Page 80 of House of Crimson Hearts
“I think that’s it for today. You have forty-eight hours starting at sundown tomorrow to return with the map. Take a day to strategise. You’re dismissed,” Mother says through gritted teeth.
Dahlia, clearly still pissed off from earlier, shoves her chair back and speeds out of the room before the rest of us have even stood up.
Lincoln looks at the place Dahlia was standing, and then to the door. There’s a rush of air and Dahlia’s head pops back in. “Lincoln, follow me.”
He mouths “Good luck” to Red and then he traipses off after Dahlia. The Chief follows them out.
Keir turns to Gabriel, “Would you care to show me the library?” he says.
Gabriel positively blushes and inclines his head, and they leave.
Sadie and Fenella walk out together in silence. Xavier gives me a wink and then turns to face his partner Talulla. “I’d like to show you the castle before we begin strategising, would you do me the honour of accompanying me on a walk?” He practically purrs the words, and it makes me shake my head; that man is something else. I suspect he’ll trounce me in the bet.
“I guess that just leaves us,” I say to Red.
“I guess so.” She shifts on the spot, mostly examining her feet instead of looking at me. “Do you want to spend some time strategising?”
“I do, follow me. We can discuss it in the carriage. We’ll go to the Whisper Club. Would you mind waiting for me by the carriage, though? I need to speak with Mother.”
She looks as though she’s going to protest and thinks better of it. “Sure.”
When it’s only Mother and I left, she narrows her eyes at me from her throne.
“What are you playing at, Mother?” I ask.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She smiles.
“Don’t bullshit me. The others might fall for your charms, but you forget, I am as old as you are. I was born a matter of days after you were turned. And I know you better than anyone here.”
“Then if you know so much, why are you asking what I’m doing?” She smirks at me, but all she’s doing is confirming that I’m right. There is more at play.
“What’s the Chief got to do with this? Why are you suddenly so pally-pally with her when you were plotting strikes on the borders a matter of days ago?”
“Your partner is waiting, Octavia, you only have two days to complete this trial.”
“So you’re giving me nothing?”
“I already told you everything you need to know. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. And that means right now, we’re at a truce. You forget how far we go back, how deep this curse goes. I am not the only one who wants control of the cure. So, moth to flame, darling. My reasons are simply different from the Chief’s, but we share the same goal. And sometimes, that is enough.”
I leave frustrated, churning her words over and over in my mind. Mother plays games, I’m certain she’s telling me more than I’m realising.
On my way out, I catch one of Mother’s human members of staff. I whisper a request of him. He raises an eyebrow.
“But I don’t have any standing at the Hunter Academy,” he says.
“I appreciate that. But I think the command is better coming from you than me, don’t you think?”
He sighs. “Yes, I can see how it would be better from me. Fine. I’ll do as you’ve requested.”
“Thank you, I do appreciate it.” I slip him a bag of silver coins for his troubles and smile to myself, wondering what Red’s expression will be like when she finds out what I’ve done.
Chapter22
RED
The carriage rocks us as we travel back down the mountain. It’s still fairly early evening, most of the city’s revellers won’t be out yet. I’m not even sure if Octavia’s Whisper Club is open this early.
We descend into the underground carriage tunnels, not because it’s daytime, but because they are, generally speaking, the fastest routes through the city, being far more direct and having no traffic. But not everyone can afford these routes.
