Queen of Thieves

chapter 38

Alice's dress was too loose.

She had worn it before, almost two weeks ago, and it had fit her snugly then; now, the sleeves hung loose from her wrists. The bodice didn't cup her hips as well as it once had, and her collarbone looked like a blade in the mirror. Alice rubbed one of the dark smudges under her eyes, wishing for some foundation. Even some powder would do.

She looked tired.

She felt tired.

There was a knock on her door. Des slipped into the room, and she stared at him in the vanity mirror. He was dressed in a handsome navy suit, a shade or two darker than his eyes. She waited for her traitorous heart to leap, but it lay still in her chest, like a stone at the bottom of a muddied pond.

"You look nice," he said.

She rose from the chair. "Let's go."

He led her down to the sea, where a small knot of people dressed in black were waiting. Alice could make out Bea's red hair; she was leaning heavily against Aqzia, a bouquet of flowers in her hands. Next to her, Zayn was staring out at the water. Her brother was cradling Gus in his arms, and the younger boy was squirming, pulling at Zayn's hair in a way that suggested he would very much like to be put down immediately.

"They're just about to start," a voice said.

Alice knew who it was even before she turned. Lamir's presence felt like a wound rubbed raw this morning, and she half-closed her eyes.

"How's Zeti?" she asked.

Lamir just shook his head.

Zayn looked up as they approached, his expression troubled. But then again, Zayn always looked troubled these days; it had been three days since they were supposed to leave, three days since Alice told him that she was planning to stay. Saying the words had felt like slowly pushing splinters under her fingernails.

Gus waved at her cheerfully, and Alice captured the younger boy's hand, pressing a kiss to his pudgy palm. A burning circlet was askew in his red curls today, she realized with a frown, dropping his hand. A golden crown of sorts.

"What's that?" she asked.

Zayn followed his gaze. "His coronation was last night," he told her. "Gus is the King of Shimasor, now." He must have mistaken Alice's horror for hurt, because he hastily added, "It was a small ceremony; only Bea and Aqzia and a few members of the royal Shimasor court. I'm not even sure why I was invited, exactly."

"I know why," Alice said quietly.

Zayn looked away, busying himself with adjusting Gus's crown. Not for the first time, Alice felt a swell of mixed emotions. Her brother had told her the bare bones of what happened to Fotea ("I stabbed him and he died, Alice," Zayn had sighed. "What more is there to say?") and then he had fallen silent on the subject, refusing to discuss it any further. He claimed that he was fine, but Alice could see darkness lurking behind his eyes. He was a fifteen-year-old boy that had killed someone. Of course he wasn't fine.

Her father would take care of him, though.

Speaking of which.

"You're all set?" she asked. "To go home?"

Zayn nodded. "It's not like I had much to pack." He frowned. "You can still come with me, you know. If you've changed your mind."

Alice's throat felt thick. "And Zelda?" she asked, deliberately avoiding the silent question. "She'll still make you a portal?"

"Yeah. Tomorrow morning."

Alice stared at the sea, hoping that he wouldn't see the look in her eyes. She wanted him to go home — truly, she did — but the idea of being left alone in Zirna kept her up at night. She would have Zelda, of course, but it wasn't the same anymore. Her sister was the most powerful person in the world. And Alice was...