Hotel Magnifique(57)

“We have to go. I’m not supposed to be in here now.” Frigga tugged my sleeve, but I batted her off.

“Give me another minute.”

Frantically, I searched, but there were too many birds to pick out one. If Zosa had flown out the window like the black bird, I didn’t know what I would do.

I was about to turn around when a golden bird shot toward me, landing in my outstretched hands. A sob of relief wracked my chest until she started pecking at my nose.

“Zosa, stop it.”

I tried to hold her back, but she wouldn’t listen. Her little beak tugged at my hair. I was confused and so dizzy with happiness, I nearly toppled over. With one high-pitched keen too big for her tiny body, Zosa flew off.

I turned to face Alastair.

Behind him, Yrsa led the guests with the leopard away.

Alastair wrapped his fingers around Frigga’s wrist. “You’ll come with me.” His face was pinched.

“It’s not Frigga’s fault,” Hellas shouted. A moment later, he stumbled out from the bushes. “That girl must have done it,” he snarled at me, then turned his attention to Frigga. There was fear in his eyes for his sister—a fear I hadn’t seen from him before.

This was it—what Bel had hinted at in his room; Frigga was Hellas’s reason for being hesitant to upset Alastair. Hellas did Alastair and Yrsa’s bidding in order to keep his sister safe. Bel probably didn’t understand his devotion, but I did. I understood exactly how Hellas felt.

“I’ll deal with the kitchen maid later,” Alastair said.

“But ma?tre—”

“Guests got inside the aviary. Was it your sister’s key or not that allowed them entrance?”

“Please,” Hellas begged.

“You know the rules,” Alastair said. “She’ll have to be punished.”

I pictured Frigga’s nest of hair spilling over the side of Yrsa’s table, just like Red’s. That swirl of not-milk. Minutes ago, Chef had sworn to report me to Alastair. I was already in trouble. I should say something—

But if anything happened to me, no one would look out for Zosa. Then Frigga started to cry, and I couldn’t just stand there and do nothing.

“I did it,” I said. “I took Frigga’s key and came in here. She was only trying to get it back.”

“Is it true?” Alastair asked Frigga.

Frigga looked at me. Say yes, I willed. When she nodded, Hellas let out a sharp exhale.

“Very well.” Alastair gripped my shoulder. “This way.”

It was eleven thirty when we reached the lobby. A stack of silver luggage stretched to the ceiling acting as a shelf for champagne. Guests took glasses and gathered to watch the hotel move. Bel leaned against a wall. He pushed away when he saw me and froze at the sight of Alastair.

Alastair didn’t notice Bel. He led me to a door on the first floor and whispered a command. The door opened to a plain guest suite with no title. “After you.”

I took one step inside and the door slammed at my back, locking me in the room alone. Seams filled in until the door became a solid wall. Trapped. My legs gave out and I sagged to the floor.

I didn’t know what would happen, didn’t know if Bel would help me now, or if he even could. My head throbbed and I wanted out of this room. Agitated, I clawed at the peeling wallpaper. At least Zosa was alive, and Frigga would keep both her eyes.

Far sooner than I expected, before I could gouge much more of the wall, the room door appeared, then opened. At the sight of Bel, relief hit me so sharp and sudden, it took my breath away. I leaped up and wrapped my arms tight around him. When he stiffened, I pulled away.

His face—a face I’d come to know as well as my own—held nothing but indifference. He looked at me like I was a stranger. It gutted me.

I didn’t know why he was acting like this, but it couldn’t be good. I crossed my arms, suddenly freezing.

“Well?” I asked.

“You’re being sent back to Durc.”

“With Zosa?”

“No.”

“Then I’m not going.”

“You have no choice. Your contract has been voided. The moment you walk through the lacquered door, you’ll step back into that alley, same as a guest upon checkout.” Then, so softly I barely heard him, he added, “You won’t be demoted again, at least.”

“Demote me. Tell Yrsa to take my eye. Tell Alastair to keep me.”

“I won’t.”

Won’t, not can’t. Tears blurred my vision. “Why won’t you fight for me?”

He brought a hand up and wiped my eyes then rested his palm against my cheek. I leaned into his touch, needing it in this moment like I needed air. “I’m sorry,” he said.

I didn’t understand it. “Why bother helping me in the first place?”

Something swept across Bel’s features then disappeared in a blink. “I was curious how his ink worked and now I’m not. If Alastair discovers you had your memories this whole time, he’ll find some other way to punish you. You can’t stay.”

Like hell.

I jerked his collar down and fished out the hotel key. “You’re the Magnifique. He needs you to move the hotel. Make a deal with him.”

His throat bobbed. “I already have.”