Page 23 of Thief of Dreams
"So?"Soraya demands as soon as I'm back in my chambers. "Have you learned anything from the prince?"
"Yes." I slip out of my gown and tug on the nondescript black leathers I usually wear on a job. "I applied the thumbscrews and he told me exactly where the Dragon's Heart is. Easiest job I've ever been on."
She stares at me flatly. "We're wasting time."
"You may have noticed the legions of guards out and about today," I drawl, sliding half a dozen knives into various sheaths about my body. "If we knew where the Heart was, it might be a good opportunity to use the distraction to steal it. But we don't. Which means we both need to keep our heads low. I don't tell you how to assassinate someone. Don't tell me how to do my job. Father gave me the lead on this. I don't particularly want to have to tell him you bungled it through sheer impatience."
She flops on the bed with a snarl. "We're so close. Don't you want your freedom?"
Every damned day. "Of course I do."
But he's only offered it to one of us.
A nervous itch trickles down my spine. I wasn't overly bothered at having Soraya at my back, but the thought she might be here for her own purposes is a little concerning. Maybe I'll have to watch her a little more closely once we discover where the relic is. "How was your day? Find the treasury?"
"It's that enormous building across the rose gardens. They've got crews of twelve guarding it. I pretended to flirt with one of the guards. Didn't even have to kill anyone."
"That's a first."
Her eyes flash fire. "I'm saving my knife for later. If anyone gets in my way, I'll make it nice and bloody."
I don't say it, but I know my name is on that list.
"Then let’s go examine the treasury," I murmur, turning toward the door. "Twelve guards? That doesn't seem like enough to guard something precious."
"That's because you haven't seen them yet," she replies. "I didn't say they were fae."
8
Soraya's right.
Twelve guards aren't enough for a treasury that houses one of your most valuable relics.
Unless they're beastkin sentries.
Half-animal, half-fae, I thought they were all exiled during the wars, but they're the actual living remnants of the Unseelie court. Some wear horns and goats legs, others have the head and teeth of a jungle cat set atop a muscular human torso, another looks like he wears the head of a bull.
"Cauldron’s piss," I curse under my breath, as we scan the building. "Getting past is going to be a nightmare."
They'll smell me for sure.
"But you're the best for this job," Soraya protests mockingly. "I'm sure you won'tbungleit."
Sisters. You can never trust them to return various aspects of your wardrobe, but when it comes to repeating the words you threw in their face, their memories are impeccable.
"I'm not going to bungle it." I squat in the shadows as I consider the task. I'm going to have to move swiftly, even as I Sift. And hope there's no more beastkin inside. "Wish me luck."
"I'm sure you won't need it," she replies with an evil smile.
Fine. I draw the half-mask that's slung around my neck up over my nose and mouth, and haul my cloak over my hair. "If I get caught, then I'm throwing you to the wolves."
"Wouldn't expect anything else," she replies, though there's a hint of fondness there.
And as I Sift, I almost catch the faintly whispered, "Good luck," that leaves her lips.
The enormous columns that ring the treasury doors are full of shadows. I land with a blink, and then I'm reaching for the thin line of shadows beneath the main doors before the nearest guard can even turn his head. The hardest part about Sifting is that you can only travel as far as you can directly see.
Inside.
