The Lost Hero: Chapter 22

Misly giggled and flirted, her fan rapping eager hands and fluttering coyly. Her mother beamed at her, pleased she was being so receptive to the advances of the wealthiest men in the kingdom.

Age and marital status didn’t seem to concern her. Misly loved her mother and so was disappointed in her. She took strength knowing this was for so much more than catching a powerful spouse.

As she moved, a small amulet shifted under her bodice, warm against her skin. She could see Tulin standing against the far wall, anonymous in his palace uniform.

She was sure Tulin wasn’t his real name. He responded too slow to it, the slightest hesitation. He wore the colors of Ypres tonight, who had so many private servants there was no way the man knew them all on sight.

How many glasses of wine had she sipped and discretely left on side tables? How many masked faces had she smiled on, encouraging their attentions? It had been hours and still the music played and people circulated. Some noble son’s birthday, she could’t remember who.

Misly’s own mask was ironically of the Ninan’a style. She didn’t know if this Tulin and his fellow conspirators knew she knew of their origins. But she had recognized the amulet from one of her oldest history books. Her fan was another of their items, touched with magic that itched her fingers when she stroked the silk.

“Madame,” a man said, lifting her hand to his lips. The fur of his Nagor mask tickled her wrist.

The amulet burned like icy fire on her skin. She furled her fan and tapped his shoulder playfully.

“Oh, you,” she trilled. It sounded horribly false to her ears, but hopefully he was too drunk to notice her sudden fear.

He took advantage of the crowd to pull her close. “Tell me, my dear. Your mother still angling for a rich husband for you?”

Misly pressed her hand to his chest, holding him off. “Are you saying I am mercenary, my lord?”

“You’ve certainly stolen my heart.”

“Unfortunately, I am not interested in hearts, Jharen.”

His breath reeked of wine. “What are you interested in, my sweet?”

She spun out of his arms with a well-practiced twist. She tweaked his chin when he tried to grab her again. She curtsied and moved on with a sway in her hips and a sultry look.