I frown. “In battle or by plague?”
She steps in close and speaks in a voice so low I am sure it is meant only for my ears. “I’m afraid much has changed since you left, Damien. Much that I cannot explain to you here. There are far too many eyes and ears.” She makes another darted glance toward the castle.
“Things certainly have changed,” I say, feeling a deep melancholy come over me as I remember my family, and loss and grief threaten to smother the breath out of me. “But I take some solace that their sacrifice was for a purpose.”
She snorts. “A purpose?” The word sprays forth as if it is liquid that her body refuses to swallow.
I furrow my brow. “I mean only that Stygarde is in a better place today than when I left. The war has ended. The fields are overflowing, and my hunt last night found a royal forest almost overrun with stags.”
She swallows, pressing a hand firmly into her stomach. “Oh, I see. I must remind myself that you have only recently arrived home.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Sometimes things are not what they seem on the outside.”
Another glance toward the castle, and this time, her gaze holds. I see what she sees. Brahm is approaching at a fast clip. Her spine straightens, and she paints a smile onto her face. “May I suggest you take one of these beasts and visit the west villages? Get to know again the kingdom you left behind? Then talk to me about purpose and peace.”
A chill radiates through me at her whispered words.
“Lady Maxilla? What brings you to the stables this morning?” Brahm’s voice booms from the doorway. He isn’t dressed for riding.
She offers him an unhurried and loving smile. “Saying hello to your brother after his astonishing resurrection from the Darklands,” she says. “Quite a miracle to have him home.”
Just like Morpheus, Tempest is an expert at making those around her believe what she wants them to believe. A second ago, her expression was bitter, almost angry, and now, she reaches for Brahm’s hands and kisses his cheek as if she is reuniting with family. I make sure my own face does not betray our conversation.
She lifts one hand to wave to me. “I insist you bring that new mate of yours for dinner soon, Damien. When is his day off, Brahm? We must catch up.”
Brahm blubbers as if he’s not sure what to say. “He’s only just begun his work here.”
“Then I’ll see you in one week’s time, Damien!” A day off each week was standard in our kingdom, but by the sour face Brahm pulls, I assume New Stygarde is not so generous with its policies.
“I suppose that would…” he mumbles noncommittally.
She curtsies to Brahm, before leaving the way she came.
Once she’s gone, I turn back to Brahm. “What can I do for you?”
“My king,” he adds with a slight twitch of his lip.
I clear my throat, my pride flaring. The last time I was with my brother, he could hardly lift his head off the bar. It almost kills me, but for Eloise, for the sake of stability until I can find a long-term solution, I will recite whatever words he wants me to. “What can I do for you, my king?”
He laughs softly. “I’ll never tire of that.” He turns and gestures toward the barn. “Come. I need to show you something on Athena’s footpad.”
In fact, he doesn’t need to show me anything. I noticed the sore within an hour of making rounds in the stables. The beast has a wound where a rock dug in, but I’ve already removed and treated it. It simply needs a chance to heal.
I grit my teeth and force myself to listen as Brahm drones on about his inaccurate diagnosis and prescribes an ineffectual treatment. I nod and promise to do as he suggests and then watch him walk back to the castle as I once again wonder how he, of all people, ended up on the throne.
9
Odette
ELOISE
By the time I reach Damien’s room, I’m regretting standing up to Nevina. Why couldn’t I have just gone along with what the queen wanted? After all, I’m living under her roof, benefiting from the translation spell she gave me, wearing her dress. Am I just hell-bent on causing trouble wherever I go?
I groan when I find the room occupied by servants cleaning vigorously.
“Oh, excuse me,” I say to the nearest one. She doesn’t even acknowledge me. “The room is hardly dirty. We’ve only been here one night. There’s no need for this.”
