Incendiary (Hollow Crown #1)(80)

I remain with Leo, and I tell myself it is for protection. But really, he’s the only friend I have in the world.

Leo fills me in on all the court gossip. Lady Sevilla caught her husband in a compromising position with her own sister and may not attend the queen’s garden party. Duque Arias’s ship was lost at sea during its voyage back from Islas del Rey, the king’s private islands.

We’re interrupted by the jostle of the doorknob. Leo’s green eyes narrow with confusion. Only Leo has the key.

And Méndez.

The justice lets himself into my room and dread coils in my gut. Dressed in riding trousers and a long tunic with a decorative sword belt strapped around his waist, he looks like he’s ready for a long journey. Where would he go less than a week before the festivities?

I hate that he strides in as if he is entitled to be here. I hate that when he looks at me, his gray eyes brighten. I hate that I am relieved to see him, just for a moment.

“Renata,” he says, tugging off his gloves. “Leonardo. I thought I might catch you before your duties.”

Leo and I rise to our feet at the sound of our names.

“What a surprise,” I say, a brightness in my voice I’ve learned from listening to the courtiers that flitter around the palace. “You’ve been too busy for me, my justice.”

Leo hurries forward. “May I fetch you something—”

Méndez holds up his hand and Leo falls silent. Blood rushes to my face as I wait for him to speak. “I came to see the status of your wound and give you instructions.”

“My justice?”

Leo clears the food trays and wipes down the table.

“I am sorry, my sweet. I am called away on matters of the king,” Méndez says, but the curt tone of his voice makes me wary to continue to prod.

“I was about to change her bandage,” Leo says, returning from the adjoining room with the healing kit. Fresh cloth and tinctures in brown glass bottles. A needle and thread in case my wound has reopened.

“That won’t be necessary,” Méndez says. “Lady Nuria is here. Please see that she and Judge Alessandro have everything they require.”

At the mention of her name, Leo and I look at each other. His dark eyelashes flutter and he tugs on the bottom of his attendant jacket, the only sign that he might be nervous. My heart spikes to my throat, but I break our gaze and begin unwrapping my own bandage.

“Right away, my justice,” Leo says, and folds into a low bow before leaving.

“I thank you for coming to see me,” I tell Justice Méndez. “I know your time is precious.”

He gives a small, weary smile, and takes my bare hand in his. He makes short noises of frustration at the long cut across my palm. My wound is healing quickly, but not as quickly as he seems to need.

“Is something wrong?” I ask carefully.

His thumb drags gently across the scabs on my knuckles. I bite back the revulsion that nearly makes me pull away. This feels like a trap, a snake gliding around my body.

“On the contrary. I have found a new Ventári for the Hand of Moria.”

“Where?” A twinge of pain comes alive over my temples. I think of Esteban. I think of the Whispers. I hold my breath to stop myself from shouting.

“Right here in the capital. I will be needing your alman stone for him to read.”

I feel sick. There are almost no Moria left in the capital. They must have used the weapon. How else could they have found him?

I yank my hand away, unable to stop myself. My heart races as Méndez looks at me, startled.

“Renata?” He grips me by my shoulders. I can hardly stand. He pulls me against his chest. He smells of incense and sugar. The scents I thought of as home for so long. I am so tired I can hardly push him away. The way he brushes my hair back, like I’m a little girl once again, makes my insides churn. I remind myself that he is not my father and never was. He was the monster who kept me in a birdcage. But when he repeats my name, with more worry than anyone has shown for me, with the exception of Dez, I can’t speak.

“I’m well,” I manage. “It’s nothing.”

He sits back down. I take off the necklace and hand it over, wondering if he realizes that only I can read the stone. The new Ventári can only verify what I see. He exchanges it for a new one. This one is smaller, the size of a marble, and rests at my collarbone. I feel the thrum of its magic, like it’s calling to my own. “I need you to be more vigilant.”

“Yes, Uncle. Can I ask? Has something happened?”

He readies the supplies to dress my wound. “There has been a robbery of sorts. Some of my alman stones have gone missing.”

“From the vault?”

Méndez shakes his head once, his gray eyes skimming over my features. At least my surprise is genuine. “Other places around the palace. Two of them are gone.”

Justice Méndez is spying on Prince Castian! The realization makes me dizzy. I think of Castian in Esmeraldas. No one can know I was here. Did he mean anyone or Méndez specifically? Castian has the connection to Lady Nuria. Castian has the weapon. Could they be rivals for the king’s approval?

“Renata?” Méndez’s voice booms in my ear.

I haven’t been paying attention. I suck in a breath. “I’m sorry. Forgive me, my justice.”