Nox pulled on her black silk dress and grabbed her cloak. The other escorts hadn’t failed her; they’d simply set the stage for the final act. A dark twinkle coursed through her as she set her plan of action. She hadn’t selected jewelry for her endeavor; she was ornament enough.

Why would she send amateurs to do a champion’s job? This was her game, after all.

Nox’s years at the Selkie had taught her to read minute expressions as if they were printed text on a scroll. From her face alone, it was clear Millicent was torn in three directions. In the most potent way, she wanted Nox under her roof where Nox—whom she considered her most prized possession—was safe. On the other hand, she wanted the Captain of the Guard with unspeakable greed. This many-armed beast provided yet a third hand, and it was on this final branch that Nox had pushed all of her hopes. After their altercation, Millicent needed to believe that she’d reforged the badly damaged trust between them. Nox knew this was the only bargaining chip she’d need in order to come and go as she pleased.

Nox focused her thoughts on her target.

If the castle and its resources were a locked door, then Eramus was the key.

The man was said to live within the castle’s walls. This was perfectly logical, as the queen would need to be able to call upon her most trusted man regardless of the hour of the day or night. Though Nox had never been inside Castle Aubade, she didn’t think she’d have much trouble buttering palms into an invitation. She’d grown rather confident in her charms. With the unification of their target, Millicent had a few more intelligent tricks than flirtation. The Madame had called upon a calligraphist to forge a letter of invitation.

Nox made a face as she lifted the letter to the light in the Madame’s office. She questioned, “Are you sure this looks convincing?”

“Used it myself,” the calligraphist swore, solemn as a saint. “Got myself invited to a banquet. Ate the finest pies of my life and nearly bedded a courtier—well, she was married and her husband was also in attendance, so perhaps ‘flirted with’ a courtier is more accurate.”

Time was running short, and Nox had made it clear that she would wait no longer. Millicent ignored the forger, not taking her eyes from Nox.

“Do you know where to find him?”

Nox nodded. “The girls have seen him each evening at a tavern called the Bird and the Pony just outside of the castle.”

Millicent’s hands were on her hips, her eyes averted to some distant corner as her wheels turned. She asked, “If he isn’t there? Your plan then?”

Nox wiggled her forged document in mock triumph. She smiled. “I don’t need a plan. I have an invitation.”