won't hold me."

" You don't know that."

" Rest assured, I know places to hide so I can't be found."

Kora swallowed as they turned down a path, the palace now to her right. " You stand out in a crowd. You'll need to be careful."

" I will."

" Can I ask something of you?"

He nodded. " Of course."

" Don't agree until you hear what I have to say."

" All right."

Kora released a long breath. She'd known the odds before she came to Stonemore , but new terrors had awaited once she was inside the city. " It's a lot to ask."

He stopped and faced her. " Kora . Ask what you will."

She looked into his pale olive eyes. They watched her closely, patiently. " If I am captured and the…" Her words failed her. She swallowed and tried again. " If they take my life over and over again, find a dragon. I would prefer death than enduring such torture."

" That's what you would ask of me?"

" You may not even need to. Villette probably has dragons near. They'll catch my scent as soon as…well, when things happen."

Derek continued along the path in silence. Then he said, " I promise not to let them torture you."

" Thank you."

" Do you have a way inside?"

She knew he was asking about the palace. " I'm working on it."

" Be careful."

" I issue the same request to you."

He raised a brow as he looked at her. " About ?"

" The priests."

" They don't scare me."

She was beginning to wonder if anything frightened him. " Maybe they should."

" Because they kill? Plenty of others do that."

" Because they do it with impunity. They believe in a cause. Someone who has absolute faith in something is blind to all else. They refuse to see any other side or even look at the facts for themselves."

A frown crinkled his brow, and he looked deep in thought. " Unconditional ."

" Aye . They believe unconditionally."

" They are certain their way is the only way."

Kora grunted. For a moment, she wondered if Derek was talking about someone else. " There is always more than one way. Anyone who claims there is only one is delusional. Or a fraud."

" Based on your theory, there is more than one way to get Villette ."

She hesitated. He had been talking about something else. " While that's true, it doesn't change the fact that it has to be me."

A dark brow arched. " Are you sure you have all the facts?"

He was throwing her words back at her. While she enjoyed a good debate, and it had been so very long since she'd had one, now wasn't the time for it. She knew what she had to do, and Derek wasn't going to change her mind. " Take a look around. If I had any doubt, it dissolved the moment we came here, and I saw firsthand what she's done. Think of all those below. Their homes were destroyed, their ways of life stolen. Their families taken. Some probably went to a nearby village, only for it to happen again. Eventually , everyone made their way here. And for what? What did Villette gain? The size of her army swelled. What about all those starving, sitting in the elements, and thinking about the lives they once had that were snatched away for nothing? She doesn't care about them. They are casualties of war. They're all dead—they just don't know it yet. They'll suffer, waiting and begging, before death finally finds them. Then there are the children the priests are killing. In my opinion, that alone is enough to bring Stonemore down. She should've been stopped years ago. I lie awake some nights thinking about all the lives she has taken while I've hidden myself away, turning my back on who I am. On what I'm supposed to do." Kora shook her head. " Well , I'm facing things now. Everything Villette has done has brought her more power. It needs to stop."

" Maybe she's after something big and requires an army."

Kora rolled her eyes. " She is a Star Person . They are the most powerful beings in the universe. She doesn't need anything or anyone. If she wanted Stonemore razed tomorrow, she could make it happen with a snap of her fingers. Don't feel sorry for her. She wants control, and she's gotten it by using deception and manipulation. She isn't hiding her true identity for nothing. She has something big planned, and by the time everyone realizes what it is, it'll be too late."

" And you think taking her out will change all of it? There are other Star People ."

" True . But I can kill them. They can also kill each other."

He turned his head to her. " How do you know so much about the Star People ?"

" I don't know," she said with a shrug. " Some of it just seems to be in my head, but I learned other things from my family. It isn't as if hellhounds were made to destroy the Star People . Or maybe we were. I don't know. The story I heard was that a chance encounter with one of them resulted in their death. From then on, we were hunted."