A Kiss of Venom (An Araneae Nation Novella) (2 page)

“I’m Maisy.” She
showcased her perfect curtsey. “The pleasure is ours.”

He
stared to me expectantly, as though the royal horn-blower hadn’t just made the introduction.

“
I’m Nicolette.” I followed Maisy’s example with a grimace. “To what do we owe the honor?”

“When you walked in
, I thought you looked familiar.” He took my hand and brushed his lips across my knuckles. “I wanted to ask if this was your first visit to Erania.”

“Familiar?”
I forced my lips to bend. “And here I thought my style was original.”

“I didn’t mean to offend you.”
He studied me. “For a moment, you reminded me of someone.”

“I’ll take the comp
liment,” I offered, “since you were so eager to see her again.”

“The musicians are warming up.” He smoothed his thumb over
the back of my hand. “Would you save the first dance for me?”

Give him an opportunity to
put his arms around me? I laughed. “Surely your dance card is full.”

“It is
now.” He turned my wrist and scribbled across my palm with his pointer finger. “I wrote you name on every line.”

Heat swept through my cheeks. I had forgotten how charming he could be.

“I hate to disappoint, but the journey here tired me.” I pulled my hand from his grip. “Another time perhaps.”

“I’ll hold you to that.”
Armand lowered his gaze to Maisy. “Several of our guests have expressed interest in meeting the virtuoso.” He offered his arm. “Would you allow me the privilege of escorting young Maisy and making a few introductions?”

At my nod, she slid her arm into his.
“Do you mind if I bring Tiah with me?”

“
I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Armand allowed me to pass the falco to her.

“
We traveled far to be here for the celebration.” I touched his elbow. “The poor girl is exhausted.”

“I understand.” He hailed a passing dignitary
from the southlands. “I won’t keep her long.”

Chest aching, I watched
Armand twirl Maisy so her skirt fluttered around her calves, as delicate as butterfly wings and twice as colorful. Only when I looked closely did I notice the shapes of their faces were similar or that their noses were both aquiline. Thank the gods her eyes weren’t lavender.

At least
they weren’t anymore.

Grateful for Armand’s unwitting assistance, I left
Maisy to enchant her audience while I eased across the rear wall of the room, looking for an exit. The Araneidae were nesters who had erected their city of black stone atop the buried catacombs forming their clan home. Nest infiltration was near-impossible, escape unlikely if you lost your way.

I had precious few minutes before Armand
and Maisy finished their circuit of the room and began looking for me. Maisy could only entertain for so long. I hadn’t been lying. The journey north was treacherous this time of year, and it had taken its toll on both of us.

While all eyes were fixed to the presentation of the latest gift, I slipped from the festivities to an adjoining room. From there I found my way into the hall and followed it to the rear of the building. I paused with my hand on the doorknob, deafened by my heartbeats and the furious wind pummeling a nearby window with sleet. With a ripe curse, I wedged open the door, gasping as the air froze in my
chest. Eyes watering, I squinted against the flurries, jogging down the stairs back onto frozen pavers.

I wasted precious seconds orienting myself. At last I
located the abandoned market, closed until spring. I dashed through the empty stalls until spotting a narrow shop with a sign hung on the door. I wiped away the frost and read
Bellaire’s Rare Produce and Ornamental Flowers
. I flipped a lever on the corset beneath my rib cage, and a small compartment slid open, releasing a drawer into my hand. I lifted the key my employer had given me and fit it to the lock. It opened with a
snick,
and I crept into the store. Dust covered every surface. Each shelf sat empty, and the stale air smelled of peat moss.

I rounded the counter and studied the ceiling. Rows and rows of hammered tiles, each design the same as the
previous. Except one. Two rows from the door and four tiles down, I spotted a variation. Grabbing a plant stand, I hauled it beneath the tile then stood on it while popping the square from the grid. With that done, I reached through the gap and felt around the edges. My fingers brushed the hilt of a sword. No. Several hilts all bundled together. On the opposite side, I located the box I needed. It was made of metal and heavier than a container that size ought to be. Gently, I cradled it in my arms and flipped the catches. The lid swung open, revealing three rows with three vials in each line nestled into a thick velvet lining. One vial, I noticed, had already been drained. I shivered when I touched its cork.

I had a good idea what purpose that particular draught of venom had served.

Lourdes had not been maven long, and her predecessor, her mother Reine, had been poisoned.

Now Lourdes would lose
a sibling to the same fate.

Considering
her sister Pascale was responsible for their mother’s assassination, there was a certain grim balance to the circles of their lives and the means of their deaths.

When
I stared at that empty vial, I recalled the last time I had seen Pascale. Her honey-blonde hair had been streaming behind her. Her father, Ennis, had been stomping his feet and roaring while he chased her down the hall. The memory of her squeal when he caught her rang in my ears.

Learning that innocent child had grown up into a murderer had shocked me.

I won’t say hearing the truth about Pascale’s role in her parents’ deaths eased my conscience, but perhaps in the long run the knowledge she had blood on her hands might help me sleep at night.

But I doubted it.

The Araneidae had ruined me. Their grief should bring me joy. Their losses should salve the savage ache in me. Instead I felt only the cold resolve to see this job through, to at last be free from my past.

I checked
the second vial. Milky fluid sloshed a finger’s width from the cork. I lifted it gingerly, shivering, gooseflesh dappling my chest when I slid the icy tube between my breasts for safekeeping.

Please don’t let
my corset crack the glass before I reach my room.

