Read Online Cameo and the Highwayman (Trilogy of Shadows Book 2) by Dawn McCullough-White - Free Book Online

slowly, “But how will I get past the palace guards?”
    “That’s what you’re worried about? The guards?”
    “Are you certain you saw the palace?”
    “Pretty sure. I mean, it’s true that I’ve never been there before, but I had a strong feeling about what I was looking at, where I was.”
    Opal glanced up in Kyrian’s direction. “Where you were?”
    “You don’t believe me.”
    The highwayman removed his eye patch and poured a pitcher of water into a basin. “What choice do I have?”
    “Oh, thanks.”
    “I can either sit here and drink my days away or go find her for myself. Throw me that dreadful coat of yours, would you?”
    “Why?”
    Opal scrubbed the paint from his face and pulled the ribbon from his hair. “Because I’m going to wear it.”
    Kyrian tossed his well-worn coat across the room in Opal’s general direction.
    “Thanks,” he muttered as it sailed past him.
    “Oh, I get it. You’re going to the palace dressed like this so not to rouse the suspicion of the soldiers.”
    “Go to the palace dressed in rags? Certainly not.” The highwayman pulled on the coat and ruffled his hair a bit, then he turned to look at the lad who was now standing in the light. “I’m going to steal a horse. I don’t want anyone to recognize me.”
    “Oh.”
    He glanced down at his fantastic boots. “Oh, I can’t wear this. That’s it, give me your pants as well.”
    Kyrian put one hand in front of his groin protectively. “You aren’t getting my pants.”
    “Well, this is just what you get for only having one pair, isn’t it?” He rummaged through his own shoulder-pack. “Here, take a lovely pair of my breeches.”
    “Those are made of silk or something—”
    “No, just satin. Well here.” He attempted to set them in Kyrian’s hand, but the lad took several steps backward.
    “You look as though you’ve just tasted a lemon for the first time, lad. Stop being so fussy. Stop thinking of your own selfish needs for once and consider Cameo’s welfare.”
    Kyrian lifted the lavender breeches with the tips of his fingers. “What’s a lemon?”
    “I’m going to pretend I didn’t just hear that. Now, take off your pants.”
    “I’m not wearing these. I’ll just wrap up in a blanket or something.”
    Opal rolled his eyes. “Fine, get a blanket then. Can we just move along? The point of stealing a horse at dawn is to do it before it gets light.”
    The lad undressed hastily behind a blanket then threw his pants at the dandy.
    For a moment Opal wondered why he had been so adamant about wearing them. They clearly had not seen a wash in ages. “I think I’ll just wear these over my pants.”
    Kyrian flopped down on the sofa unhappily.
    * * * * *
    Cameo woke with the sun in her eyes. She pulled her blankets over her head and rolled over. It was late in the afternoon. She had been used to getting little sleep while on the run from Wick and the assassins who had wanted her head for the bounty placed on it. Now she had all the time in the world to sleep or think. Sleeping was preferable to the latter.
    Unable to fall asleep again, she turned onto her back and pushed the covers from her face. It was a very comfortable prison at least. She reached for her flask on the bedside table and heard the thud of something falling over. Cameo was suddenly awake, scrambling to right the flask before she spilled alcohol everywhere. As she sat up, she saw the full-length mirror on the other side of the room, and she caught a glimpse of herself in the nightgown. It was startling. For a moment she didn’t recognize herself. She looked frail and ghostly. Cameo approached the glass apprehensively. The gown brushed the top of her feet lightly, and she could see the scars: the scars that Gail had left her with, even down to her toes. She stripped off the gown and looked at herself.
    What was once young and fresh was marred for all eternity. Her chest had multiple stab wound scars from her near death, and a bullet