Only in Moonlight, page 8
“I… don’t believe it made much of a difference.”
“Knowing a friend cares can make a world of difference,” she replied.
The queen’s crystal blue eyes sparkled knowingly at me, not having dulled the slightest with age. Her silvery gray hair hung loose and wavy to her waist, and she wore her wrinkles with pride and grace. Her high-collared gown of midnight blue bore a star design that glowed magically, and countless diamonds decorated her crown.
“But we’ll speak of my son more another time,” she said. “Tell me of your progress.”
I held her gaze respectfully despite the urge to duck my head.
“It’s regrettably slow, Your Majesty. She needed more instruction on courtly manners than I anticipated.”
The queen tilted her head. “Is the etiquette here truly so different from on Earth?”
“I couldn’t say, Your Majesty. The problem is that Emmeline has no manners whatsoever.”
I should have tried harder to keep the exasperation out of my voice. The queen’s mouth twitched, and I had the feeling my sovereign was trying not to laugh at me.
“Fortunately, she learns quickly,” I said. “That phase of preparation is behind us. I’ve begun introducing her around the Court to establish our story, and we’re due to plan the actual heist tomorrow.”
I didn’t expect any problems there. Emmeline had enough experience stealing that we’d fly through the planning stage.
“And you’re still confident she’ll succeed?” the queen asked.
“She’s highly skilled and quick on her feet.”
The queen looked at me closely. “But?”
I bit back a sigh. “But she wants to go home, and I’m not sure she believes me when I say she can return with a princely payment once her task is complete.”
“So during a dangerous heist of our people’s most treasured heirloom, you’ll be depending on someone you can’t trust.”
From the first time I’d presented her with my plan, the queen hadn’t liked the idea of relying on an outsider. But the moment I’d seen Emmeline shapeshift from Lady Celestine’s form, I’d known she was the ace we needed.
“I still have time to convince her to trust me,” I said. “She’s stubborn, but I’m good at getting people to do what I want.”
Hands folded in her lap, the queen gazed thoughtfully into the distance for what felt like hours. I steadfastly kept any signs of worry from showing. Worst-case scenario: she ordered me to scrap the entire plan. I couldn’t disobey my queen, but surely she could see that this was our best chance. After all my years as her spy, it stung that she doubted me, but also…
If she called off the heist, I would have to send Emmeline home.
That shouldn’t bother me as much as it did. My relationship with Emmeline was an act, so what did it matter if she left? I suppose I would miss the challenge of verbally sparring with her, the quiet meals we shared, her ridiculously delighted expression when she tried a new cheese. The chateau felt… less empty with her in it. The building was far too big for one person. Too big for two people, yet Emmeline’s presence somehow filled it.
No. If I enjoyed being with her, it was because I hadn’t had female company in so long. Nothing more. I respected Emmeline, and yes, if I was being honest, I felt incredibly attracted to her. But I had no business feeling anything deeper. She was my partner for the heist, and that was all she ever could be.
Under different circumstances… Well, it was no use dreaming of that.
“I leave it in your hands,” Queen Verena said finally. “You’re the one risking the most, so the strategy should be your decision.”
I nodded gratefully. She’d told me plainly that if I got caught, she had to deny any involvement. That’s why she hadn’t ordered me to steal the Selenian Jewel; she’d asked. And she’d said she wouldn’t think any less of me if I refused.
I hadn’t considered refusing for an instant.
“Then with your permission, I’ll take my leave,” I said, standing.
“Yes, get some sleep, Sir Valen. And thank you.”
I bowed one last time. “It’s my honor to serve you, Your Majesty.”
Chapter 16
Emmeline
Valen unrolled a scroll on the enormous table in the formal dining room. The edges of the paper curled, so he pinned them down with a flower vase and a few candle holders. I couldn’t read the loopy words written on it, but I recognized the drawings as a building’s floor plan.
“Is this for the palace?” I asked, leaning closer.
“Yes.” He pointed. “The main ballroom is here.”
I barely stopped myself from squealing in delight. I scanned the scroll quickly, as if any second now, it would burst into flames. Then I slowed, letting my eyes drink in the details.
“So many entrances and exits…” I murmured.
“We’ll be coming through the main doors here.”
He stepped closer to point out the spot on the scroll, and my breath caught. I should be used to his closeness by now, but it still made my stomach flip—yet not out of fear. He had a subtle, crisp scent that carried hints of leather. Lightheaded, I forced my focus back onto the scroll.
“And the jewel could be anywhere,” I said. “It depends on where the princess goes.”
“This is the ideal spot for stealing it.” He indicated a narrow balcony a short distance from the ballroom. “It’s isolated. Most guests prefer the west balcony because it overlooks the Moonmirror Pools, but it wouldn’t seem suspicious to lure her there.”
“And how do we do that?”
Valen cleared his throat. “Princess Regula is married, but she goes through lovers faster than a pegasus through horseshoes. You’ll shapeshift once we’re inside, flirt with her, and lead her to the balcony.”
It wouldn’t be the first time I’d seduced someone to steal from them, but still…
“Can’t you do that?”
Valen smiled humorlessly. “I’m not her type.”
