I don’t envy Ryc.
Today is going to be busy.
“I rarely visit Ollora,” she continues. “But the king made his expectations clear. I don’t think I can take the time away.”
The fae’s laughter tinkles. “The veilflowers aren’t going anywhere. And the sooner we finish the king’s task, the sooner we return to our previous projects.”
A groan trails from the human as they swing around the landing. “I’m not ready to go back to the cold.”
“Snowing already up near the Vugura border?”
My eyes narrow and the rest of their conversation falls upon deafears.
The Vugura Kingdom?
The home of vampires?
With a single tilt and immediate immeasurable regret, I finish my cold tea, leaving the mug upon the banister as my feet rush toward the stairs.
The Dark Hunt is set to start any day now.
And if Vaelyn is anything like our father, Indui’s Blessed will be invited to attend.
I know how to reach Ylara.
I just have to make a deal with ancient vampires to do it.
?????????????
“The Dark Hunt,” I say as I burst through the ground floor study door without knocking. “I can reach—”
The words find a swift death on my tongue astwofaces swing to greet me.
Ryc, I expected.
Fenryn, I did not.
Halting in the doorway, my grip upon the doorknob turns crushing.
And I stammer, trying to offer a smile.
Why is the Sovereign King of Sol herenow?
“Good morn,” Ryc greets warmly, cutting through my nonsensical noise. His face lights up with a handsome grin, silencing me.
A smile like his shouldn’t do what it does—it shouldn’t steal my breath and empty my head.
“Progress with your sleuthing?” Ryc asks as I continue to loiter in the doorway, not yet finding the ability to command my feet.
“I’m happy to discuss my thoughts once Fenryn leaves,” I reply and Fenryn laughs. “Find me after.”
The door catches as I swing it closed and peering over my shoulder, I meet Ryc’s stare. Gently, he pulls it open, steps into the hall, and closes it behind him.
“Give Fenryn the chance to prove himself, little love,” he says, his voice low and quiet.
Voices tend to carry through the foyer.
Since the sudden remodeling of his third floor study, Ryc’s relocated to the unused study on the ground floor. He fed castle staff lies, convincing ones, to protect me and hide what I’d done. Of course, they didn’t question.
