Page 65 of The Oracle of Dusk

“We should have left earlier,” Theron grumbled.

“You were the one who wouldn’t leave until you’d found the perfect weapons.”

Indeed, he’d found a spear and shield that miniaturized at will, his eyes lighting up like a child’s as he’d excitedly theorized about using such technology to benefit long-distance trade. That his mind had turned immediately to matters of scholarship and discovery only made him all the more attractive.

“You took just as long to find a treasure of your own,” he accused her playfully before that smile vanished. “But this is a dangerous time to be about. The spirits are most active at dusk and dawn. And if this is the state in which Flora keeps her shining jewel of a capital, then I doubt she has been at pains to placate the spirits of this land.”

“What do you believe these spirits will actually do?”

He frowned down at her.

“You speak as though you don’t believe they exist. Perhaps they don’t, in your homeland, but in Trisia, they are very real. When they’re angered or abused, they bring plague, blight, drought, and more besides. Entire mountain ranges and forests become bloodthirsty and impassible.” Theron looked like there was more he wished to say but swallowed his tongue. “In any case, the city gates will be closed now. You’ll have to wait to enact your daring escape.”

“Will you miss me?” she teased.

“The only civilised company in the entire queendom? Desperately.”

“Civilised? I punched you.”

“And I richly deserved it.”

Aurora smiled sadly, recalling the first time she’d punched a member of a royal family.

“What has stolen your joy, madam fairy?”

“Old memories.”

“Good or bad?”

“Good. Treasured, but painful now.”

“The love you lost to that beast of yours?”

“Yes, my dearest friend. A princess, loyal and loving…and the most infuriating person you could ever meet.”

“Am I to believe I’m not the first royal you’ve punched?”

“Are you offended you’re not my first?”

“I may never recover. I thought our meeting was singular—unique.”

“I have every hope that you’ll survive this terrible blow to your ego.”

As she flirted shamelessly, her heart hurting the whole while, a little girl darted around the corner of the alleyway, colliding with her. Theron saved her from falling onto her backside. Before she could ascertain the child’s state, the little girl dashed off, nearly losing her balance for a few steps before she turned another corner, gone without so much as a backward glance. A pickpocket? Runaway? Or simply trying to get home before curfew?

“Are you alright?”

“Yes,” Aurora answered, touching the treasure in her satchel with a sigh of relief.

They managed to get back to the hole in the wall without incident, and onto the palace grounds without getting caught. For now, her escape route was a safely guarded secret. But if this one was found, Aurora had others. After all, in the future, this place would be Phaedra’s palace—and they had managed to sneak out countless times together. Aurora replaced the rocks in front of her hole in the wall and readjusted her gown as Theron kept a watch.

“I hope you’ll keep my secrets, Your Majesty.”

“You have my vow. Will you be leaving this place soon?”

“Yes, at first light.”

The only thing more alluring than a willing woman was a woman who knew when to leave a man wanting more. Or so she’d been told. He wanted more of her secrets and he seemed intent on seduction as his method. How could he not? Aurora had seen the look in his eyes when she’d exposed her modern fashions. She’d also led him to breathtaking treasure today. Any sane man would be wondering what more she might reveal to him tomorrow.

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