“How can you not be her type? Does she have straw for brains? You’re everyone’s type.”
Valen blinked at me, and my stomach dropped like a stone down a well. I’d just completely given away that I found him attractive, hadn’t I?
“I saw you at Tullus’s party,” I said quickly. “You would’ve needed a sword to fend off all the fawning ladies.”
“Yes, well…” Valen coughed and looked away. “Princess Regula likes her men younger, more delicate, and much more bootlicking.”
I quickly changed form, hoping to keep his attention away from my accidental confession. Taking on a slender male body, I fashioned glamorous clothing with tights that showed off my legs. I made my face as fine-boned and attractive as I could, with thick eyelashes and chestnut-colored hair that fell artfully across my forehead.
Valen assessed me closely. “Not bad, but change the hair. She prefers blonds.”
That was easy enough.
“And the shirt,” he said. “Make it a looser style, the kind that opens in the front to show off the chest.”
I made the change, having seen men wearing that when we’d gone out dancing.
“Good.” He looked me slowly up and down, gaze lingering on my now-exposed chest. He swallowed. “I expect she’ll find you tantalizing.”
“Do you?” I asked, and immediately wanted to die of mortification. “I mean, do you find men attractive?”
He shrugged. “I’ve had a few male lovers, but I usually prefer women.” His gaze pinned me with a strange intensity. “And you?”
I made a muffled choking sound. I’d rather kiss a plague rat than have this conversation, but I had technically started it.
“I’ve only ever fooled around with one man, and it was disappointing.”
I looked down at the scroll, desperately searching for something that I could use to change the subject.
“You never tried again?” he asked.
“Never met anyone worth the risk. I’ve seen too many women die in childbirth. Not to mention all the diseases. Don’t you—”
I snapped my mouth shut. I did not want to steer the conversation to his potential venereal diseases. God and Goddess, what was wrong with me?
“We have methods of preventing that,” he said, guessing what I’d been about to say. “And I see a healer regularly.” His eyes sharpened. “Do you need—”
“No, I used some of Tullus’s money on a full healer’s examination.”
He nodded. And was I imagining it, or did he look relieved?
“Exits,” I blurted out, waving at the scroll. “What’s our plan for getting out once we’ve got the jewel?”
He hesitated before turning back to the scroll, all business again.
“Ideally, we’ll walk back out the main doors at the end of the ball. Timing is key. We can’t steal it too soon, or we’ll look suspicious for leaving the ball early.”
“But you’ve got backup escape routes planned in case everything goes to shit?”
“Of course. No fewer than three.”
Good. He knew what he was doing. I looked at the sketch of the grand ballroom, imagining it full of dancers and musicians. Too bad we couldn’t just take the jewel and run. I hated the idea of mingling with snobby fey for hours, but that was why Valen had insisted on all those damned etiquette lessons.
“Will Amatien and Ishaq be there?” I asked, thinking it would be nice to see a friendly face or two.
“No, they’re not high-status enough to get an invitation.”
His tone was perfectly bland, but a muscle ticced in his jaw. Angry on his friends’ behalf?
“We dined with them first because they’re easygoing and wouldn’t care if you made a blunder,” he continued.
“Thanks for your confidence.”
“When we attend the hunt tomorrow,” he went on as if I hadn’t said anything, “you’ll meet more of the Court. Most of them will attend the ball.”
Translation: don’t screw up at the hunt.
“That reminds me…” I fidgeted with the edge of the scroll. “Amatien said something to me after dinner. I wanted to ask you about it.”
“I told you Amatien’s a gossip,” he said lightly, though his shoulders stiffened. “You shouldn’t believe what he says.”
“He said you used to be betrothed and had gotten your knighthood in some horrible way.”
Valen’s jaw tightened, and I wondered if I should have kept my mouth shut.
“I tried to pretend I knew what he was talking about.” I leaned against the table, changed my mind, and straightened. “Because you probably would have told that stuff to your real lover, right? So maybe…” I sighed. “Look, I don’t care, but I need to know the basics for the next time someone brings it up.”
There. That was a logical argument, right? I needed to know for our cover story, not just to satisfy my curiosity.
Valen said nothing, eyes on the scroll. His entire body looked rigid. The obvious discomfort made him seem more… human.
“I suppose you have a point,” he said finally.
Then silence. Was he going to tell me? Or was he hastily thinking up a story? I was letting my guard slip around him, and I had to stop. The caring gestures and personal conversations didn’t change that he was a lying fey.
“I was betrothed to a woman named Aurea.” He faced me, but his gaze didn’t quite meet mine. “She’s the daughter of a knight. We broke it off after seven months, and as far as anyone knows, we just discovered we weren’t suited for matrimony. Personalities clashed. It happens often enough.”
“But what really happened?” I asked, sensing a lot more to that story.
“That’s not your concern.”
The words lashed out like a whip, and I tried not to flinch.
Valen sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “If someone asks, just tell them you think you’re a better match for me than she was.”
“Yeah, sure.”
A traitorous knight and a conniving thief: we were perfectly matched.
“As for how I got knighted…”
He abruptly walked to the window and stared out at the garden. My legs tensed. Had the intruder returned?
