Chapter 5
NOT REMAINING LOCKED in the “guest” room had been my plan all along. I’d been in the Councilor’s Hall before, but I doubted I could waltz out the front door without raising any alarms. Instead, I followed Devlen.
The guard stationed at my door lay in a heap on the floor. I touched his neck. A strong pulse throbbed. Thank fate.
Stepping over him, I hurried down the hallway as fast as I could without making too much noise. Devlen disappeared around a corner. Only one torch lit the corridor. Its weak light struggled against the darkness.
When I reached the turn, I almost ran into him. He placed a finger to his lips and gestured for me to wait. A glow at the end of the hall brightened, illuminating an intersection. Faint voices echoed on the smooth marble walls. Two people strode into sight. One held a blazing torch. They conversed in tight whispers, arguing at low volume.
I steeled myself as they turned down our hallway. Devlen grabbed my hand and pulled me back around the corner. We pressed against the wall. If they came our way, we would be seen. If they kept straight, we should be fine.
Their shadows arrived before they did, and snatches of the two men’s conversation reached me.
“…doesn’t matter. She’s the Councilor…”
“…acting…we can’t trust…”
We froze as they crossed the intersection, but the intensity of their argument claimed all their attention.
I relaxed until I realized Devlen hadn’t released my hand. Before I could pull away, he drew me forward. Our connection made ghosting through the Hall easier. Whenever Devlen paused to listen or to wait for a late-night worker to clear an area, he signaled me by squeezing my hand.
We exited the building through the kitchen door, which led us to an empty alley. Our footsteps ricocheted in the silence, and I fought the urge to tiptoe. Devlen strode without stopping. He slowed after we traveled a few blocks from the Councilor’s Hall, but kept my hand in his firm grip.
When I tried to yank it away, he said, “At this time of night, it would be better if we are seen holding hands, adding to the illusion we are lovers going for a moonlit stroll.”
I snorted. “Who would see us? And why would they care?”
“The Moon Clan soldiers are out in force tonight. A prisoner has escaped from jail earlier this evening.”
Janco. He probably had led the guards on a merry chase through the city just to pass the time. Or perhaps Devlen referred to himself? No. From what Tama said, no one believed me about the switched souls.
“When were you released?” I asked.
“Yesterday morning. In fact, you have spent more time in a Fulgor cell than I.”
“Wonderful,” I snapped.
We reached a main street. A few citizens hustled over the cobblestones. They kept their gazes down and shoulders hunched as if walking into a stiff wind. But the cooling air remained calm and the half moon’s sharp edge gleamed in the clear night sky.
Guards patrolled the streets. We passed a few who squinted at us. Each time, Devlen would smile at me, pretending to be in the midst of a pleasant conversation.
“Do not stare, Opal. Your attention should be focused on me. We are having a lovely chat.”
“Okay. Now you can tell me why I needed to leave the Councilor’s Hall.”
“My sister, Gre—”
“Gressa is not your sister.” The words growled from my throat.
He held up his free hand. “No sense arguing. This is important. The Councilor told Gressa you had no intention of using your leverage with the Council.”
“I promised I would think about it.”
“I am sure you would. But we all know you will comply with the Council’s decision.”
“I disobeyed their order,” I retorted. He had called me an accommodating doormat before. Although I had proven him wrong and freed myself and Kade, my current situation didn’t support my argument. I avoided contemplating my current predicament. It wouldn’t be good for my mental stability.
“I was quite proud of your defiance. But it is obvious that you will not turn rogue and stay in Fulgor. Gressa knows this, as well, and she is intent on keeping you here.”
“It wouldn’t work. She can’t force me to make the glass messengers.”
I wanted to ignore Devlen’s expression. His raised eyebrow implied she damn well could. He would only need a few hours.
“How would she explain about my failure to return to the Citadel and the fact she has my glass animals?”
“For your disappearance, she will report you have escaped. As for the messengers, she could claim her brother has learned how to craft them, and that is why you are so intent on discrediting him…me.” He shot me a sly smile.
“That’s ridiculous.” However, knowing Gressa, I’d bet she could pull it off. And Devlen hadn’t released my hand. I scanned the street. Was he leading me to a place Gressa had prepared for my…stay? A vision of me chained to a kiln flashed through my mind. What happened to all those guards on the street?
Brilliant plan, yell for help from soldiers who work for the Councilor and her top aide. I almost groaned aloud. The unconscious guard next to my room would be used as proof of my escape. This quiet late-night stroll wouldn’t attract notice. I’d aided in my own kidnapping. Idiot wasn’t a strong enough word for me.
Devlen chuckled. “Just figuring it out?”
“Yep.”
“It would have been a neat trick.”
Would have been? Confused, I remembered he had grabbed my wrist, planning to use force, but dropped my arm. Part of the act?
“Opal, look.” He pointed to the end of the street. Quartz and Moonlight’s stable was a block away. “Your Ixian is waiting inside.” Devlen glanced at the sky. “Midnight, or close enough. Did you choose the time for dramatic reasons?”
“I improvised. How did you overhear our conversation in the jail?”
“Once the annoying Ixian escaped, the guards reported everything to the Councilor’s Aide, with whom I happened to be at the time. I figured out your clues, but Gressa did not.”
“Why are you helping me? You obviously intend to keep masquerading as Ulrick. With me…out of the way, it’ll be easier for you.”
He stopped and turned toward me. “Gressa is cunning and smart. She knows what happened to her brother, and has ensured my cooperation by threatening to expose and arrest me. Since I do not wish to be incarcerated, I will follow her orders.” Releasing my hand, he stepped back. “If you are gone, then I will not be ordered to force you to make messengers
