He lit a candle from the small night lantern in the front room and made his way up through the silent house to his bedchamber. Once there, he set the candle on the dressing table and pulled the night’s pretties from his coat pocket. Wentira’s silver locket was very nice, and contained a lovely miniature of her done on ivory, but she’d had it made for him and it was far too new to be of any use. Sweet-faced Lord Byris had unwisely parted with a gold ring set with a ruby that had been given to him by Prince Korathan. That one was best returned. If only he’d had it from the prince himself, what a prize that would have been, surpassing even the pieces he’d had from Elani. He held his right hand out to admire the amethyst ring she’d given him at their first meeting. He loved flaunting it under the noses of the nobles who used him for their amusement; they hadn’t the slightest idea that he held the heir to the throne’s life quite literally in his hand. She was a vibrant girl, with life connections far beyond her years. An elixir from her ring or the emerald brooch would sustain him for weeks. He kept them about his person at all times.

They were so very tempting.

Of the night’s take, only Duchess Nasia’s chain was of any use. He set it aside for his next visit to Basket Street and placed the rest of the jewels into the casket in front of him. Leaning back in the chair, he yawned and stretched his arms over his head, ready for a good day’s sleep.

Taking up the candle again, he crossed to the bed, then stopped, frozen in shock at the sight of the open elixir case sitting in the middle of the counterpane. Trembling, he placed the candle on the stand by the bed and grabbed the case. Two bottles were gone. Two!

He lit more candles and threw open the wardrobe doors. Everything appeared undisturbed, but he knew better. Tossing shoes and boots aside, he wrenched up the hidden panel beneath and pulled out the locked casket. It wasn’t locked anymore, and the phial containing Duchess Eona’s powerful soul was gone.

Brader!

Not bothering with a candle, he went to his cousin’s room and knocked softly on the door. After a moment Brader opened it. He was in his nightshirt, but his dark eyes were sharp and alert.

“Come with me,” Atre whispered.

He waited until they were safely in his chamber with the door locked, then rounded on the man, who was already taking in the disorder.

“How could you be so careless?” Atre hissed, shaking with anger. “If you needed to drink so badly, why didn’t you say something before we went to the theater?”

Brader’s expression was eerily calm. “It wasn’t me.”