“And sharp tongue,” Emma adds.
“Yes, my lord.” Captain Anolius bows, then hurries to the door. “It will be done as you say.”
“No questions asked?” Emma finally has some color back in her cheeks, although her gaze is still wary.
“He’s the captain of my guard for a reason.” I kiss her hair again.
She looks up at me, her brow furrowed. “Will this start something? I mean, kicking out King Sigrid’s noble and taking my mother—will it cause trouble?”
“Yes,” I admit. “But nothing I can’t handle.” The need to protect her surges through me like the heat of the sun. “You are safe. I will always keep you safe.”
She nods and presses her cheek to my chest. I lift her, and she nuzzles into my neck as I drop into a chair in her chambers. Grounding myself is necessary given the fact that I want to gut Lord Caroldon almost as much as I want to comfort Emma.
“There’s more.” She sighs against me, her breath tickling my throat. “When Caroldon took me to—” She swallows hard. “To a room, Lord Varan was there, too.”
Plots and backstabbing abound right under my nose. Varan will have to answer for this, though I’m certain he’ll claim he was only trying to strengthen the bond between our realms or some similar load of unicorn shit.
“He didn’t touch me.” Her eyelashes brush against me. “He would have, I think, but Dilrubin saved me. He pretended he needed to make the bed—”
A growl comes from somewhere so deep that my entire being rattles. I stroke her hair. “Emma, did Caroldonhurtyou?” I can’t say the other word, the one that belongs in my question. The thought of it has me considering murdering Caroldon and starting a war. In fact, if she says yes, I will do exactly that.
“No.” She shakes her head. “He wanted to, but Dilrubin came in, and they scattered.”
“Good.” I kiss her hair and hold her tight. Even if he didn’t take her against her will, she’s still traumatized from it. “As long as you’re not hurt, that’s all that matters.” I should’ve been there. When I felt that tingle in my spine, that trace of disaster, I should’ve left my duties and gone to find Emma. Somehow, I knew it was about her. I’ve never felt the connection we share with anyone else, not even Brock, my most trusted warrior. But it’s not a mate bond, so what is it?
“I fought,” she whispers. “I scratched Caroldon’s face, and I would’ve kept fighting.”
“I know.” I rock her. “I have no doubt. You’re pretty tough for a changeling. You could’ve handled Malnaloch alone.”
That draws a snort from her, and she snuggles closer. When she’s in my arms like this, I can breathe easier. But I’m careful to keep my hands to myself. No matter how much I want another taste of her, I know she needs comfort right now. Not to mention the vow—I don’t trust myself not to take her fully. Oh, but what a lovely death that would be if I were to claim her as my own before I’ve met the requirements.
“Hmm?” She rests her head on my upper arm. “You’re smiling. Why?”
“No reason.” I nestle her back in the crook of my neck. “Why did Tritus and Sophina come with you?”
“Oh, Dilrubin dropped me in the library to keep me safe.”
“With Tritus?” I try not to grit my teeth.
“Yes. He read me a story to take my mind off … what happened.”
“Did it work?”
“Yes, but it was a sad story about—”
“My lord,” Anolius announces before entering again.
“Come in.”
“I’ve escorted Caroldon from the palace. He railed against me and the day realm, but he didn’t fight, so I let him go. Our soldiers will escort him to the border at double speed.”
“Good. And Emma’s mother?”
“I dispatched a pixie to fly the message as fast as possible.”
“How did you pay a pixie?” I use them only when absolutely necessary because their prices are always something dear, and they never ask for the same thing twice.
“It was nothing, my lord.” He drops his gaze.
