The Bound (Ascension #2)(50)

Cyrene had always wondered why he had agreed so easily to help them and why he had insisted on coming along. But she had been thankful for his help at the time. Now, it seemed there was much more to his story.

“What sort of leading questions?” Cyrene asked carefully.

“None of your ruddy business.” Orden pushed past the lot of them and grabbed a bottle from where Avoca had deposited it. No one moved a muscle.

“Truly, I think it is our business. You led us straight to the capital knowing that you were cousin to the King. You must have known he would call on you,” Cyrene insisted.

“I haven’t seen my cousin in nearly fifteen years,” he spat. “I’m no longer an Iolair. I gave up that name a long time ago.”

“But why?” Cyrene asked. “I know that we all have our secrets, but we’re in the thick of it with you now.”

Orden tipped back the bottle and took a long swallow before addressing the room. He looked grim. “Aurum has a hard fought history to say the least. The throne is won through force more often than bloodline. There’s no guarantee that if Queen Jesalyn gives Creighton a son that he will be king one day. He may not look like it now, but twenty years ago Creighton was formidable. I regret to say that I idolized the pig, but I was just a boy at the time. I was there at his side when he murdered the reigning monarchs and took the throne for his own. When he finally had the throne secure as his own, he let it known that he had married in secret during the war, and his new bride was my sister, Lissa.”

Cyrene flinched. “He married his cousin?”

“It’s not unheard of, but generally frowned upon. But who would challenge him?” Orden asked. “I tried, of course. Tried and failed. But Lissa stepped in for me and had me sent away for a time instead.”

“And this is the first you’ve been back since then?” Cyrene asked.

“No, I came back a few years after that. Lissa was about to have her child. By then, Creighton was taking up with at least three other women at court. We parted on…less than pleasant terms, and I decided that this was not the life I had chosen.”

There was a deafening silence when it seemed Orden had finished his sad tale.

Ahlvie cleared his throat. “What happened to Lissa?”

“She died,” he said bluntly without explanation and no one could bear to ask how. “So, you see, I would never have brought you here if I’d had another choice. Creighton is doing this to get to me. He wants to know where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing since I left, but it is easier to play to his vices than to actually dodge him. He is still as calculating as ever.”

Cyrene still wondered what he actually had done all that time away, but it didn’t feel like the time to pry. He had given them a lot more than she had expected.

“Which means we need to leave as soon as possible,” Cyrene said.

“Yes. There’s no way he’ll let me out of his sight before the ball. I still think that’s our best option.”

“He’s right,” Maelia agreed softly. “I won’t be able to get out before then either.”

“So, we need a way out,” Cyrene reminded them. “And Kael cannot see anyone other than Maelia that he would recognize or he will know what is happening.”

“We can’t let that happen,” Avoca said.

“The Prince goes into the city every day,” Maelia filled in. “He won’t be a problem here until dinnertime or later.”

“Even better,” Cyrene said. “If all goes as planned, in a week’s time, we will be sailing out of the country with no more complications. Be ready when we do.”





Avoca’s lips curved upward as she let Ceis’f know that she was in position. He was set to watch Prince Kael for the night so that Cyrene could be seen by the Queen without him noticing. She nodded at Maelia.

The girl smoothed back the sumptuous lily-yellow dress and then folded into the crowd, walking into the ballroom. Once the Queen made her appearance, Maelia would stick to her side as a good little lady-in-waiting.

They all needed to be seen by someone, so it could be confirmed that they were all in attendance. Keeping up appearances for the evening was the only way they could get around the fact that Orden was to enter with the King, and it would be suspicious if they all left before the ball rather than slip away during the festivities.

Avoca just needed to wait for Ahlvie to get here, so he could escort her inside. She wished that she had been able to see Cyrene before leaving, but she had sworn she just needed one more thing from the seamstress before running off.

She tried not to worry about Cyrene. She could take care of herself until Avoca had her in her sights.

“Ready, my lady?” a voice whispered in her ear from behind.

Avoca twisted in her many layers and cursed Cyrene for suggesting the thing. It was a forest-green gown with lace cap sleeves and jewels that shimmered through the rest of the dress. It was the most exquisite thing she had ever put on her body, and she felt completely ridiculous. In Eldora, she wore practical clothing while working and loose dresses that were easily maneuverable otherwise. But she couldn’t deny that she liked the appreciative look Ahlvie gave her when she faced him.

“You look stunning.”

“Thank you.” She let a small smile appear on her face at his attention.