Page 135 of A Vow of Embers

When he came into the room, he looked surprised to see me still awake. “Not going to pretend that you’re sleeping tonight?”

His gaze roamed over me and I saw him swallow hard. Good.

I lifted my wineglass to him. “I’m celebrating the last night of you locking me up.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. I’ve decided I’m done with this. I’m going to live my life, and if you don’t like it, too bad. I will fight every guard you send to try and stop me. I’ve humored you for long enough.” The goal was to get him irritated enough that he wanted alcohol but not provoke him enough that he would storm off.

It was a delicate balance. I took a drink and let out a little sigh. “This tastes so good.”

Was that too much? I wanted to kick myself.

He ran a hand over his face and let out a deep breath. He came over to the table and poured himself a drink. “You lasted longer than I thought you would.”

I hadn’t imagined he would agree with me. I’d expected him to tell me no, that I had to stay in our room indefinitely.

Then he raised the cup to me and drank it all down in one gulp. I wanted to laugh. He was making this so easy. I had thought I’d have to do some more subtle maneuvering. But he emptied his glass and then poured himself another.

Which he also drank immediately.

I set my glass down and went to my trunk to pull out the dark tunic I planned on changing into.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“I’m sneaking out and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

“No, you’re—” The words died in his throat and he collapsed onto the ground. I changed and then went over to him, hoping I could lift him up into the bed so that he would think he’d just gone to sleep for the night.

I was able to drag him over to the bed but quickly realized there was no way I could lift him. He was too massive.

I’d figure out an explanation tomorrow when he came to. I had given him the entire vial, and it had to be enough to keep him asleep for hours.

I grabbed my sheet rope and climbed down. I heard a cawing coming from my balcony. Kunguru was watching me.

“Be quiet,” I told him and headed across the courtyard. I knew exactly where the night patrols in this area went and what they checked. It made it easy for me to make my way through the main part of the palace and then out a side door used by servants for deliveries. It was where our water from the temple came in every day.

As no one would be delivering anything this time of night, the door wasn’t being watched. It was ridiculous how easy it was for me to get past the gate and out into the main city. No wonder assassins had been able to break into my washroom. I was going to have to tell Xander how lax his security was.

Antiope could certainly teach him a lesson or two.

I imagined the pleasure I would feel when I bragged to him about how easily I had broken out, and then I would throw the records I was sure I would find at his face, proving that I was right about the tariff.

It still aggravated me that he had denied raising it. Everyone said he was the one responsible for it. I thought of how different my life would be if he hadn’t. Haemon never would have left. He and Doria would have married and probably had a baby by now.

But Kallisto would have had to honor her betrothal to Xander. I couldn’t imagine my sweet sister married to that man. He would have crushed her spirit. I was surprised to find that I was glad that I had married him and not her. I could handle him.

The city was surprisingly awake. I hadn’t expected to see many people on the street but there were quite a few. It sounded as if some parties or celebrations were going on. I tried to keep to the shadows and not make eye contact. I kept my xiphos in my hand, covered by my cloak. If someone tried to attack me, I’d be ready.

I wasn’t very far from the administration building when I realized that I was being followed. There was a prickling at the back of my neck, letting me know that I was being watched. I considered my options—would it be better to head into the labyrinth and try to lose him there, or should I hide and hope he passed by?

I turned down an empty street and ran. The footsteps behind me got faster, as if the person were also running. They were getting closer.

Hiding seemed like the better plan. There was an alley nearby and I darted into it, pressing myself against the wall. I lifted my xiphos and waited, my breathing sounding far too harsh to my own ears. I wanted to calm myself down but I was too anxious.

The footsteps stopped. I held my breath. I waited for the attacker to pass me so that I could take them by surprise from behind. I just needed them to walk a few steps farther; then I could jump out.

But there wasn’t any movement.

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