16. Chapter 16

Chapter 16

T he pleasant aroma of warm bread and simmering sausage pulls me from a dreamless sleep. I sit up on the couch and stretch.

"I got off early tonight. I thought I'd make us a nice dinner before you head up the castle." Eoin lights a candle on the small dining table and pours two glasses of Filabrina Bubbly Wine. "I know it's bad luck to toast before we're done, but it just felt right. We've made it so far already, and I know you've been having some second thoughts. I just wanted to do something special." Eoin hands me one of the glasses, and I take it. I sip the bubbly sweet treat and sit down at our small table, watching Eoin plate my dinner.

"Thank you. It smells delicious." I take the plate, noticing his shirt. It's formal and new. Is this a date? The candlelight dances across Eoin's face as he sits across from me.

"I want you to know, whatever happens, if you want to come back here or somewhere like this, I will support you. We just need to lay low for a while and get Tomas. Then, if you want to buy a farm, maybe Tomas and I could join you—if you want."

I choke on my wine. What is this? I'm not sure if this is even something I want, and I'm positive it's not really what he wants.

"What are you getting at? Weren't you with that maid a few nights ago, the one who gave you the relic drawing?"

Eoin shifts in his seat and adjusts his cravat. "I'm not saying we get married or anything. I just don't want to lose you. If you want to stay somewhere like this, I'd like to stay together—at least close by."

"Well, that I can agree on," I say with surprising relief. "I'm not going anywhere—unless I fall off the side of that damn castle."

We enjoy the rest of our delicious dinner and share a few laughs. The seven-minute gap in guard rotation occurs once per hour, but I need to wait until it is good and dark and the occupant of the targeted room is more likely to be asleep.

It is half past midnight, and Eoin helps me strap on my gear in front of our hearth. My black pants and top are tight and stretchy for maximum mobility. With daggers strapped securely to my thighs and one in my boot, I pull up my cowl and face shield. Eoin kisses me on the head and turns the hourglass over.

I exit the cottage, and the crisp night air hits me like a riding crop. Instantly, my senses are sharper, and the world seems much more dense and alive. The crickets and tree frogs drown out every other sound in the visitor village. I pull up my hood, move silently down our path toward the gardens, and slip past the first set of guards. I ease into a natural flow, muscle memory taking over as I creep silently toward the castle. I crouch behind some decorative grass near the south wall and wait for my gap to open up.

A guard approaches, and my muscles tense as I hold as still as possible. I focus on taking slow and deep breaths in order to remain undetectable. The guard passes and rounds the corner.

My window opens.

I run to the castle's base and begin my climb tucked into the shadow of the tower, grasping small protruding blocks. The quicker I move to the next block, the easier the climb and the more self-assured I become. I feel like I've reached the top in record time, and I glance back down before sliding my leg up over the top.

I crouch low, running along the crenelations, and find my ultralight pixi-spun rope. Carefully, I lean over the edge to view where my entry point is. The window shutters are open, and no torch or lantern light is visible. I pat my chest once again, making sure I still have everything I need, and proceed to tie the rope around the nearest merlon and tug on it for good measure. I estimate I will need to wait another fifty minutes until the guard rotation offers another window of opportunity. I take the time to calculate my moves and mentally prepare for contingencies.

Peering over the edge once more, my window of opportunity approaches. The guard slips around the corner, and I hop onto the edge. I hold my breath and take the rope in both hands before leaning back into the wide open air. A sharp cool breeze hits me, and I sway a bit. I find my footing and begin walking down the side of the castle. When I reach the top of my target window, I jump outward with both feet and simultaneously loosen my grip on my rope. I swing through the window and land with a soft roll. I hold very still as my eyes adjust to the darkness of the room.

I drop the rope and head to the bed to verify whose room I'm in. I lean in. He smells so damn good and appears to have fallen asleep with a book spread across his chest. My senses sharpen as realization dawns. The gorgeous sleeping man before me is August. This is not the room I want to be hiding out in while I await the next seven-minute window to climb back up the wall.

