5. Vane

Vane

I hugged the shadows, my presence going unnoticed amidst the bustle of the royals that crowded the room. They wore their finest clothing, draping themselves lavishly in garments that probably cost enough to feed a family for a month. Around the room they walked, mingling, chatting, stuffing their faces with various ornate snacks. The excitement of the display had raised a celebration, music now loudly blasting through the hall as everyone rushed to congratulate the princess.

The king sat on the dais, surrounded by guards decked out in thick armor, long swords strapped to their sides. It was silly to me that the Lightlace opted to train in swordcraft when they had the power of the sun at their fingertips. They thought it made them more well-rounded, but I would protest that it actually made them easier targets, not as well mastered in their Lightlace magic as they could be.

Killing them would be child's play .

Bitter anger surged in me as the king watched the girl. The man who had everything, sitting in his castle, safe and warm. My fists clenched at my sides, and my shadows writhed against my skin, ready for my demand for murder, but I held them back. Now was not the time.

Murder was not the goal of tonight's excursion.

My eyes fell to the pretty redhead, who had somehow managed to clock me even when I'd been doing my best to fade into the background. Perhaps it was because she was clinging to the outskirts, too.

Shadow recognizes shadow.

It was her expression that caught my attention now. Sadness almost bordering on despair as she watched the princess. Strange. Most people would be happy to see their next heir come into power, but she looked like someone had just killed her puppy. She turned to face toward the refreshment table and filled a small glass with a crimson liquid, took one sip, then set it back down in disgust.

Focus on the mission, my inner voice scolded, and I shook my head, turning away. I would not find the information I sought by staring in her direction.

My attention was drawn back to the king, who was moving purposefully toward the opposite side of the room. The entire room reacted to him as he went, stepping out of his way and patting his shoulders as he passed. My heart pounded as I followed, doing my best to stay on the outskirts and not draw attention to myself. He seemed to be heading toward a side door, away from the prying eyes of the other guests, and I could almost smell the opportunity to get him alone.

As I neared the hallway, I saw her again—Saoirse, standing in the king's direct path. He approached her, and I realized his target had never been the hallway, but her instead. I frowned. What did he want with the baker ?

King Erwin placed a firm hand around her arm, nearly dragging her through the side door. No one noticed her exit, attention already back on Xanthi.

Against my better judgment, I followed as they rounded a corner, calling my shadows to me. I did my best to blend in with the dark expanses that hugged the walls until I was able to peek out just slightly. Even if the king looked directly at me, he would still have a hard time making me out among my shadows.

His expression was dark, almost thunderous, and I tensed.

"What are you doing here?" the king demanded, his voice a harsh whisper filled with biting venom. Saoirse flinched, taking a step back until her back hit the wall. He looked around furtively, clearly not wanting the rest of the guests to hear, his eyes sliding right over where I stood.

"For Xan," she replied quietly, her voice steady but strained. Her head was downcast, doing everything in her power not to look at her father. Her flaming curls sprouted from every direction, like they were crying out for help. "She practically begged me to, I couldn't let her down. She's my sister, too."

Sister. Dots connected in my mind as I realized. I hadn't known the Volari family had two daughters, and my senses went on high alert. If she had a fraction of the power her sister had, they were a very formidable family indeed.

"Did I not make it clear that you are no longer welcome here?" he hissed, pinning her with his ugly glare. "You are an embarrassment. A disgrace. You do not belong here. I thought you would have understood that by now, but clearly I must have been mistaken. Perhaps another lesson is needed?"

Saoirse flushed beet red. First of embarrassment, I thought, but when she finally raised her eyes to meet her father's, I realized it was fury that burned deep within her, finally clawing its way to the surface. A flash of the girl I had seen through the bakery window, knife slicing toward the bastard who held her. "I have just as much right to be here as anyone else in this room."

The king threw his head back, letting out a deep, mocking laugh that drew a couple of bemused smiles his way. "You have no rights, child. You gave them up the moment you cursed this earth with your existence. Being away for so long has tarnished your mind."

She inhaled sharply; the fight seeming to drain out of her body with her exhale. I expected him to back off, to move away and retreat to his podium among all these people, but he didn't. Instead, he reached forward, gripping her arm roughly, hatred peeking out behind his perfectly plastic smile. She whimpered, her eyes widening.

He leaned in, whispering something to her that I couldn't hear, before he started pulling her toward the nearest exit, his hold unrelenting.

I'd spent most of my afternoon wandering the castle, posing as a worker, mapping as many entrances and exits as I could find. This one would leave her on the east side of the grounds, near the massive gardens, and the direct opposite side from her bakery.

"You will leave this place immediately," he commanded. His arm reared back, slapping her across her cheek. I almost lunged, but held myself back. This wasn't my fight, and I didn't owe this girl anything. "I'm not going anywhere until I talk to Xan," she finally said, and this time her voice shook, her eyes downcast.

"That is not up for debate," her father snarled, and she cried out again as his palm connected with her cheek again. Everything in my body wanted to surge forward, to stop what he was doing to her, but I held back. I could save her, but revealing my identity could get me killed in the process.

"Final warning," he continued. "Leave. Now." He shoved her against the wall, both arms gripping hers in an ironclad grip as tears streamed down her bruised cheek. "You are lucky I've let you live this long, even when you've brought such shame to this family. Xanthi is going to be the queen someday, she doesn't need you tarnishing her reputation. Next time I see you here, it'll be the last time. Do. You. Understand?"

Saoirse nodded, no words coming out. His eyebrows raised, a sick, disgusting fury contorting his features. Quick as a snake, he pulled his hand back again, a soft glow emanating from his palm. He moved so fast that, even if I was standing right next to them, I don't think I could have stopped it.

This time her cry of pain cut straight through my chest, coiling around me uncomfortably as her father's flare burned into her cheek, the scent of burnt flesh permeating the air within seconds. He let go of his grip on her completely, and she sagged to the floor, the sobs she tried to muffle escaping around her fingertips that desperately tried to cover her mouth.

Her father looked down at her, pure ice twisting his face as he stared at the damage he had caused. "You are nothing. You will always be nothing. And Xanthi would do better to remember that. I'll make sure she does."

His words were harsh, my jaw clenched as tight as my fists, restraint shaking my core as I fought against the urge. Killing him now wouldn't help me, but I would savor the day he finally got what he deserved.

The king turned sharply on his heel, and I sank into the shadows, not even daring to breathe until he'd exited the hallway, leaving Saoirse to pick up the pieces of herself alone. When I was sure he was gone, I stepped out, needing to see what she did next.

She slowly pushed herself up, hands trembling as she touched her burnt cheek with a pained hiss, pushing her unruly locks back over her shoulder as she surveyed the damage. A few deep breaths later, she stood on unsteady legs, looking around, eyes wide. She glanced toward the hallway her father had disappeared, then turned and began walking in the opposite direction, toward the exit.

I followed, my mind racing, not sure what my plan was. I could stay, hiding in the shadows, creeping through the castle unattended as I tried to gather intel. But this wasn't just a simple reconnaissance mission anymore. Maybe, just maybe, I could use Saoirse to help me.

Her father's cruelty was evident, and for that I felt sorry for her, but there was something else, something suspiciously akin to hope.

I may have just found the ally I needed.