“Fuck!” Rydon slammed his hand on his thigh.
“Let’s get our shit and meet them at the gate,” Croak said, his voice shaking. “We can leave them in Messene and head north from there, right?”
“We can’t!” Terena yelled, then swallowed. She turned in the saddle to face Croak. “Pytho’s in this mess because of me, I’m sure of it. And then there’s my promise to Melanos I’d get him out of that fucking cave!”
Terena threw her head back and screamed, her hands on her head. Nyx shifted uneasily beneath her. “Gods! Give me a break already!”
She opened her eyes and huffed, glancing around at the others. “Let’s go. Fuck!”
Terena turned Nyx and raced after the Liodari.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Sonah paced in her room, the smell of jasmine and thyme drifting in from the open balcony behind her. Since she’d only had the clothes on her back when she remained behind after Terena had left weeks ago, the king had sent the Royal Seamstress to her with some dresses she and her servants had quickly altered for her.
Smoothing her hands down the silk skirt of the dress she wore, the soft lavender accented with a simple gold belt, Sonah turned when she reached the end of the room and paced back the other way.
An hour ago, one of King Altos’s guards informed her Commander Antonius and Terena had been spotted, and Sonah waited anxiously, her nerves stretched taut. While the king’s hospitality had been generous, Sonah had no desire to remain in the castle.
For one, she swore it was haunted.
The king allowed her to move freely during the day—well, with two armed guards and only in the east wing of the castle—and locked in her room after dinner. The first night she had protested—not much, if she was honest—but the king had said it was for her own protection. Shortly after she’d retired, Sonah heard a noise. She had bolted upright in bed, clutching the bedspread to her chest and stilled, listening for whatever had startled her awake.
A few minutes later, ready to settle back down, she’d heard it again. This time, Sonah had gotten out of bed, padding softly around to the edges of her room, listening with her ear to the walls when she heard scrapping coming from somewhere on her right. She had scuttled closer to the wall, pressing her ear against the cool stone and was rewarded with scrapping and a loud bang.
Sonah had jumped back, her hand clapping over her mouth, then bolted for the door. She had pounded on the wood until a guard shoved it open, knocking her in the forehead. She’d been shrill, her words incoherent—according to the guard—and the guard had sent another for the king.
As she’d stood outside in the hallway, her arms folded at her chest while shivering in her thin nightgown, a door at the end of the hall opened and a man walked out, flanked by three guards. Sonah had turned, watching as the man walked in the opposite direction, only glimpsing him before they turned the corner at the end of the hallway.
After telling the king what had happened, that it must have been the man who was staying next to her, the king had blanched, his reaction so unexpected, Sonah hadn’t time to think on it before he had called for servants to have her moved to the west wing of the castle.
No longer plagued by strange noises or unruly neighbors, Sonah also had the added benefit of being closer to the Royal Conservatory. The beautiful structure was where she’d spent most of her time while she waited for her sister’s return.
A cough sounded behind her. Sonah turned, smiling at the servant standing there.
“Aye?”
“Your presence is requested, lady,” the man said with a slight inclination of his head.
“She’s here,” Sonah whispered and shoved past the startled man to find a guard waiting outside her room to escort her.
Heart racing, Sonah bounced up on her toes as they neared the doors to the king’s throne room.
The king usually dined with her in the evenings, but hadn’t done so for the past two days. And there had been a flurry ofactivity as well, but Sonah had received no answers from the guards when she’d asked.
Maybe now she’d get some answers.
Either way, she was excited to see Terena and the others again.
The king stood below the dais, his hands clasped behind him. He looked at the ground while his advisor—Sonah forgot the man’s name—spoke to him. The Captain of the Royal Guard and two of his men flanked King Altos, who looked like he’d not slept, his eyes heavy with dark shadows and his lips pulled down. Commander Daris Antonius stood close to his king with his head bent and arms crossed at his chest. Her sister stood a short distance away.
Sonah darted into the room and squealed, throwing up her hands as she bounced over to Terena. When she heard Sonah, her face lit up and she laughed, catching Sonah as she stumbled back a few steps. Sonah buried her face in Terena’s neck, squeezing her so tight Terena’s laughter choked off.
Several loud gasps sounded around them, but Sonah paid no heed. Pulling back as she stared up at Terena, Sonah’s smile stretched so far her cheeks ached.
“Gods, where have youbeen?” she whined, unmindful of the exaggerated throat clearing on her right, her eyes never leaving Terena’s face. “I thought I might end up living here! You took forever!”
Terena grimaced when Sonah leaned back, yanking on Terena’s arms, and her smile slipped.
