Page 215 of The Robin on the Oak Throne

“Let them look,” the actress said as she pushed the bathroom door open and tugged Kierse inside.

As soon as Kierse pushed the door closed, she flipped the lock. “Time to get changed.”

Lyra winked at her. “There are easier ways to get me out of my dress.”

Kierse snorted as she gratefully removed her intricate mask. She wiggled the metal trash can attached to the bathroom wall until it popped out of the frame supporting it. At the bottom of the attachment was a bag, which Kierse opened to find their change of clothes. This time she wouldn’t have to do elaborate theft in a ball gown and high heels. She vastly preferred it this way.

She stripped out of her dress and slipped into black leggings, a black tank top, and sneakers. Lyra changed into a white coat and dark pants that mirrored the kitchen staff. Originally, Kierse had been planning to do both parts, but Lyrawasthe better actress, and now she didn’t have the time.

“How do I look?” Kierse asked.

“Like you are about to be very sneaky. And me?”

“A kitchen princess.”

“Perfect,” Lyra said with a laugh.

Kierse bounced from toe to toe as she waited for a cue from Walter. They were running low on time. If Gen didn’t make it to the security system and disarm it, Kierse was going to have to do something drastic.

“Come on, Gen,” she muttered.

“I’m here,” Gen whispered in her earpiece. “Sorry.”

“Can you confirm location?” Walter asked.

“I,” Gen began, huffing as if she’d just been in a fight, “uh, I’m close. Give me another minute.”

“What the hell happened?” Kierse asked.

“Guards,” Gen said.

“Are you all right?”

“I may be…bleeding,” Gen said. “And I can’t heal myself…or not something of this magnitude.”

“This magnitude,” Kierse repeated in horror. “Where are you bleeding?”

“Knife wound. Side,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Fuck. Do I need to send someone to get you? Gen, you can’t…”

“I’m working on it now,” Gen interrupted, her breathing labored.

“Excellent,” Walter said. “They closed the doors for dinner. The clock is ticking.”

The silence was deafening as they waited for Gen to bring down the security system. After that, they had minutes to steal the cauldron. It all relied on her.

Kierse could hear her friend’s labored breathing on the line. It felt like everyone was waiting on bated breath.

“Gen?” she whispered.

“It’s almost down.” She sounded horrible. Kierse hated every minute of it.

“I’m sending Nate as soon as he finishes in that ballroom,” Kierse told her.

“Don’t…you…dare.”

“Nate,” Kierse said.

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