“I was a child at the time,” he said. “My mother was a baker. The palace commissioned her to make a cake for the queen’s anniversary. She was thrilled.”
Oh. Valen wasn’t actually looking out the window. He just wanted to keep his back to me so I couldn’t see his expression.
“The assassins came the night before.” His voice was low, tone detached, like he was telling a story about somebody else. “Enemies of the queen. They wanted to poison the cake and threatened us—my mother, brother, and me—to go along with it.”
He fell into silence again, and I didn’t push him. My fingers felt suddenly cold.
“I knew they’d kill us anyway.” He folded his arms behind his back. “So I attacked first.”
“But you were just a kid.”
“Fortunately, I was good at killing even then. I managed to gut one of them, but the other slaughtered my mother.”
I clutched at my throat.
“The neighbors heard the screaming and came to help before my brother and I could get murdered, too. And Queen Verena knighted me for saving her.”
My skin felt clammy beneath my dress, and I put a hand on the table to steady myself. I should have asked Amatien to explain instead of making Valen retell the tragedy. I never thought I’d feel compassion for the inhuman knight who’d coerced and trapped me, but here I was, a tight knot forming in my chest, making it difficult to draw a full breath. If something like that had happened to my mother…
“Now you know the story.” His voice cut like a knife, though he hadn’t turned from the window. “You can gossip with the other courtiers. Just don’t expect much sympathy. A good number of them would kill their own mothers if it meant getting a knighthood.”
“They’re soulless, shit-splattered cocks, then.”
He looked back at me, his face a blank mask. “It doesn’t matter. I saved the queen and was richly rewarded.”
“You saved yourself.” I swallowed but pressed on. “And if your mother’s anything like mine, she’d just be thankful you survived.”
His face twitched, but he smoothed out his features before I could read his expression.
He walked back to the table, shoulders straight and voice flat. “We’ve gotten distracted.”
He was ending the conversation. God and Goddess be praised. If we kept on sharing experiences and vulnerabilities, I was going to start caring about him. Then I’d be easy pickings, and he would use me and dump me just like Tullus had done to my mother.
“Right.” I looked back at the map. “Tell me about these other exits, then.”
Chapter 17
Emmeline
“This is dream dust,” Valen said, once we’d put the floor plans away.
He handed me a small silk pouch. It was unadorned, fastened by drawstrings, and deceptively light. I moved to open it.
“Careful,” he said. “Don’t drop even a single grain. It’s highly illegal to possess, and I might not be able to get more before the heist.”
I looked inside and saw silvery sand. “Why’s it illegal?”
“It’s made from sylvan citrine. The gemstone helps people sleep, but when ground into powder, it knocks out a person the instant they breathe it in.”
I quickly tugged the pouch shut. “So you want me to throw it in Princess Regula’s face?”
“Then the Selenian Jewel will be yours for the taking.”
I fingered the drawstrings on the pouch, considering. “She wears it as a necklace, right? I can steal it without her noticing. I’ve done it before.”
“The clasp is locked.”
“You’ve never seen me pick a lock before.”
“Absolutely not. Regula is a pompous, power-hungry egomaniac, but she’s a member of the royal family, which means her magic is…” He let out a hissing breath. “She could kill you in an instant. You won’t be giving her that chance.”
“All right.” I tried to keep my voice light and ignore the heavy weight in the pit of my stomach. “Dream dust to the face it is, then.”
“The key is to—”
A knock at the door interrupted him. I quickly changed shape from the princess-seducing pretty boy to Valen’s redheaded lover, slipping the pouch of dream dust to Valen behind our backs.
“Pardon me, Sir Valen.” Nin walked into the room. “Lunch is ready.”
His eyebrows rose. “A little early, isn’t it?”
“I’m accounting for your time traveling in the carriage.”
“You must be mistaken, Nin. We don’t have any appointments today.”
“No, you don’t. Your social calendar is practically empty. Day after day, you’re keeping poor Emmeline cooped up in here with this etiquette training. Yes, she needs to learn it to gain acceptance at the Court, but she’s going to feel like a prisoner at this rate!”
I stifled a laugh. If only you knew, Nin.
“I’ve packed you a picnic.” Nin herded us toward the door. “Eat. Have fun. Grope each other scandalously in public. Just get outside for a while.”
Valen didn’t argue. When he’d swooped down on his pegasus, I never would have guessed the terrifying man let himself get bullied by his own maid. I wished she’d interrupted when we were really practicing etiquette, though. Planning a heist was fun.
Valen swung by the kitchens on our way out and picked up two apples. Hadn’t Nin already prepared lunch? My confusion cleared a moment later when we went outside to the carriage.
“You’ll spoil them,” the driver scolded.
Valen just smiled as he gave each pegasus an apple. “They deserve to be spoiled.”
One pegasus nickered. The other nuzzled Valen affectionately. I kept back, watching him feed them and rub their heads. So he liked all animals, not just cats. I guess I could relate. Animals were better company than most people I’d met.
Once the pegasi had finished their treats, Valen helped me into the carriage, and we set off.
“So,” I said with forced cheer. “What do— Hell!”
