Page 212 of The Robin on the Oak Throne

Graves drew her into his chest. She’d thought she would feel worse after finding out about her parents. And whileshe was melancholy, it was a relief to have the truth. That was all she wanted. The Curator had the rest of the answers.

“We need to get the Curator alone. I want to ask him questions.”

“I have some questions for him as well,” Graves said, flexing his hands. Kierse had an idea he had a very specific kind ofquestioningin mind. “Let’s secure the cauldron. Then I’ll use my resources to track him down and get your answers.”

“Deal.”

“Good,” he said and kissed her again.

Tomorrow their world would change, but this…this would stay the same.

Chapter Sixty-One

Kierse adjusted the elaborate mask on her face. “Is it right?”

Lyra turned to her, and Kierse got a full look at Lyra’s mask—a half face of gold with a turquoise gemstone between her brows and brushed turquoise metallic paint along her cheekbones. It had golden wings from either side, made of a wired tulle that shimmered with the same turquoise glitter. The whole thing matched the fitted turquoise dress she’d had designed for the theater benefit tonight.

“It’s not tight enough,” Lyra declared and twirled her finger.

Lyra retied Kierse’s mask, which was black metal that almost molded to her features. It was filigreed with rose gold along the edges and had rose-gold beaded fringe dangling from the bottom of the mask, obscuring the bottom of her face. One side had black feathers splayed out up and over her dark hair. It was beautiful but deceptively heavy.

Lyra tightened the string to the point of pain across Kierse’s temples, but she held back any complaints. This was the only way inside the building during Monster Con. The security for the conference was too tight.

“Better,” Lyra said, adjusting a string on Kierse’s sumptuous, rose-gold gown. “You fit right in.”

It was the first night of the con, and all three theater companies were here for the charity benefit to raise moneyfor the arts. And, unbeknownst to them, make it easier for Kierse to sneak in unnoticed. Which was key. She was hiding in plain sight.

The previous night, she and Graves had dined with Kingston on Isolde’s delicious cooking. Kingston had left for the museum in the morning to restore his magic—persuasion was his main power, but he had portaling as a secondary magic, and it took almost all his reserves to travel the Atlantic. Graves hated the ability. Kierse coveted it. But it was convenient in this case to have Kingston out of the way while they got everything in place for the heist.

She needed to keep her head in the game. This wasn’t like last year when she and Graves had singlehandedly broken through King Louis’s defenses. This was an entire operation by a talented team. Every person had their own part. She was in position, and now she just had to wait.

A voice crackled to life on their shared channel. Isolde said, “Cake delivered.”

Kierse resisted the urge to tap the earpiece in her ear as Walter fired back, “Acknowledged. Laz, you’re up.”

She could practically see the multi-tiered cake that Isolde had created for the event. Nate had convinced a friend who worked for the con to hire the faux bakery, Cake & Cake, off of the advice that they were making the cake for his wedding. Isoldewasbaking Nate & Maura’s cake, but there was no Cake & Cake business. Isolde only worked for one person. And now that cake was in an enormous box with the faux Cake & Cake logo Gen had designed printed on it in baby blue. There was also a second, smaller cake in a second, smaller box that was being held until closing. A little decoy box, if you will.

“Cake in my possession,” Laz said over their earpiece.

“That’s our cue,” Kierse said.

Lyra adjusted her basket of roses and then looped her arm through Kierse’s as they headed together toward the ballroom.

“Let’s try not to get held up by some handsy monster.”

Lyra’s eyes were dark and piercing. “I was trying to get held up byyou.”

“I know.”

“We still could,” Lyra offered under her breath. “I don’t bite.”

Kierse laughed softly. “I think you do.”

Lyra grinned, showing off her elongated canines. “Only if you ask me to.”

Damn Lyra for being 1,000 percent her type.

A throat cleared abruptly on the line. Graves was clearly listening in on their conversation. Lyra bit her lip and then pulled Kierse toward the exit.

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