“-Come, Lady Alexis.”
I sigh and turn to the Master Informer without shame, watching as he narrows his gaze on me from the other side of the room. His silent glance is questioning why I’m nosing around and not staying by his side, while my answering shrug provides no real reason and does nothing to change his penetrating glare.
“Do not wander again.”
I nod and follow him into the west wing, my curiosity still getting the best of me. I let my gaze pry into the royal residence on this side, staring into a small room that has a decadent desk with books strewn on top. It looks to be a cozy study complete with a roaring fireplace, and there’s even a second room that’s attached to it, that one acting as a small lounge area with a table built for cards as its main centerpiece. Past those two rooms is another with soft grey walls and a luxurious white feather bed, the entirety of it looking dainty and possibly decorated with a woman’s touch. The next room seems to be a meeting space of sorts, the high walls covered in hundreds of vines and reaching out to a large table that rests in the middle. The last in the hall, and perhaps the room that grabs my attention the most, has a massive black bed that looks like it hasn’t been touched in ages, the sheets sparkling in their dark silk and almost begging to be used.
I quickly avert my eyes.
I don’t belong here.
Desmond stops at the end of the hall, knocking twice on a large circular door just as my shoulders begin to tense. I fiddle with my hair, hands rising to the half up, half down locks that are wind-ridden from the ride over. I can’t stop the groan that falls from my lips as I take in the mess and frantically start to pat at the tangles before moving on to my green satin shirt.
Shit.
“My dagger is strapped,” I hiss at Master Informer just as the door opens.
Desmond turns around silently, his dark eyes flicking down to my boots before they roam between my thighs.
“Where?”
I scowl at his gaze.
“Mybicep, Prince Desmond.”
“I see,” he nods slowly, “and what do you thinkyoucould possibly do with that weapon in front of me?”
You…
As in human.
I narrow my eyes on the Discerni Prince who obviously knows nothing about my use of a dagger. If he did, he’d think twice about letting me in a room so close with the King.
Desmond turns around and walks through the door without another word. Isigh andtake deep breath before following behind him, stepping into a circular room that matches the door at its front.
Blessed Ancients, the Discerni move fast.
Within a single step, Desmond is already seatedat a large desk directly across from me.
“We do move fast,” the King’s amused voice replies from behind the desk, “and no, Alex, my son does not know anything about you or your use with a dagger. Why don’t you show him what you can do?”
In the small moment it takes for the King’s gaze to drop to the side of Desmond’s chair, I quickly pull the dagger out from under my sleeve and throw it at the Master Informer. Desmond turns his head at the sound of the green agate flying through the room, his own gaze dropping to where the weapon pierces the wooden armrest just below his elbow.
Perfect.
The Discerni Prince pulls the blade out of the chair with a deep scowl, his quiet gaze examining the dagger as I walk towards both men.
“How long?” he asks quietly.
“Two years,” the King grins.
I smile as well and take in the meeting space around us.
We’re definitely in a circular room of sorts, perhaps one of the small towers that can be seen from outside the castle at each end of the wings. The middle is furnished with a plush emerald rug that lays beneath a small but rich mahogany table, both the rug and table surrounded by brown cushioned chairs and settees that look immensely expensive. Past the middle lounge and pressed into the wall behind it are another three high arching windows similar to those in the reception area. The King’s desk is stationed directly in front of them.
Zander catches my curious gaze, his blue eyes smiling in welcome before he nods to the empty chair at Desmond’s right.
“This blade is made of green agate,” Desmond scowls again.
