chapter twenty-four.

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chapter twenty-four /  salt and sorrow❛ my thoughts will echo your name ❜

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chapter twenty-four / salt and sorrow
my thoughts will echo your name

Kaz glued his eyes on Eulalie as she gazed out the carriage's window at the wintery landscape that befell them

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Kaz glued his eyes on Eulalie as she gazed out the carriage's window at the wintery landscape that befell them. They were nearing Istamere, and Eulalie had already given him a mask to wear to the ball, though she had told him he did not have to dance with her. She just wanted to keep an eye on him. Kaz predicted this after his last failed attempt at stealing the gold.

"This is ridiculous," Kaz muttered, tracing the plain black satin mask with his thumb. He didn't look back up at Eulalie, but he could tell he didn't amuse her.

"This wouldn't be happening if you had followed directions," Eulalie hissed as the carriage came to a stop. She leaned forward, placing a hand on the door. She didn't get out right away and seemed to force him to meet her eyes. "There will be plenty of champagne, and we do not have to dance. You do, however, have to stay in the same room as me." She grabbed Kaz's shoulder, bringing him so close that he could feel her breath on his face. He winced and sucked in a sharp breath, his ears ringing as he forced himself not to be sick. "If I do not see you, I will personally throw you off the cliffs and watch your mangled limbs twitch as you take your final breath. Are we clear?"

Kaz wanted to laugh at her, but he stayed silent and only nodded in agreement. He would let her believe she had the upper hand, even if she didn't. The carriage's door opened, and Eulalie stepped out with the assistance of the footman. Kaz put his mask on, typing the satin ribbon behind his head. He tried not to catch a glimpse of his reflection in the sandglass window. He turned to watch Jesper and Inej set out of the carriage as well with masks of their own.

The carriages glistened silver in the moonlight. Engraved white-gold ivy vines wound around the door and the Winterrose Kraken above it. Did they respect the creature, or did they fear it?

"Kaz!" Eulalie called over the interlocking conversations that swept through the courtyard. She beckoned him to get close.

Kaz reluctantly followed but didn't dare take her hand, which was also gloved but in navy satin, and went halfway up her arms under her dark, velvet cloak. He leaned down to whisper in her ear, "We don't have to give names, do we?"

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