The White Sheep's Disguise ✓

Chapter 11

Gustus forces me to walk at his side through the palace. I want desperately to fall into step behind him; my withering poise isn't exactly up to the standards of royals, but when my strides slouch to the smooth floor, he places a hand on my back and urges me forward.

The two men avoid conversation besides occasional muttering about why Gustus is doing what he is doing. No one behaves that way in front of the Raven Queen, no one goes without dismissal. Facts stated by Theo in a hushed tone that isn't so easy to forget. Gustus comes back with how Theo behaved childishly and risked getting his head cut off by their mother's power. Either that or the potential of losing Theo's job because of his lack of care towards maintaining a professional standard.

Guards maintaining their posts break a hard posture to watch me walk with the prince of Rivian, but no one stops me once they discover his warning glare. The chains remain, so I'm seen as a prisoner until they're removed, but the voice in my throat hides behind a solid wall of stone in fear of saying the wrong thing. Not having any experience with royals or confidence makes it all that more difficult to say my peace.

Gustus stops at a window looking out to the royal gardens, grabbing onto Theo's arm to stop him, too. Involuntarily, I halt in my tracks and give my legs a rest by sitting on the window's ledge. Theo frowns at my indecency and I stand quickly to avoid a scolding.

"Go to our chambers and I'll be there shortly," Gustus orders.

Theo immediately shakes his head and arches a brow like his husband might be slightly insane. "I will do no such thing. She is a prisoner and I am not leaving you here with her—alone."

I stare at my boots when Gustus glances over his shoulder at me.

"I can stand against any threat, my love. You know that."

Theo sighs dramatically through his nose and enters a silent staring match with his husband. In the end, Gustus is the winner, and it's Theo who kisses him on the cheek and urges him to be careful. Rivian possesses secrets in the form of magic, and no one, even a royal, is safe.

We watch him walk down the hall, his hands stuffed in his pockets and his head down, swooping red hair hanging down his forehead. The pillars rise to the ceiling above his head, cresting into a dome, and connect to the large block of stone swimming from one end of the hall to the other. These small details are nothing to Gustus, but everything to someone that has never stepped foot anywhere other than a slimy cottage near the docks.

Once the hall is clear and there isn't a single guard watching us closely, Gustus grabs onto my wrist and tugs me towards a wooden door. The small window barricaded in iron bars sheds a small beam of light into the closet once he shuts the door behind us. My back hits a wall of shelves and I stumble forward, tripping over the chains and nearly falling if it's not for Gustus bracing a hand against my shoulder to steady my wobbly knees.

"For a Luminary, I expected you to be stronger," his voice hisses to me in the dark. The harsh outline of his face catches in the beam of light from the door, but I must squint to see past the bridge of his nose. He shifts his body and his eyes twinkle.

I stumble over my tongue. "Excuse me? I'm not a Luminary, I'm a healer." My heart races in my chest. Confrontation has always been my downfall.

"What precautions did you undergo to hide it?"

Staring at what I believe to be his face, I blink away the confusion and shock. Immortals have better luck in the dark than average humans or mortals, but something hangs over me. Perhaps the chains are snuffing out my ability in the same manner they've pushed down my shoulders into a constant ache.