After c
losing the lid with trembling fingers, I replaced the box where I’d found it and fit the tile into its grid. The planter I returned to the dirt-free rectangle where it had stood. After a glance around, I left the shop, locking it behind me. The frost I brushed away had already reformed. Fresh snow covered my footprints. Teeth chattering, I ran toward the only building with lights blazing in the vacant city.

A gust of wind slammed the door open before I reached it. I flinched at the ear-splitting
crack
of
sound. Cold sweat beaded on my clammy skin. I shoved the door closed then darted down the hall to another room. Warm as it was, I was frozen. I paced, rubbing my arms, flexing my fingers and toes.

When at last the pin
pricks in my limbs faded, I found a mirror where I straightened my hair and adjusted my dress. I thanked foresight for wearing my hair in a tightly braided tail tonight. Sadly, my skirt fared worse. I untangled the knots and dusted the ribbons clean, but they were damp at the ends.

Wiggling my toes stung their joints. My feet felt carved from ice
, and they retained a bluish tint. Tempted as I was to rub them to increase circulation, that defeated the purpose of sacrifice, didn’t it?

Besides, the Maratus had done far worse in their training of me. I would endure this as I endured all else. But first I had to slink back into the dining hall unnoticed in time to grab a drink and pretend to be enjoying the festivities. Be polite. Talk up Maisy, always an easy task, then we’d call it a night.

Please let us last that long…

From where I stood, I heard muffled voices. When they rose on a collective gasp, I assumed the maven had unwrapped what I hoped was her final gift of the evening. While her guests clapped, I let myself inside and joined the round of thunderous applause. What caused the stir, I couldn’t see from my vantage point. Wending through bodies, I made my way toward the front of the room so Armand could spot me and deliver Maisy. That was when I saw her, sitting on a delicate bench pulled before a sleek harpsichord. After running her palm lovingly over the ornate casing, she stood and curtseyed.

The room erupted with the fervent clapping of hands and ardent pleas for
just one more song
.

My heart swelled at the sight of her until I thought my ribs would crack.

Indecision played across her face until she saw me and waved. Armand noticed me then, and he offered her his arm. She took it with a bright grin, allowing him to escort her to me. Her slender arms went around my waist. The chill of my skin made her shiver, but she held her tongue and squeezed me tighter. I dropped a kiss on top of her head before facing Armand.

“You have something in your hair.” He
frowned while extending his hand. “May I?”

I
leaned into Maisy so I wouldn’t topple. “Of course.”

He pulled a few strands of my hair and came away with
a cobweb stuck to his fingers.

“This time of year the city is rarely used, but the occasion called for celebration.” He dusted his hands. “It appears the hall could have used a better cleaning prior to the event. I hope you won’t hold this against us. The nest is well-kept and your room there is immaculate. Perhaps I could show you?”

Rubbing her eyes, Maisy peered up at him. “That would be nice.”

“Do you know what else is nice?” His low voice turned conspiratorial. “Chocolate
. I have it on good authority that we are serving cocoa mousse to our guests tonight.” He pointed to a row of crystal goblets filled with creamy mousse and sprinkled with chocolate shavings.

Maisy
’s face softened with longing when she spotted the table laden with rich desserts.

“Nicolette doesn’t let me have sweets,” she said on a sigh.

Armand’s scandalized expression earned him a compassionate pat on his arm from Maisy.

I glowered.
“Ever try putting a nine-year-old to bed after she’s inhaled a tray of sweet rolls?”

“I have a brother a few years younger than Maisy.” He grimaced. “I
can imagine.”

Hope s
parked in her bright eyes. “What if I promised to only eat three spoonfuls?”

Armand wa
ited to see if I caved. Faced with two sets of imploring eyes, what choice did I have?

“All right
. Three bites. No more.” I nudged her toward the dessert table. “I
will
be counting.”

A
ngling away from Armand, I watched her navigate through the crowd.

“I meant what I said.” He stepped behind me, his breath warm on my neck.

“I’m sure you have more urgent matters to attend to than sorting our sleeping arrangements.”

“I wouldn’t say that.” His lips brushed my ear. “I want your stay to be pleasurable.”

I swatted him away. “A soft pillow and warm blanket are all the pleasures I require.”

“Nights get cold here,” he murmured. “My body heat is yours for the asking.”

I glanced back at him, at those soft lips of his. “You aren’t serious.”

He chuckled. “I could be.”

I studied him for signs he was.

He returned my studious expression.

I broke down first. “Do you have anything else to say for yourself?”

His answer was a sinful curving of his lips.

I shook my head at him.

“There’s Maisy.” I started walking. “We’
re going now.”

I left him with flushed cheeks and a
grin. My revealing gown had done its job too well. It was meant to entice, but I had baited the wrong male. Or had I? Stealing one last glance at Armand over my shoulder, I caught him staring after me.

“I’m done
.” Maisy’s voice sliced through the fog to my brain. “Do you want the rest?”

“No.”
A sweet treat was the last thing my roiling stomach needed. “Thank you.”

She scrunched up her face. “Are you feeling all right?”

“Never better.” I plucked the sticky goblet from her hand and passed it to a male in gold livery. “I think we ought to explore our room. We have an early day tomorrow, and you must be well rested.”

She bit her lip. “Is it very scary down there in the nest?”

I tapped her nose. “The nest is the most beautiful place that you or I will ever live to see.”

Eyes shining, she twirled. “I’ll go fetch our escort.”

As she skipped off in search of the youth, I decided to encourage her skipping all the way to our room. Surely the exercise would burn off some of her extra energy.