The Everlasting Rose (The Belles, #2)(60)
“We have to go back to the pier,” I mutter, out of breath.
“It’s too risky,” she replies.
“I can’t leave her.”
“If you chase her, they will take you—and us—and this whole thing will be over. Sophia will win. Do you want that?”
Her words harden inside me.
“Lady Arane is just outside. We are to wait for her. That’s the order.”
“Edel would come for me. She wouldn’t just sit back and let them take me.” I collect the teacup dragons, tuck them into my waist-sash despite their protests, and drape my travel cloak and veil over me. “She wouldn’t do nothing. I need her. I won’t lose another sister.”
Surielle steps in my path, blocking my attempt to leave. “You can’t. I won’t allow it.” She snatches a dagger from a black sheath. “I’m in charge when Lady Arane isn’t present.”
Violetta leaves her post and rushes to Surielle’s side. She reveals a matching blade. Both catch the light from the floating lanterns overhead. The steel twinkles and shines with the promise of drawing blood.
I put my hand on the knife Rémy gave me. A hot, seething ball of anger amasses in my stomach. The arcana awaken and linger beneath my skin.
Violetta flinches. “She’s killed people with her arcana.”
“And we’ve killed people with our daggers.” Surielle’s eyes blaze with intensity. “We have the authority to cuff you again if you don’t cooperate. Bargain or no bargain. But I don’t want to have to do that.” She flicks her knife at me.
We don’t move, each of us as still as a statue.
Newsies rush the streets outside the windows hollering about their midday papers.
My heart races alongside the shouting.
“Get them here. The Glass Post, just in. The National, arriving soon!” one shouts.
“The Regent Queen reopens the skies to receive coronation gifts. Read about the items she desires in the Trianon Tribune. We’ve got the official list. Be sure to address the post-balloons and set them to land on the Observatory Deck, says newly appointed Minister of Royal Gifts.”
“Famed courtiers and kingdom celebrities already headed to the imperial island. Check out our limited edition column for a glimpse of the best dressed and best looks.”
“Commemorative beauty-scopes to be sold during the coronation hosted by the Orléansian Times. Be sure to get one. They’re going to be a collector’s item.”
The shouting subsides.
“Let me out of here,” I almost growl.
The Iron Ladies don’t move.
A blimp flies past the dirty window featuring the latest imperial headlines.
We all flinch.
NO MORE SECRECY—WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER, SAYS NEW QUEEN!
THE ROSE PRISON TO REPLACE MAISON ROUGE AS PRIMARY RESIDENCE FOR BELLES—TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO SEE THE INNER WORKINGS OF BELLE TALENTS
LEARN HOW TO GROW YOUR OWN BELLE-GARDEN! YEP—THEY’RE GROWN LIKE ROSES! READ ALL ABOUT IT
ROYAL WEDDING POST-BALLOON INVITES SENT OUT TODAY IN TIME FOR AN AUSPICIOUS NEW YEAR! HOPE YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET ONE!
TWO NEW TEAHOUSES BUILT IN SILK ISLES TO REPLACE THE ONE LOST DUE TO FIRE
BEAUTY FOR ALL—QUEEN TO PASS OUT NEW PETIT-ROSE BEAUTY TOKENS TO THOSE WHO EARN HER LOVE
“What’s going on here?” a voice calls out from behind us.
We pivot and find Lady Arane standing at the back doorway. She holds her mask in her hands, her gray skin severe in the light.
“She threatened to leave,” Surielle reports without moving her dagger.
“Surielle, stand down. All of you,” she orders.
“But...”
Lady Arane puts a hand in the air. “I’ve sent two ladies to track Edel. We should have more news soon.”
“I’m going after her.” My fingers have grown slippery around Rémy’s dagger, but I grip the handle more tightly.
Lady Arane’s eyebrow lifts.
“We had a bargain,” I seethe. “We help you, and you help me. Now your ridiculous travel arrangements have gotten my sister taken, and I’m supposed to wait patiently?” The teacup dragons circle overhead hissing and hiccuping fire, mirroring my agitation.
She moves closer.
My arcana hum beneath my skin.
“Be careful, my lady,” Violetta says. “I’ve seen what she can do.”
“You should listen to her,” I say, filling with rage.
“Lesson number three has come faster than I hoped—resisting has a price. And this is the cost. You lose people you love for the greater good of others.”
“I need my sister. I’ve already lost two. I want Edel back.”
“That’s not true,” she says. “You also want revenge. You want Sophia to pay. You want Sophia off the throne like the rest of us. You know that she’s poison for this kingdom. You know many more will die if we don’t remove her. Once we meet with Charlotte and challenge Sophia, this will all be over. We can free Amber. The guards will release Edel. We will get all of your remaining sisters. None of that can happen if we deviate right now. Some things must wait, however painful. My ladies will track her.” She holds her hand up as if swearing an oath.
My promise to Edel drums inside me. That we would get out of this. That we would succeed.