I glance quickly around the room for any signs of Razenna but find none. She must be staying somewhere else. I say a silent prayer to the sleeping gods as I approach the bedroom door. I twist the door handle and pull the door open a couple of inches so I can peer down the hall.

There are only two doors within view that remain unguarded. One of those two will be my target on wedding day. I close the door and twist the knob back into place with the pace of a snail. Pride wells within me, and I swagger back into the center of August's room and scan the room for the safe. I move a few portraits and tapestries before finally finding the safe behind a mirror. I readjust my face covering and pull out my tools. One more step, and I can get the hell out of here. I need to practice opening one of these safes; it might as well be August's.

I take my time disabling the wards and cracking the safe. Half of my focus remains on the sleeping body behind me, but my cautious fingers move swiftly and silently. I swing the wide door open and find it empty. "Boring," I whisper and head back towards the window. I need to wait just a few more moments until my next window to scale the wall opens up.

A flash of something on the nightstand catches my eye. I glance at August's chest, watching the steady rise and fall for several seconds before approaching the nightstand. I pick up a small decorative hairpin. It's beautiful and looks old. Even in the dim light, I can tell the gems are real and valuable.

I bring it to the window, hoping to see it in a better light. The moonlight dances on it, making each stone sparkle and shine like a mirror. A multitude of small red, orange, and clear gems make up an ornate phoenix, as well as a few black and gold stones I don't recognize. As a rule, we don't steal things before the main heist is over, but for some reason, I can't bring myself to put it back. A little extra coin in our pockets couldn't hurt. I peel my eyes from the beautiful palm-sized piece of art, and my heart falls to my stomach.

The bed is empty.

I drop the hairpin and reach for my dagger just as a hand grabs me by my cowl and yanks me away from the window, throwing me against the adjacent wall. August stands before me, still and calm, with no weapons in hand—menacing as ever. I've never felt more trapped.

"Who sent you?" The muscles on his chest tense fractionally. I need to get to that window.

August flashes his fangs. "Who sent you?" His tone is low and nearly a growl. I inch my hand towards my dagger, and he leaps forward, grabbing me by the throat. He squeezes and lifts me off the ground.

I kick and claw wildly at him as pressure builds in my head. His face is mere inches from mine as he inhales my scent deeply. Oh gods, please don't let him bite me.

Focus. Remember Eoin's training. My knee strikes his groin and he buckles. Slipping from his grasp, I back away towards the window, begging my inner darkness to save me once again. I reach out for my dangling rope. I'm almost there.

"Oh, no you don't," he says. He closes the gap between us and grabs the front of my tunic, holding me in place. He leans into my ear and whispers, "Tell Lucanis he'll have to send better next time."

He leans out and grabs the rope. I squirm in his grip as he swiftly knots it before slipping it around my neck.

"No!" I yell just as he pushes me out the window.

A sharp jolt of hot pain shoots through my spine as the rope tightens around my neck. I pull at the rope and try to squeeze my fingers in between it and my neck. Oh gods, I'm going to die here. I kick towards August's window, trying desperately to gain purchase. August leans on the window ledge, staring at me expressionless.

My head pounds as pressure builds. I can no longer hear, and my vision begins to fade. Help me. Please, I beg you. My darkness stirs as I call to her.

Dark shadows creep into the peripherals of my vision. I lose all control as I look back up to August. His eyes widen, and he stumbles back a step. "Impossible," he says, arms slackening. I grab the dagger from my boot and saw the rope above my head. I pull the face covering away from my mouth, gasping fruitlessly like a fish out of water. Hurry , I say to my darkness.

"No!" August shouts, reaching out to grab me. But the dagger cuts through the last bit of rope. And I drop.

I begin my descent, and it's as if time grants me a kindness. I observe my fall in slow motion, falling slowly through the still quiet air. Above, August leans out his window, one arm outstretched, yelling something I can't hear. Everything starts to fade to black, and a calmness settles over me; an acceptance for my fate. My darkness is with me. At least I won't die alone.