Page 144 of Crown of the Courtesan

Wait for me

My confusion spikes as I flip through the other pages. What could this jumbled mess possibly mean? And what does it have to do with me?

I look out, past the balcony and toward the sea. A shadow caresses my cheek, becoming one with the wind that blows the ivory ship across the bay. The sight transfixes me; my breathing stops. Behind it, the darkened sky lightens, with the first traces of lavender trailing the storm-drenched clouds as they roll in.

Sunrise nears.

My fingers shake as I return to the chamber and silently grab Rett’s hooded cloak from the hook on the wall.

Courage runs through my burning veins, mixing with my latent powers. I can’t go through with this marriage. I won’t surrender to a different type of Keeper. There has to be another way—and I will find it.

There’s no time to lose.

Rett sighs and turns over beneath the blankets. My heart twists. Would he ever forgive me? I shake my head, clenching my jaw. A stronger woman wouldn’t seek his forgiveness, not after what he did to secure my hand in marriage. Perhaps I’m weak for pitying him. Perhaps I want to prove Erah wrong.

I laugh silently and bitterly.

She’s right.

I’m not loyal.

And I don’t want to be. Neither do I have time for these thoughts when I need to find freedom.

It’s better to escape with the Witch-King, with the full understanding that I’m his enemy, than to stay with those who pretend otherwise. Ashland is dangerous and wants to kill me—but I’ll be one step ahead.

My mind frantically forms a hasty plan. I’ll use Ashland as a stepping stone long enough to return to Alexandria. Once there, I can hire Lir’s mercenary services to help remove Balor Black by any means necessary. A promise of rewards from Alexandria’s treasury could go a long way.

I tuck Cliodna’s diary safely into my stays but turn at the sound of fast-approaching footsteps.

Wearing her dressing robe, Erah is on the other side of Rett’s door, striding toward me. “You weren’t in your chambers!” She grabs my face, her nails digging into my cheeks as she inspects me. “Why are you wearing a cloak? What are you trying to do?”

“Nothing,” I breathe, stumbling on the train of my ballgown, my heart racing.

Rett stirs in the bed.

“You’re lying. I always know when someone is being deceitful.”

“I’m—I’m not.”

I continue to step backward past the dying embers in the fireplace. Rett sits up, squinting in the dark.

Erah’s words drip with malice. “Oh, so you think you could flee and I wouldn’t notice?”

“What’s going on?” Rett asks, his voice hoarse, looking between his mother and my cloaked form.

Erah drives me further and further across the room like a cornered animal into a trap. She bites out, “Your bride doesn’t know what will happen if she rejects the bond!”

The sea breeze blows my curls across my face. Rett climbs out of bed and stands beside Erah as I edge onto the balcony. My bare toes are cold on the stone. The wind whips the cloak around my silver ballgown, sending the aroma of the feast wafting upward.

Rett complains, “Mother, will you please stop being so dramatic?” He turns to me, his hand outstretched. “Tabitha, come inside so we can start preparing for our wedding.”

My gaze connects with his, and time slows down. His jaw drops in disbelief.

The back of my hips brush against the sandstone balustrade.

“She doesn’t know,” Erah repeats sharply.

My ring finger burns. It’s as if the bonded lines are melting into my skin. The ring glows, and the iridescent lines swirl and pulse with a crimson glow along my knuckle. Twisting off the wedding band, I throw it at them. “I can’t. I’m sorry.” Tears blur my vision. Rett and his mother try to convince me of something, but their words are inaudible.