Page 83 of City of Snakes
“‘Self-loathing bullshit’?” I asked.
“Yes! You can blame yourself forever for what has happened in the past, but it won’t change a damned thing for your future.”
“What future?” The attempted joke didn’t deter her, and she squeezed me tighter. I groaned. “Fine, please let go of me. I’ll think about it.”
“You’ll think about what? I need specifics.”
“I’ll think about letting her stay,” I answered. “If she even wants to.”
“Oh, she’ll want to.” As El released me, I faked a cough. “I support whatever decision you make. But have youseenher? Even Ryn wouldn’t blame me if I ended up in bed with her, and he’s growing awfully jealous when I sleep with others.”
“We need to talk about that, by the way.” My two officers warming each other’s beds would spell disaster at some point. Or worse—dramatics.
She shook her head and waved me away. “I am not the chosen one with the magical seed to sow to save the world. I owe nobody an explanation for how I spend my intimate time. You need to talk to her.”
I grimaced. “Please don’t saymagical seedever again in my presence.”
She laughed before reaching up to squeeze my shoulder. “I mean it. I support you—no matter what. You know that, right?”
My heart swelled.
I didn’t deserve friends like El. When I’d found her, she’d been a scared seventeen-year-old without direction who had just lost everything. Now, she’d grown into a force that never shied fromfighting for me or kicking me when I needed a kick. She’d never once doubted me...
I nodded. “I know that.”
Elsedora smiled before heading toward the balcony door. “I’ll go make sure our Queen is prepared.”
Hours later, people were gathered in the courtyard below; the bustle of chatter coated the air in excitement. Rust-colored flags had been handed out to the crowd along with Luz-blue ones. The balcony was adorned with both crests—the Sahlms’ coiled rattling serpent and Luz’s crown of thorns and acorns.
“I can’t find her.”
Ryn’s whisper to Elsedora halted me before I could step out onto the balcony.
“Tell me you don’t mean who I think you mean,” I growled.
Ryn had one fucking job—get Sybilla from her room to the balcony.
My officials straightened, Ryn looking all too wide-eyed and Elsedora looking all too unconcerned. She knew something.
I pointed at El. “What did you do?”
“She’s safe,” Elsedora answered. “I promise.”
I clenched my teeth. In just moments, I would address my people with the reassuring message of unification with the Central Corridor. I would tell them that we had allies in Henosis. And my said ally was unaccounted for.
Her safety mattered to me for many logistical reasons...but a different type of worry twisted in my gut.
A frustrated groan escaped my lips. “She better be alright—now, go get her.”
“Well, I can’t do that rightnow...” Elsedora grimaced.
I had an awful feeling that I would hate whatever happened next.
All the noise in the courtyard began to die down. The eerie quiet of whispers below made it easy to hear the thunder of my heartbeat. I stepped up to the balcony railing.
No one noticed me there. The crowd had turned, looking away from Umber House to the opposite side of the long courtyard.
At the back of the crowd, people began parting for someone on foot. I could have recognized that head of honey-blonde hair anywhere, and my chest clenched. Mumbling spread across the courtyard as they realized the Queen of the Central Corridor was on the ground among them. I gripped the railing.
