“Counteroffer…” I crossed my arms over my chest, hoping to distract from the way my heart was thundering in my throat. “I won’t say a word about your dagger if news of our trip doesn’t reach the king’s ear, directly or indirectly, from your lips.” It was a long shot, but her secret was obviously fodder for a bargain, or she wouldn’t have added weight to its importance. It was the only leverage I had. I mean, there was every chance the king already knew, since Maeve was the main source of his information and gossip, but I had to hope she’d decided to confront me first before running off to tattle.

Or that she was keeping the knowledge for a rainy day.

The slow smirk that spread over her face wasn’t the reaction I’d expected. There was also a gleam of knowing in her eyes, but I couldn’t quite place its meaning.

“I suppose I can’t fault your spirit, though your intuition could use a little fine-tuning,” she said, making me frown. She began humming in contemplation, her eyes tracking my body as if attempting to make me squirm. I didn’t, at least not outwardly, so she shrugged. “You have a deal.”

I barely suppressed my relieved exhale as she offered an impudent bow and sauntered away. Was that… too easy? Could her word really be trusted? I was apprehensive, to say the least, and it felt like I was overlooking something vital—being oblivious, as Alex would say. But trust, no matter how faint, was all I had. Either she would betray me or we’d both carry on with our secrets locked in each other’s heads as mutual leverage. The outcome couldn’t be predicted.

The unknown scared me, but what else could I do? I was now also, technically, an accomplice in hiding something from Cair, which made me super uncomfortable, but considering our lives were very possibly at stake, I knew he would understand. He would do the same thing if he were in my shoes.

Or he would’ve dueled her, but that wasn’t exactly an option for me.

“Do heed what I said, little dove,” Maeve threw over her shoulder, startling me from my thoughts. “Don’t get brave out there. Let my brother take the hit. He may not be good for much, but he’ll make a pretty decent shield.”

I frowned after her, confused and irritated by her warning in equal measure, and seconds later, Cair strode into the hall. He looked extremely handsome in his more casual, fairy-tale-prince clothes and unfairly slutty pirate boots, but that was a total distraction. He scowled at his sister but gave her a reluctant acknowledgment before she disappeared from view.

He was at my side in an instant, his hands bracketing my cheeks. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine.” I let out a humorless laugh. “Just Maeve being Maeve.”