The Qiren family was small compared to the other Sacred Eight, but they held great power. The king’s High Councilor was a Qiren, and Nalaea was the Lady of Silks. She did not need to bed the king for any reason other than she wanted to.
“Magnus darling, you’re filthy and smell like unwashed gryphon.” Her nose wrinkled. “Your whores can have you.”
Magnus let himself into his rooms. The Lady of Silks swept in after him, her face stoney. “Why are you here then, if not to ride my cock?”
“Your daughter is gone. One of my spies saw her entering the Warmsnap and then leaving—disguised—with the spymaster.”
His spine straightened. “With Riis?”
“You have another spymaster?”
“I’m already tiring of this attitude.”
“Then keep up.” She sat in a chair by the cold hearth. “They’ve been gone for days now. Of course, others have noticed that the princess is not in the castle. Your wife, however, says that Princess Saga is simply not feeling herself.” Nalaea’s eyebrows rose. “Though that can be said for your heir, I assure you that the princess is no longer at court.”
He gripped his goblet tighter. “What’s wrong with Rhistel?”
“I cannot be certain. My daughter, Thalia, tried to flirt with him, but he did not respond.”
“Is that so odd?”
“Thalia is a great beauty. And her skin and scent are like love potions to those she wishes to affect, so yes.”
Perhaps the latter would affect Rhistel, but not the former. His heir enjoyed beauty, but he did not let it sway him. Not like Vale.
“What will you do about Princess Saga?”
“That’s not your concern.”
“I’m yourbestally,Magnus.”
“As you say. Now, unless you have more bad news to dispatch, leave me.”
Scowling, she left, and the king took that time to drink the goblet of mulled wine and then a second. Once he washed down the wine, he scrubbed his hands and face. The concubine arrived and though Magnus’s cock was rock hard at the sight of the dryad’s large breasts and full lips, he knew he had to see if the Lady of Silks was right. The king told the dryad to wait in the bed for his return and went in search of his heir or his wife.
His cloak, the same one he’d worn on the journey south, fluttered around his ankles. Though it was hot, Magnus did not take off the cloak. Not until he had a safe place for the item inside his pocket.
As luck would have it, Magnus found not only his wife or his son, but both in the same place, the queen’s chambers. It took him only one glance to determine that Nalaea had been correct. Rhistel’s eyes were glazed.
Unlike the Lady of Silks, the king knew why. Magnus shut the door to his wife’s chambers and cast a shield of air at the door sothat the Clawsguard outside—his and hers—would not overhear.
“What are you doing to him?” he spat at his wife.
“That is how you greet your wife after disappearing to the west?”
“It’s how I greet a wife who is whispering our son. Do as I say, Inga.”
“I cannot.”
“Will not, you mean.” Frost formed at his fingertips.
Inga noticed the flex of power, but did not budge. Her ability to alter his mind if she so wanted, the chance that she mightmake himdo as she wished, had always infuriated him. It was why Magnus often kept a distance from his wife and never missed his dose of Mind Rönd potion. He called off his magic, already exhausted by that small show that did nothing whatsoever to sway Inga.
When my new magics strengthen, she’ll defer.He could not wait for the day when he might try out the new powers unleashed inside him. Magic lost to this world. Dark magic that his bloodline had hidden for so very long.
“He threatened our daughter, Magnus.”
The king drew back. “Rhistel said he’d hurt his sister?”
