In the Shadows~zayn au~Completed ✅EDITING

~Chapter 7: Payment From His Hide~

A/N: Again, if you have any questions regarding anything in one of the chapters, ask and I'll do my best to clarify! Thanks for reading!

The next morning, Kalysta woke later than usual.

"Good morning, milady," Delia greeted her, puttering around the room and arranging things that were already in their place.

"For the sake of the gods, Delia, why are you here so early?" Kalysta groaned.

"I have duties to see to, remember?"

"Did you come straight from William's?"

"I don't see why I should discuss that with you!" Delia scoffed, outraged.

Kalysta laughed.

"How was the information gathering for the evening?" Delia asked, an easily apparent attempt to change the subject. It worked, however.

"It was completely useless!" Kalysta exclaimed. "That ambassador must have a tight rein on his men's tongues in regards to political matters if not in matters of decency. It was absolutely awful! I spent another evening getting propositioned and I received even further-and very unnecessary- evidence of how absolutely asinine the ambassador is! He has to be the most corrupted, impudent, and selfish man that I have ever met!"

"Well, you must have made an impression on him anyway," Delia remarked.

"Whatever do you mean?" Kalysta asked, sitting up quickly in bed.

"He asked Bill about you this morning. He asked about 'Lyra' at least."

"No!" Kalysta gasped. "I called him a pompous ass! What would he want except to have me arrested?"

"You called him an ass? What on earth did you do that for? You know you could be severely punished for saying that to a royal. Well, Lyra could."

"Yes, but he doesn't seem to know that."

"Pray he doesn't find out."

"Besides, he was being an ass," Kalysta said, grumbling. "And they'll have a hard time finding 'Lyra' to arrest her."

"Regardless, Bill said he seemed very curious as to your whereabouts and when you would be working next."

"I'll just not go back, then."

"You're going to lose your best information source because of him?" Delia asked, surprised.

"It's better than risking getting arrested in my own kingdom!"

"Don't be so dramatic. That wouldn't happen. Bill said he was very cordial about it, saying that he simply wanted to talk to you further on a subject you had broached the night before."

"I'm meeting with father today to discuss our options before the representatives return to meet tomorrow," Kalysta said, taking her turn to change the subject. "Would you like today off as well?"

"Milady, I'm not getting paid for days off," Delia reprimanded.

"Ha!" Kalysta laughed. "You're not getting paid regardless of whether you work!"

Delia sniffed and acted wounded. "You always know how to hurt a lady."

Kalysta laughed again as Delia walked toward the door.

"It may hurt, but you're still going to take that day off, aren't you?" Kalysta pointed out.

"You assume correctly," Delia said behind her as she walked out. "Send Ezra to fetch me if something arises."

"And where will you be exactly?" Kalysta called teasingly.

"You know very well where I'll be," Delia snapped before shutting the door behind her.