This was one such moment.
She grabbed the railing and swung over the balcony. The wind whooshed past her as she sailed down two stories, landing in a silent crouch on the grass below. A century in the vampire army had taught her a few things about moving soundlessly, and she employed all those techniques now.
Neither the prince nor the messenger turned.
Curiosity nibbled at her as she approached the pair on vampire-silent feet.
What in the gods’ names were they doing? Marius wasn’t supposed to be out here. He should be inside, enjoying the party with everyone else. Drinking. Dancing. Making bad decisions and regretting them in the morning.
Not… this.
Whatever this was.
Vivienne held her breath, a holdover from her mortal life, and listened.
“…their Majesties must be informed as soon as possible,” the messenger whispered urgently.
The prince nodded. “Of course. I’ll take care of it.”
Vivienne’s brows rose.
A flash of white caught her eye as the messenger handed something to Marius. “Thank you, Your Highness. Please ask them to hurry. The situation is dangerous and rapidly evolving.”
The prince slipped whatever he’d been given into his pocket as shadows curled around the messenger’s feet.
“I’ll take care of this, Pierre,” Marius said. “Safe travels.”
Take care of what?
“Thank you, Your Highness.” The messenger dipped his head as shadows swallowed him whole, and he vanished into the night.
Exhaling, Vivienne flexed her fingers at her sides. Okay. That wasn’t nearly as bad as she thought it would be.
Maybe she’d been worried for nothing. Marius would return to the party, deliver whatever Pierre had given him to the king, dance a little, maybe enjoy some Faerie Wine (in moderation, of course), and?—
What was the prince doing?
Vivienne plastered herself against the wall. Her hands were splayed on cold stone, and her breath came in short bursts as the halfling defied all logic.
A thousand curses ran through her mind.
Instead of returning inside, which would’ve been the right thing to do, Marius looked around. His eyes narrowed, and he glanced up at the balcony Vivienne had recently vacated before turning his calculating gaze to the university entrance.
Four guards were stationed there, standing beneath glowing violetLight Elf orbs. They were deep in conversation and hadn’t noticed the prince’s rendezvous.
Marius nodded to himself and took in a deep, readying breath.
Almost as if he was preparing to…
He broke out into a sprint and dartedawayfrom the party. He kept to the shadows, weaving around trees and statues and staying out of the brilliant moonlight.
No, no, no.
Did Vivienne think that losing sight of the prince before was bad?
This was worse.
Her heart raced, and her gaze darted desperately between the ballroom and the rapidly disappearing prince. She should probably get another of Marius’s bodyguards—there were three, including her—but if she lost him again, there was no telling where he’d go.