Woven in Moonlight (Woven in Moonlight #1)(88)

“Catalina might have it,” I whisper, my voice hoarse. “I weaved a message with the location of the Estrella but decided not to send it. I haven’t seen the owl in my room for days.”

Rumi sags against the table and reaches out to the flat surface to steady himself. His face is slack and pale.

Madre de Luna. I’ve ruined them.

All of them.

I walk to him until I’m inches away. I force myself to keep my hands at my sides. He won’t want me to touch him. “I failed you. But I did not lie to you, Rumi.”

A muscle in his jaw clenches.

The infirmary door slams open, the sound ricocheting within the small room. Four guards rush inside. They grab ahold of my arms and yank me toward the door while Rumi calmly watches, perched as he is on the table, his face blank, blank, blank. I expect him to defend me as they haul me out of the room. I expect him to intervene when they yell at me for disappearing and knocking out the maids.

Rumi does none of these things.

I’m dragged away, and my last glimpse is of him putting another strip of fabric onto his bloody gash of a wound. He’s careful and competent and undisturbed. He doesn’t look in my direction. Not even once.

I’m thrown inside the pigskin-colored room, the door clanging shut. I scramble to search for the owl, flinging aside my other pieces until I’ve reached the end of the pile. My animals retreat from my mad movements, and I can’t blame them.

Only one of them approaches. The owl, which perches on my shoulder. Around its leg is a tied bundle. A rolled-up message meant for me.

My stomach pitches. I slowly untie the ribbon and unfurl the single sheet of paper.

Message Received.

I forgive you.

I slump to the floor and raise a shaking hand to my lips. Catalina thinks I’ve changed my mind. She thinks I’m back on her side, supporting her claim for the throne.

And she’s forgiven me.

I can understand Rumi’s rage. It looks bad. My thoughts rush at me like an angry flash fire clamoring for victims. I can’t drive the look in Rumi’s eyes from my mind. It was hatred, as startling and clear as the water in Lago Yaku. Shame claws up my throat. He thinks I’ve strung him along for my own gain. Played him like an instrument, hurting him as if he meant nothing to me.

Just a job. Part of my act.

But he’s wrong. And I have no way of proving it.

I’ve lost him. I’ve lost Tamaya the throne. I’ve lost the best chance for Inkasisa.

I pull my knees to my chest. This is how Suyana finds me. Curled up on my side, barely able to hold back the flood of tears intent on drowning me. At first she comes in looking annoyed, but her expression loses its hardness when she sees the state I’m in.

“Condesa,” she whispers. She shuts the door behind her and crouches in front of me. “What’s happened?”

Everything hurts—my chest, my arms, my legs. I want to scream until I can’t feel anything anymore, but the room doesn’t feel big enough. Panic climbs higher and higher, like a crashing wave threatening to swallow me whole. “I’ve ruined everything.”

Suyana grips my shoulders. “Condesa—”

“I’m not her!” I blurt out. “I’m her decoy. I’m her friend—I’m not even royal. I’m just a nobody.”

She stares at me with a look I can’t define. But it’s not surprise.

I’ve lost my mind. The entire story comes out in quick bursts. My mission, the search for the Estrella, the planned revolt, my betrayal of the real condesa, the messages in the tapestries. I want it all out.

“Who do you want on the throne?” Suyana asks, her fingers digging painfully into my shoulders. “Who?”

I don’t even have to think about it. “The princesa. It can’t be Catalina.”

“Do you swear?”

I freeze. The sudden fierce gleam in her eye steals my breath. Madre de Luna. She is one of El Lobo’s hidden friends in the castillo. My personal maid.

“I’ve been stupid,” I say. “You’re his confidante.”

She considers me for a long moment. “I didn’t trust you, but then Rumi decided to count you in on our plans.”

“Not anymore,” I whisper. “And now Catalina has the Estrella.”

The door opens again and the other two maids I drugged come in, wearing their black polleras and tunics and eyeing me reproachfully. I wish I could care. Suyana has no choice but to help me dress for the wedding. I’m tucked and pinned into the dress. Something is done to my hair, still damp from the bath I’d taken a half hour earlier. The feathered crown is carefully placed on my head. Someone hands me a mirror, but I barely take a look. I’m numb as Suyana laces me into the new sandals. Numb as they swipe rouge on my lips. Numb while the two maids I don’t know offer perfunctory congratulations.

It’s only when Suyana reaches for my hand and squeezes it that I register what’s happening. The door is open, and guards fill the frame, ready to take me away.

I’ve run out of time.





CAPíTULO





Atoc’s family and wedding guests are waiting for me in the front courtyard. At the head of the crowd, Atoc climbs onto his horse to lead the procession. The gates are already open, and the cobblestone road to La Ciudad lies ahead. Several guards loiter by the crowd, scanning the area. I startle when I recognize the dark hair and tall frame of my friend.