I stand up and walk over to the window, tapping my fingers to my lips. "We use pigeons."
He lifts an eyebrow. "You have pigeons take messages back and forth?"
I lick my lips, nodding my head. "We have a trainer for the birds, and there are certain birds that you send during certain seasons, so they know to fly the right direction. They are trained to go and come back. You have birds here like pigeons, I've seen them. They're sandy in color and about the same size. They have black beaks."
"They're called Soul Keepers," Kane replies, nodding his head. "They call them that because they're very friendly with the beings in the kingdom and very intelligent."
Biting the inside of my cheek, I stare out at the horizon. "Do you think if I use my magic to guide them, we can get one to find Willem and the rebels?"
Kane chuckles. "I've never thought about doing that, but I don't see why it wouldn't work. In fact, it's brilliant. They don't pay attention to the birds, why would they? You could send a message right in front of Drogaem, and he would never know."
I nod, feeling pride swell for coming up with something new, something that the others wouldn't have thought of. "I don't really think we have anything to lose. If it doesn't work, they just fly off far away from here, which is where we want the messages to go. And we can try as many times as we want. It may work on the first time or may not work at all, but at this point, we have to do something. We have to do something that keeps us out of harm's way. Our lives are already on the line every single day here at the castle.
Kane stands up and walks over to the window, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. "You're smart little human."
I glare up at him, smacking him with the back of my hand in his chest. He chuckles, and it feels nice. It feels normal, whatever normal is. Since the other day, we've made it a point to be patient with each other and to take moments when they're handed to us. I don't know if the bird idea will work. I don't know anything about the underworld creatures, or anything about using my magic to guide another being, but we have to try something. Time is running out, and if we don't move quickly, there will be no pushback when Drogaem goes to take over all of the realms.
There's a rattle on the door, followed by a loud knocking. Both of us tense. Kane takes a deep breath and walks across the room, opening up the door. One of Drogaem's soldiers stands, his hand on his sword, glaring into the room. "The King requires both of your attendance at dinner this evening. Be ready in one hour."
Chapter 18
Briar
When I get back to my chambers, there's a black dress laid across the bed. Next to it are a pair of black cloth pants, boots, and one of Kane's black satin shirts. We glance at each other, and Kane gathers his clothes heading to the other side of the room behind the changing partition. We don't speak a word, knowing that anything devised by Drogaem is dangerous. Right this moment, we could be putting on the clothes that Drogaem wishes us to die in.
I reach back and undo the tie at the small of my back, working the ribbons of my dress as best as I can. When it's loose enough, I begin to push one sleeve of my shoulder but stop, glancing up at Kane. He has his back to me, and though the partition covers him, he's taller than it. I can see his shoulders, the way his muscles ripple, but I can also see the gnarled and partially healed scraps of what used to be his wings.
It makes my heart heavy seeing him like this. But I know that he's just as mighty as ever, if not more. Pain seems to give him strength. It pushes him even harder. It has the same effect on him that strong emotion has for me. I turn back to the dress on my bed, dropping the one I'm wearing on the ground and stepping out of it. I pick up the black satin strapless gown and step in, holding it to my breasts as I attempt to reach back with one hand to tighten it. I struggle, and I realize that besides the last few weeks, wearing effortless dresses, I haven't ever dressed myself. Being a princess, I always had a handmaiden. Even here in the underworld, until Drogaem took over, I had people to help me.
Sweat beads on my forehead as I stretch and reach, not quite getting it correct. Kane's hands touch mine, and my head snaps back, finding him standing behind me in his satin shirt tucked into his pants. The front is open except for the bottom few buttons, and his broad chest shows through. I recognize him. He's the man I first met. He's the man that stood in that dark and dim office, his clothes perfectly pressed, his chest always slightly exposed. My eyes shift up to his. I see something different there, though. This man has a bit more kindness behind his eyes than the one he used to be.
I drop my hands and turn back around, letting him tighten the laces up my back. When he finishes, he smooths his hands down the sides of my dress and kisses the back of my neck. I bite my lip, forcing myself to take a step forward instead of turning to him and wrapping my arms around his neck, pressing my lips to his.
Walking over to my dressing table, I run my fingers along the small, thin crown that I had been given when I first came to the underworld.
