Page 26 of Seas the Reckoning

She leads us farther from the entrance before coming to a stop at an area with some stone benches and a fountain that features a satyr.

“Now then, about my cherished parent,” Starla starts.

“Hedges could still have ears,” Jackal says in a low voice.

The witch nods, not disagreeing.

“I can handle that, but just for a short while.”

Her eyes flash, and the air around us shimmers with magic. Her cheeks lose some color, even beneath the blush she’s got on.

“Starla! Your magic⁠—”

“Will hold out for a short conversation,” she says, cutting me off. “It’s awfully lucky that I decided to dedicate myself to such intense spell study, even if I don’t have the juice to pull most of them off well.”

I bite my tongue.

“My father reiterated his desire to see me settled with an ‘acceptable’ gentleman. While going through with an actual match is not part of our deal, Grammy did say to go along with the event. In that spirit, I have agreed to let him make formal introductions for me, so I’ll be spending nearly every moment on the arm of some gentleman or another. Sorry.”

She looks over at Exos as she says the last word.

“Part of the mission,” he says, arms crossed over his chest.

I can’t always get a read on him, but Starla has him figured out. Maybe it’s the tone of his voice, or the way his eyes soften when they look at her. Either way, she smiles in response to his brief reassurance.

“My father insisted that I cover my ‘vulgar’ tattoos and hide my ‘hillbilly white trash’ accent, along with my ‘abhorrent’ hair color. As you saw and heard, I have given in on that front. But I used his demands as a chance to do a bit of bargaining. After tonight’s ball, Leena and I will go back to Zyra’s with you.”

“Thank goodness!”

“That will simplify things.”

“Even if it means fewer opportunities to gather clues, it’ll be safer overall.”

She waits for us all to finish as we trip over one another expressing our relief.

“We will go back, but only to get our luggage. At least that’s what I told him. He offered to have the manor staff pick it up, but of course I wasn’t going to give away our location. It won’t help us the rest of the weekend, but it’ll buy us a couple hours tonight where we can debrief on any useful tidbits we pick up. Since Grammy did not share when during this weekend we might stumble upon one or all of the bits of vital information we need, it’s possible we could gather it all today.”

Then we’ll have to return late tonight, but I do feel better knowing I’ll have at least a brief opportunity to be myself with Jackal before we jump back into the fray.

“During the events, we will engage with the guests, and I’ll do what my father says. Leena, I’m afraid you’ll have to do the same. That bit about introducing you to people wasn’t lip service. I think he’s decided that buddying up to my best friend will win him my affection. More fool him, but it could get you closer to people who might otherwise snub you.”

“Just like they snub me!” Jackal grins. “It’s a perfect strategy. Some information is gathered better at the source, and some through being in the shadows, where people don’t know they’re being overheard. We’ll have all angles covered.”

I turn to him, putting a hand on his chest and looking up at him.

“And you really don’t mind that I’ll be there, flirting information out of people, right in front of you?”

He wraps an arm around my shoulders.

“It’s as Exos said: we’re doing what’s necessary. But I’m not above saying I hope one of the men ends up somehow responsible for helping Leon. We’d be able to punish them for that, and I’d get to express my frustration for watching them flirt with my mate. Two birds. One stone.”

I smile.

“I wouldn’t be sorry to see that.”

Starla is breathing heavily.

“All right. Dropping this magic before I get sweaty and too tired to stay upright, which would not make me a good dance partner for anyone.”