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It never occurred to me that Bianca might be responsible for the Rook’s death. Now, I felt like a coward for assuring the lead Sentry I didn’t know what had happened. If I had known, I might have tried to help her somehow.
Now, the Sentries pushed me away from the scene of the crime along with the rest of the crowd. As I walked backward, away from Bianca, my gaze remained locked to hers, a million questions riding the air between us.
What was happening with her at the White Palace? Why had a Rook been trying to kill her? What would happen when she went back? Would they believe her? Would they think she was lying and sentence her to death for breaking contract?
I reached out for answers with all my might as if she could hear my thoughts.
Will you be alright?
She gave a gentle nod as she perceived my distress, then her eyes flicked to one side. Go, I’ll be fine, she seemed to be saying. You don’t want to get involved.
I shook my head. Her expression changed, acquiring an air of indifference as if her current situation bored her. What did she mean by that? Was she truly unconcerned? Or was she trying to keep me out of trouble with a lie?
The fact that she might care about my fate caused a strange sensation in my chest. I certainly cared about hers. There was no rhyme or reason to it, but I did.
The Sentry in charge asked her something that I couldn’t hear. She answered calmly, holding herself straight and maintaining eye contact. She seemed confident, in control, the shock of whatever had transpired here fully reined in now.
As the Sentry got distracted with his other officers, she glanced back in my direction and seemed annoyed to find I was still there. Her serious expression softened. She inclined her head to one side, her eyes pleading.
Trust me, she seemed to say. I’ll be fine. I promise.
I swallowed thickly and nodded. She was not a helpless maiden. She’d survived at the White Palace this long. She didn’t need me to rescue her, no matter how much I’d like to do so. All I might accomplish was get myself killed. A Black Pawn had no business in a White Square. I’d been lucky to get away without further questioning, and considering the eternal feud between the Black and White Courts, it was better to avoid any unpleasantness.
Quickly, I gestured toward Alfil Park.
Next time. I willed the message to travel to her. Our next day off would be two weeks from today. It would be torture waiting until then, not knowing what happened, but that was the only choice.
She nodded in understanding. The pressure in my chest eased a little.
Clenching my teeth on my impotence, I turned my back on Bianca. The street ahead of me was empty. Everyone was behind me, gawking, eager to stare at the horror painted on the street. In the distance, above all the houses, the Black Palace stood vigilant, a looming threat that couldn’t be ignored.
As I marched back toward the tavern to retrieve Jigsaw, I remembered my own situation. What if the situation got reversed? What if Bianca came to Alfil Park in two weeks, and I wasn’t there to meet her?
A new challenge awaited me, a fight with all the odds stacked against me. Loredana was the better fighter. But not only that, everyone was on her side. What if Knight Traian did something to ensure I lost?
No. I shook my head and hardened my resolve. I wouldn’t let that happen.
For Timotei, and for this new reason that I would have never invited or suspected... For Bianca.
Because I wanted to see her and kiss her lips one more time.