Page 90 of Tell No Tales
"Don't worry," he said to Yvette. "I'll get it back. They won't know a thing."
"This is …" She shook her head. "Treason, that's what it is. You swore a vow to protect our emperor at all costs."
"I won't hurt him."
If everything went as planned, Hugo would make the cut himself.
∞∞∞
Klaus
Klaus didn't understand half of the cryptic whisper-shouts between Vadim and Nola. He got the gist of the plan, but their success would fall heavily on Hugo's shoulders. Klaus hoped the young emperor was as adventurous as Vadim said. Otherwise, this would be a quick trip to the palace, resulting in their executions.
"We need to move," Klaus whispered. "He's coming this way."
Vadim hastily scribbled a note with the pen light he'd tucked away in his boot, and then they tiptoed up the incline to the thin outline of a panel door. The fire spell had been deactivated, but it could be locked from Hugo's side once he knew it was there.
Nola weaved a water spell to buoy the panel along its track, easing it open without a sound. A young man stood with his back to them as he removed his tunic, displaying too-thin shoulders and too many ribs beneath a thick coil of black braid that hung to the middle of his back. A lacquered six-foot screen hid him from the rest of the room and the earth and fire weavers standing guard at the door.
Vadim stepped up behind him and clamped his hand over the young man's mouth. Instead of shouting, the man sank against Vadim in a way that instantly spiked Klaus's jealousy. It was an act of familiarity and complete trust.
Soundlessly, Vadim released him, and the man turned toward him, his eyes wide. Vadim held his finger to his own lips to indicate silence and then handed him the piece of paper with his hasty scribbles.
So, this was Emperor Hugo. While he read the note, Klaus studied his face. His eyes were dark, even darker than Klaus's. They matched his hair. His warm brown skin had never seen the sun or a single scar. His nose was overlarge on his narrow face, thanks to his hunger. Klaus wanted to take him to the palace kitchens and stuff him full of food. He wondered if that was his thought, or Vadim's.
The top button of his breeches was undone, and they sagged dangerously, showing off a thin band of dark hair that widened as it approached his waistband. His beauty was unsurpassed in any pleasure house in Landale, and it had nothing to do with his regal upbringing. Klaus had a strong distaste for the royal family on principle. He hadn't expected to be attracted to the emperor, and it made him uncomfortable.
Vadim had said Hugo was off limits and more like a son to him, but what if Vadim changed his mind? Hugo obviously adored him.
The emperor didn't even question Vadim's note. When he finished reading, he held out his hand to take Yvette's dagger.
Nola rolled her eyes and shook her head, even as Hugo dug the dagger deep into his wrist and yanked it upward with a savage twist, cutting deep.
"Shit!" Yvette swore as she turned away from the wound. "That's too—"
Nola silenced her with a water weave over her mouth.
Vadim wrapped his makeshift tourniquet above the wound. He was already talking to Hugo with telepathy, telling him the plan even as he staunched the bleeding.
Hugo wasn't listening. He gazed at Vadim with those pretty doe eyes instead."I knew you would come."
"Are you listening to me?"Vadim's stern voice echoed in Klaus's head.You need to ask Coryn for an audience in the throne room tomorrow evening. The room is perfect for an ambush from the servant's hallway. We'll be able to surround her—"
"Take me with you."
"Tomorrow,"Vadim answered."If we steal you away tonight, she'll come for you. It's not time."
"Leave the dagger, then. I'll take care of it myself."
"I'll need your consent tomorrow."Vadim's glower deepened."Once we're away from here—"
Hugo noticed Klaus and the others for the first time. He frowned."Who is this? Why can I sense his thoughts along with yours?"
Vadim glanced at Klaus, and then back at Hugo."We're linked."
"Like mated, linked?"Hugo tried to switch the dagger to his wounded hand, but he couldn't grip the hilt tight enough to stab it at his good wrist.
"Stop acting like a child!"Vadim's shout was overloud inside Klaus's head, making him wince. "You're stronger than this! I need you to work with me, one more day, and then we'll take you with us to Aquarion. Can you do that?"
