And yet, it was the empire he’d fought and bled for. Sent men to their deaths to defend. He’d dedicated his life to protecting the empire she feared and hated.
He’d once told her in Esperance they only needed to find common ground, and then they could figure out the rest. They’d both had faith in Argent, and the future he would build as the emperor. But that future was gone now.Argentwas gone. Carver suddenly wondered what that meant for them.
“What about Ivan?” Amryn asked, interrupting his thoughts.
Jealousy rose, and he fought to smother it. “What about him?” he asked.
She shrugged one shoulder, keeping her bandaged arm still. “He wants to be my defender. Maybe he’d be willing to protect me by doing this.”
“I don’t really want to introduce Ivan Baranov to the Rising.” Carver’s tone was dry, but the words were pure truth. Ivan would make a dangerous rebel.
“Ivan might not be the empire’s greatest supporter, but he doesn’t like the Rising.”
“Did he tell you that?”
“Yes, actually.” She pursed her lips. “And when I spoke to him today, before you came in, he all but confirmed he knows I’m an empath.”
Carver’s pulse kicked. “Did you admit anything?”
“Of course not. But he told me about a childhood friend who must have been an empath, because he healed Ivan when they were young.” She shook her head. “It would explain his sympathy for me, and how he knew some empaths have the ability to heal. That’s not something the church shares. And you know how he calls meil mishka?”
Carver stiffened. “No.” He hadnotknown the Sibeten Wolf had an endearment for his wife.
“Oh,” Amryn said, blinking once. “I guess he’s never said it around you.”
No, he had not.
Amryn cleared her throat. “He started calling me that after Zawri. It meanslittle miracle.That makes it pretty clear he knows I healed him.”
Unfortunately, Carver agreed with her assessment. He wanted to curse. Instead, he inhaled a measured breath. “Do you think he can be trusted?”
“Yes.”
The answer came with no hesitation. Something in him rebelled at that, but Amryn would be able to more accurately judge Ivan than he could. Especially with his biases when it came to the Sibeten prince.
He cleared his throat. “All right.” Saints, those were hard words to utter.
Her expression gentled. “Thank you, Carver.”
He only hoped he wouldn’t come to regret this.
The emperor’s feast was a crowded affair. All of his top advisors and their spouses were present, as were his top generals and the higher-ranking members of the emperor’s court. The celebratory air was somewhat dimmed by the very public attack on Jayveh earlier, but the emperor had refused to cancel the feast. Not when it was so important to show no sign of weakness.
Standing in the vast great hall was the last place Carver wanted to be. Especially because Amryn was standing beside him. She’d insisted on attending, despite her injury. But he was watching her closely. At the first hint of pain, he intended to take her back to their room.
They’d just left Jayveh, who was stationed near the door with the emperor so she could greet every guest. Carver had watched as the princess gently embraced Amryn, relieved they’d both survived the attack today.
Ford hadn’t been able to catch the shooter. He’d searched until Carver had finally ordered his exhausted friend to rest. It was a testament to his exhaustion that he hadn’t argued. He’d had a long journey, and he’d earned a night off. Though, at the moment, Carver was wishing he’d taken Ford up on his offer to come to the feast. Having another pair of eyes tracking any possible threat to Amryn would have helped Carver relax.
Maybe.
“Carver! Amryn!” Elowen beamed as she cut toward them. The crowd was thick in the large dining room. Long tables were set to one side, although no one was seated yet. Dinner would be served later. Right now, everyone was sipping wine or brandy and mingling before the feast would officially begin. Carver’s sister navigated the space with ease, with their father trailing behind her. When Elowen reached them, she didn’t hesitate to hug Amryn, though she was mindful of her injured arm.
Amryn appeared startled by the exuberant greeting, but she returned the embrace.
When Elowen drew back, she gave Amryn a full smile. “You look absolutely beautiful!”
Amryn wore a long, sweeping dress of deep green. While the sleeves covered her bandaged arm, the thickness of the wrapping was evident. Her red locks had been twisted and pinned atop her head in an elaborate bun, with only a few silken curls hanging to brush against her bared neck. Her lips were painted a deeper shade of red than her hair, and it only made her porcelain skin appear more ethereal. Her pale green eyes were lined in kohl, with a shimmery blend of colored powders that complimented the color of her dress dusted on her eyelids.
