Page 46 of The Never List
15
Rylee
White stone and wrought iron–framed windows create Kal’s gated estate. Rows of fresh roses line the base of the home, all expertly cared for and manicured. The structure sits on an expansive piece of land, and to the west, I can just see the top of the massive ruby statue of one of our sleeping goddesses—his mother, Neph. I wonder if he had the home built here so he could always see her in the distance. The house itself is bigger than any I’ve ever seen, with the exception of the palace.
Mirren guides me up the steps to Kal’s front doors—large glass doors rimmed in a ruby red border, allowing the entirety of his entryway to be seen. Golden lights flicker from the inside as Mirren slides a key into the lock and ushers us in, then secures the door behind us.
The Occuli had stopped cold outside of Kal’s gates, as if they’d been repelled by an invisible border. It’s a relief, if not a blessing.
My heels click against the polished marble floor as I follow Mirren inside. A sweeping staircase with rich wooden steps dominates the entrance, and a sitting room lined with lush furniture rests to our left, a long hallway to our right.
“I’ve already had your things brought to your rooms,”Mirren says, not bothering to look behind her as she climbs the stairs. I hurry to follow, tearing my attention from my surroundings as she reaches the second-floor landing. “Kal’s room is that way.” She points to the left down a corridor that ends in a set of double doors. “Your room is this way,” she says, turning right. “It’s the only other room on this floor.”
“I won’t be sharing a room with Kal?” I ask, unable to stop and admire the art on the walls because Mirren is walking so fast.
“You may,” she says. “That depends on you and Kal. You’ll work out the official arrangements soon enough, but for now, I assumed you wanted your own space.” She opens another set of double doors and walks inside.
The room is as grand as the rest of the house, with a layout similar to the room I spent the night in at the palace. An oversize bed, a balcony overlooking the grounds, a wardrobe, and a bar stocked with food and drinks.
Something pricks my chest at the ease with which this room was prepared for me, at the wealth one must have in order to snap their fingers and stock it in a matter of hours. What else can that wealth do if directed toward those who need it most?
I rub my chest while examining the room, scanning it for anything out of place—a habit I picked up from Erin, who always pushed me to listen to my instincts and not be lazy when it came to protecting myself. Missing her has become an entire part of my personality, so normal and consistent I’m used to the ache. What would she make of all this?
I grin slightly, thinking about how she’d give me grief for getting caught at the Choosing, for putting myself in a position like this at all.
I blink out of my longing and look toward Mirren. “Can we speak freely here?” I ask.
“It’s safe here,” she says. “All the princes ensure their homes are magically soundproofed, and only those they trust have a key.”
“You’re one of those people,” I say.
“I am.” She lingers near the doorway. “I have been for a long time.”
“I imagine there aren’t many people on that list.”
Mirren shakes her head.
“Will you tell me what happened tonight?” I ask, hopeful. I hate being in the dark, hate feeling like I’m missing something, but she has no obligation to tell me anything. I’m merely a potential mate in a long succession of those who came before me. She could view me as a fleeting part of the Legends’ lives, which would give her no reason to trust and confide in me. But she’s given me answers before, so I hope she will again.
“Why do you want to know so badly?” Mirren tips her chin, her eyes as hard as glass. “Why do you care?”
I gape at her, shocked at the switch in her tone. I walk over to the little bar and select an amber-filled decanter, sloshing the liquid into two crystal glasses. I carry them and the decanter to the group of couches and armchairs across the room, sliding into one and setting the extra glass on a table between us.
“I want to know,” I say, choosing my words carefully, “because for the foreseeable future, the Legends and I are linked. Even if they don’t choose me in the end or I them, for now, we’re in this together. If I can help them, I will.” I take a sip of the liquor, the sweet burn easing the tension inmy chest. “Plus,” I continue, “I know it’s been a short time—too quick, actually, to make sense—but…” I’m surprised at how true my words are. I might be speaking tactically to persuade Mirren back to my side, but I’m not just telling her what I think she wants to hear. “I don’t want anything bad to happen to any of them. And from the energy tonight? It looked like something bad.”
Mirren purses her lips, smoothing out her top, which doesn’t have a wrinkle in sight, before she walks over and takes a spot on the loveseat across from me. She grabs the drink and takes a healthy gulp. “None of the others ever asked,” she says. “They never bothered to care about the business of the Legends outside of their dealings with them directly.”
I silently wait for her to continue.
“Not that these particular…disturbances occurred last year, but the princes will always have Legend business to tend to. It comes with the role of ruling territories. There are always those who want to upset the balance and disturb the peace, and the princes are doing their best to minimize the damage to their people. Tonight, though, it’s a recent development.” She sighs. “But they’ve always had to clean up messes. Fix what’s broken, scare those who like to do the breaking.”
“You’re speaking in a code I don’t fully understand.”
“You’ll learn,” she says. “If you’re smart.”
I laugh softly and take another drink. “Suppose we’ll see about that one. Now, tell me.”
Her eyes dart around the room, her shoulders tensing as she finishes off her drink. “Recently, there have been attacks in random places throughout the princes’ territories. Morethan the regular infractions—like the enhancement-drug runners or internal fights between rivals.”
