Peter didn’t say anything, but his expression softened a little as we continued to climb the winding streets. I snuggled closer to his side. “Plus, even if Ludolf caught me and the worst happened, you’d still see me again.”
He frowned down at me, confused.
“I’d definitely haunt you. Chase off all your future potential girlfriends.”
He rolled his eyes and shook his head again. “Not funny. I was seriously worried about you.”
“Okay, okay.” I lifted my chin and shot him an earnest look. “Honestly, it was a calculated risk. And that was probably the safest I’ve been going down there to see Ludolf.”
He raised his brows and nodded.
“And I promise not to go down there again if I can help it. Not until we catch that sea slug and throw him behind bars.”
Peter breathed out a sigh. “Good. Thank you.”
I gave him a small smile. “Plus, I may have played it a little fast and loose in the past, but I have a lot of good things to live for now. I’m not going to risk that.”
He hugged me tighter to his side.
“Though.” I held up a finger. “Just to be clear, I worry about you too, you know. I was down in the sewers, but you and Daisy were breaking up a potential riot and chasing down criminals—like you do every night.” I raised my brows at him. “We both have dangerous lines of work—we’re gonna be a little worried sometimes.”
He grinned at me. “True.” Then he bent and kissed the top of my head. We neared the top of the mountain, bats circling overhead across the moon, then entered through the main gates. The white baking tent loomed ahead, with the white walls of the palace reflecting the moonlight behind it.
“Want to pop in and see how the cures are coming along?”
We made our way across the grassy lawn and were shown into the infirmary by a palace servant. Although the rows and rows of beds with their crisp white sheets lay empty, the healers, clad in bright white smocks, still moved carefully, a hush over the place. The big windows let in lots of moonlight, and a few wooden tables covered in candelabras lit the space in warm, golden light. I sniffed—the place smelled clean, of tea tree, mint, and beeswax.
We headed down the center aisle toward the tables. Princess Imogen, Prince Harry, and a few of their baking friends sat among the healers. I smirked as we neared the quiet hustle and bustle. Well, most of the beds were empty.
I crossed my arms and raised a brow at Will, who lounged on one, hands behind his head, ankles crossed. Two empty cocktail glasses rested on the end table beside him, and as I stood there staring at him, a palace servant hurried up and set down another glass topped with sliced kiwi. “Your usual, sir.”
Will peeled an eye open as the servant bowed away and caught sight of me and Peter. He lifted one hand and twiddled his fingers in greeting.
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t get too used to the VIP treatment—you only get to stay here temporarily, remember?”
He scoffed and grabbed the drink, moving the straw to his lips. “Listen, sister, I was born VIP, remember?” He lifted a saucy, bushy brow, and I wasn’t sure if he was just being full of himself or referencing the fact that he’d been born and raised in the upper tiers of society. Knowing Will, probably both.
“Uh-huh.” I cocked a hip. “It’s alarming that you’ve been here less than twenty-four hours and already have a ‘usual’ cocktail.”
He smacked his lips and primly replaced the drink on the end table. “Jealousy isn’t a good look for you, Jolene.”
I shook my head. “I’m fine, by the way, thank you for asking. I made it out of the sewers alive.”
He rolled his eyes and swept a giant hand toward the prince and princess. They gathered around the tables beside the healers, poring over bubbling potions and spell books. I spotted some of the scrolls and files we’d stolen from Ludolf’s the night before. “They filled me in, obviously.”
We left Will to enjoy his lounging and made our way over to the prince and princess. Heidi hopped down from one of the stools, the gray sloth in her arms.
“You did it!” She shifted the sloth to her hip and hugged me with her free arm, then hugged Peter and ruffled the fur on Daisy’s head. I quirked a brow—how come Heidi got to pet her?
She bounced on her heels, her long black hair in a high ponytail on top of her head. “It’s so great here. All the other animals—sorry, shifters—are in the conservatory. They love all the plants.”
I smiled back. “You’re getting used to the royal treatment too, huh?”
She scoffed. “I’m just happy to stay out of my parents’ house for a little longer.”
She joined us as we made our way to the prince and princess. Princess Imogen beamed when she spotted us. “Jolene!”
Her little flame, Iggy, burned in his lantern on the table in front of her and the prince. He peeked out at me. “So on a scale of one to ten, how terrible was her acting last night?”
I smirked in spite of myself, remembering the princess’s ridiculous jerks as she tried to imitate Viktor. In fairness to her, she’d never actually seen or met the man… though I wasn’t convinced that would’ve helped.
Iggy cackled. “I’ll take that as a ten.”
Princess Imogen shot him a flat look, then turned back to me, looking satisfied with herself. “I did great—it was a real team effort, huh, Jolene?”
She clearly expected me to agree with her. I cleared my throat and fiddled with the corner of a piece of parchment. “Mm-hmm.”
Daisy glanced over her shoulder at me and growled as Prince Harry scratched behind her ears. Liar.
The princess frowned. “What does that mean?”
I waved
