Chapter 182

Rather than leaving Cassius’s room and heading straight for Danyen’s, Kit decided to go back to her own chambers. She needed to catch her breath. It was obvious to her now how Pierce was getting to the queen, and she felt like a simpleton for not thinking of it earlier.

All three of her ladies were in her chambers when she arrived. She sent Seph to gather the items she wanted to put together for Ras and sat down at her desk to begin writing her report for the council. If she had any idea who among its members were with her, she might’ve included more of what Rosy and Ras had told her, but she left it general and non-incriminating. If her mother asked to see it, she needed to ensure it wouldn’t get any of her allies thrown in the dungeon.

Writing helped calm her. When she was finished, she felt she was ready to speak to Danyen. She sent Isla off with the report to turn in to the council and asked Avinia to go and fetch the Representative from Farlington.

Avinia knew better than to stay once Danyen was in the room. He greeted Kit with a kiss and then took the seat she offered, one of the straight backed chairs that sat around her writing table. She’d stacked up all of her notes and put them in her desk and put the ink away, but she felt this was the best place to hold a serious discussion. Anywhere else, and the handsome man before her might be too distracting.

“How was your trip to the kitchen?” He reached for her hand, and she gave it to him, resting it on the table between them.

“Enlightening,” Kit replied. “I know how he’s doing it.” Danyen raised an eyebrow but said nothing, so Kit continued. “You must promise not to say anything to anyone. If Eli, Cassius, even Avinia, find out what I’m up to, they will squash my plans like a bug.”

“Then perhaps I should do so as well.”

“No, Dan, listen. There’s a passage back there. A long, dark tunnel that leads through the walls to my mother’s chambers. I remember her showing me once when I was quite small and telling me it was only for emergencies. I used it once, and she put the fear of the goddesses in me. I believe... I don’t think she was alone at the time, and I don’t think she wanted me to see who she was with.” It was no secret to Kit that her mother had been unfaithful to her father, despite the law that says a woman may have as many partners as she’d like before marriage but not after. And once a noblewoman made her choice, she was never to have a different pleasuring partner. Her mother had broken that law for certain.

“I see. So Pierce is using a secret passage to meet with her?”

“I’m sure he is. The only question is why. Is she giving him insider information on a daily basis? Or does she just enjoy his company?”

Danyen smirked. “I can’t imagine anyone enjoying Pierce’s company, but then, if I’m honest, the queen isn’t exactly delightful either.”

Kit laughed despite herself. “No, she is not. Perhaps they are scheming together, trying to come up with more ways to sabotage the men I do care about so that Pierce will be the last one standing.”

“That’s a possibility.” He gave her a small, crooked smile full of sympathy. “What do you intend to do?”

“I intend to follow him. I need to see him meeting with her to be sure.”

“I was afraid you might say that. Kit, I don’t think that’s a good idea at all. It’s quite dangerous, especially with that beast, Vin, lurking about.” She wondered if Cassius had told him of their encounter in the kitchen or if this was just an observation. “Perhaps you should let me.”

“I do appreciate your concern, Dan, but trust me. I need to do this for myself. I need to see them with my own eyes.”

“And then what?”

Kit dropped her head and breathed deeply. “I don’t know, not really. I suppose I’ll have to confront him about it. Or find reason to cut him.”

“She will never allow it, and he will never admit to anything.”

“You may be right, but it still must be done. Dan, I’ve never asked about your mother before. Forgive me. But tell me, do you have a good relationship with her? Does she care for you? Love you?”

“Yes, Kit. My mother is one of my best friends and possibly the proudest of me for all of my accomplishments, particularly the fact that I’m here.” She could tell by his expression he understood why she had asked.

Still, she said, “Then you cannot know how it feels to understand that your mother is trying to ruin your life.”

“No, you’re right, I can’t. I am just afraid she might find reason to end it, Kit.”

“That won’t happen.” She squeezed his hand and morphed her face into a confident grin, but on the inside, she took note that she had no idea exactly what Rona was capable of.

“I will do whatever I can to help you, Kit. But you must be certain it's safe. Otherwise, I’ll have to let the others know.”

“I won’t do it right away. There’s the ball tomorrow night. I think it best if we let it lie for a few days, let the situation with Eli and the fact that I was visiting the kitchen and speaking to one of the delivery drivers today dissipate. My mother may assume I was up to something. I suppose you know we ran into Vin?”

“Cassius mentioned it to a few of us, yes. His head was cooler than mine would’ve been.”

She laughed. “Did he tell you he almost gave the man a second scar?”

“He did. It’s the almost that would’ve been different had I been there.”

Her smile was genuine now. “Come now, Dan. I’m sure you’re better at controlling your emotions than all that.”

“Generally speaking, yes. But not when someone insults my princess.”

His words brought heat to her cheeks. Kit had no intention of letting her amorous feelings distract her from the important tasks she had lined up for the day. She still had to figure out how best to sneak down the hall in the middle of the night and access the tunnel undetected. Still, when he grinned at her the way he was now, she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of heat rise up to her core.

Danyen felt it, too. He leaned over and pressed his lips against hers, softly, gently. They lingered for a moment, and Kit felt her heart flutter. When he pulled away, she wanted to take hold of him and drag him into the adjoining room.

But she didn’t. There was a time for everything, and now was time for a different sort of action altogether.

“We will speak on it again soon,” she assured him. Danyen nodded and stood. Once he reached the door, he glanced back over his shoulder, the look of longing in his eyes matching the feeling in her heart, but Kit was relieved when he closed the door behind him. Now was not the time for distraction, no matter how enticing the distraction might be.