One Dark Throne (Three Dark Crowns #2)(47)

“Don’t look so sad,” she says even though he is too far away to hear. “We both knew one of them would do something like this.”

Running probably seemed cowardly. Neither of her sisters ran. Mirabella scarcely could, surrounded by priestesses and Westwoods, and of course Katharine would not. The little poisoner has been waiting for her chance, hatching a plan all on her own.

“Arsinoe!”

It is Luke, with Hank flapping on his shoulder.

“I can’t wait!” she shouts. She has to make it to the orchard and into the woods before her sisters or it will be over before it begins. Katharine said that Arsinoe was to lead the hunt. But all that means is that Arsinoe will be the quarry.

“Luke, stay out of the woods! Find Jules! Find Jules and Joseph!”

The Westwoods and Luca stop Mirabella just west of the square. They form a wall of robes, and Bree, Sara, and Elizabeth take her out of her Midsummer dress and put her into her hunting clothes: leggings and light boots, a warm tunic and cloak.

“Quickly, quickly,” Luca orders breathlessly.

“I need my crossbow,” Bree says. “And one for Elizabeth.”

“Bree, you cannot interfere.”

“I know that. But this is a hunt. Do you think the poisoner queen is going to charge into those woods by herself? She will have an entire Arron guard!”

“She is right,” says Elizabeth. One of the priestesses hands her a weapon, and she hoists it in her good hand. “We will not interfere. But we won’t let you face this alone.”

Mirabella looks at Luca, but the High Priestess says nothing. Instead, Luca takes Bree and Elizabeth by the shoulders.

“You good girls,” she says. “You loyal friends. Do not let our queen fall to treachery. If death finds her, it must come from a queen and a queen only.”

“Wait,” Mirabella protests. “Arsinoe does not know that she may have a guard! I saw her run off alone, and the Milones have not gone after her!”

“Good,” says Sara. “An advantage.”

“But that is not fair!”

“Mira,” Luca says as gently as she can. “This was never going to be fair. Now, to the woods. Over the hill to the orchard. Follow the Wolf Spring priestesses.”

“Katharine, what have you done?” Pietyr asks. He puts his hands on both sides of his head as servants help Katharine out of her gown and into hunting clothes.

“She is doing what she is meant to do,” says Nicolas as he watches her change. Pietyr looks like he would break him in half.

“You stay out of this,” Pietyr barks. “I have had enough of your mainlander ideas. You are a suitor and not even her chosen one. You are not an Arron.”

Katharine lets them bicker. The tension between them must overflow eventually. She just hopes she is there to see it when it does.

“If he has put ideas into my head, Pietyr, they are nowhere near as many as you have.” Pietyr quiets. He glares at Nicolas. It is a good thing she is taking them with her on the hunt.

Katharine slides her throwing knives into their sheaths and buckles them about her waist as Natalia sweeps into her room.

“My sweet Kat. You continue to surprise me.”

“This will be easier, Natalia. You will see.” She slides a longer knife into her boot. “It would have been chaos trying to poison at the dinner. So much sleight of hand and changing plates. You know I have never been good at that.”

“You are a skilled archer, Kat, but I have never known you to be good at hunting. This is more risk than the Council cares to take.”

“Be that as it may, they cannot stop it now.” Katharine gestures to a servant. “Crossbow. And bolts dipped in Winter Rose,” she orders, referring to the Arrons’ favorite hunting poison.

“No, we cannot,” Natalia agrees. “The wait for your return will be long, with my sister and Renata in my ear. Do not tarry. You must promise.”

Katharine pauses. No one else can see what she can in Natalia’s eyes. Natalia will never show fear or doubt. But they are there. Be careful and return to her is what she means.

“I promise, Natalia.”

“Good.” Natalia blinks, and the moment is gone. “Horseback, I think, is the best way. I have had Half Moon saddled, along with Pietyr’s and Nicolas’s horses. Bertrand Roman will join you, as well as Margaret Beaulin.”

“Margaret Beaulin?” Pietyr asks, checking his own crossbow. “From the Council?”

“The same,” Natalia replies. “She is war gifted. She will be useful.”





WOLF SPRING





Jules wakes slowly in the warm bed, beneath the pleasant weight of Joseph’s arm across her chest. His eyes open when he feels her begin to stir, and he kisses her shoulder.

“Hello, my Jules,” he says, and her cheeks go hot. Joseph laughs. “Now you decide to blush? After all this?”

“It’s new to me,” she whispers.

“And to me.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I do,” he says, and moves atop her again to kiss her. “But it’s true. The first time with you was always going to be special. No matter how many ways I imagined it.”

“Joseph.” She giggles and squirms away toward the window.