Guilt curled in Neve’s stomach, and he dropped his head into his hands. “Lo bietelle.”
The bed dipped as Olwen scooted closer. His friend wrapped an arm around Neve’s shoulder. “You have nothing to be sorry about. You gave her every opportunity to have a happy life here.”
Had he? It didn’t feel like it.
Flyka sat on his right, wrapping her arm around his waist. “We will get justice.”
Neve nodded, resolve forming in his gut. “We must hunt her. Privately.” The ramifications of what she’d done would be costly to him as king.
There would be no escape for thesaloes. Neve squashed any sadness the thought brought him. She’d made her choice, and he had to make his despite any feelings he might secretly harbor.
Instead, he leaned into the hurt and rage.
Olwen coughed.
Neve frowned at him. Something wasn’t quite right. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Flyka growled, glaring at Olwen, before she sighed, locking eyes with Neve. “The Asterans have claimed that we killed their princess and have attacked Loriia near the western mines.”
“They are blaming us for the crimes their princess tried to commit?” he spat. How dare they?
Flyka’s lips pressed tightly together. “A body was discovered along the border.”
Confusion and torment battled inside him. That couldn’t be right. She couldn’t be gone from the world. Surely, he would feel it? A yawning pit formed in his gut.
Neve slowly stood, taking jerky steps to the divan. He held onto the back of the couch, squeezing until the wood groaned. “She’s dead?” he rasped, gazing into the flames of the fire, heat pressing at the backs of his eyes.
“I don’t believe so,” Olwen replied, wrapping an arm around Neve’s shoulders. He hadn’t even heard the giant get up. “It’s too convenient for her to die. She’s their only heir. This is a ruse. It has to be.”
He closed his eyes, trying not to give into pain radiating from his hearts. “You know our people. The hate for humans runs deep. It’s possible she’s dead.” The words tasted like ash upon his tongue, dry and bitter.
Flyka slung a hip against the couch and crossed her arms. “She’s alive. I’ve had warriors hunting her since her disappearance.”
Neve shook off his pain and clung to her words.Let it go.He couldn’t afford to think abouther.Loriia had to come first. “The Asterans attacked near the mines? Why? They were given that land as part of the dowry.”
“I presume because they know they’ve been caught in trickery and deception. They know the treaty will be nullified because of Dahlia’s actions. They’re desperate.”
“Have warriors been sent?” Neve asked, numbness and fatigue riding him hard.
“Yes,” Olwen answered. “I did not want to leave you until I knew you were well, old friend. I will leave you now. The closest village to the mines has been decimated, and we must stop them before they get too much traction north.”
“Any survivors?” he asked.
“None.”
Bile burned the back of his throat. Women and children.
Asterans were animals. He would treat them as such.
He turned to his friend, overwhelmed by the sudden surge of hate for the humans. “Kill them all.”
Today, the humans would pay.
Starting with his wife.
Chapter Twelve
Neve
