Neve hung his head, praying to keep his composure. “Then we will find out soon enough. But for now, the queen is a victim. Leave me.” He glanced at Warrin. “Wait outside. We must discuss the war efforts.”
The older giant nodded, bowed, and swept from the room, followed by everyone but Flyka and Eyri. The door clicked shut, and the king all but collapsed onto his simple throne. He pressed his palms against his eyes and took in several deep breaths.
“Please tell me you have word of the queen?” He dropped his hands and stared blearily at Flyka.
“Not quite. It’s as if they have disappeared.” Flyka toyed with the tip of her dagger before sheathing it and meeting Neve’s gaze with a frown. “Thenonnaethat fled with the queen knows how to hide. I traced her to the border near the Sapphire Mines, but their trail went cold there.”
“Did she make it over the border?”
“I don’t think so,” Flyka replied.
“Why?” Eyri asked. “It makes sense for the princess to return home and to her parents.”
He thought back to the interaction between the Asteran monarchs and their traitorous daughter. It didn’t seem like there was a bond between them. Not that he remembered much of anything other than being so angry at taking a human wife. He had begun to admire her resilience, strength of character, and tenacity. Somewhere along their journey, he’d lost the hate for thesaloes,and started to fall in love with her.
You’re pathetic. You can’t even think of her name without crumbling.
“There’s more at play than meets the eye,” Flyka commented. “Plus, Serenity is traveling with them. Certainly, a bird of thatsize would be noticed by someone. Not one of my spies has had a report of anastryllefollowing a human.”
Eyri pulled his glasses from his face and pinched the bridge of his slim nose. “How does anonnaeknow how to disappear into thin air? Loshika is a healer, not a spy.”
Neve stared at his cousin. It was almost like staring in the mirror, except Eyri was softer around the edges and his hair was more navy than black. That’s what he liked about his cousin. Eyri was the compassion to Neve’s strength.
“That is the very question I have been asking myself.” Flyka bit her bottom lip, eyes narrowing in concentration. “They must have had help.”
The declaration settled over them like a heavy blanket.
“Who were her friends?” Eyri asked softly.
Neve blinked slowly. Friends? He couldn’t think of anyone except Loshika. Flyka arched a brow at him, and he flushed in embarrassment. Had he been that wrapped up in his kingdom that he didn’t know whom his wife associated with?
“She spent much time with the servants. Dahlia was constantly skulking around the palace. She made friends in the kitchen, stables, scullery, and laundry. Her lady’s maids liked her well enough too,” Flyka drawled.
“So, it could be anyone,” Neve growled.
“We don’t need a witch hunt on our hands,” Eyri commented, stacking his notes from the meeting.
“Agreed.” He huffed and shot a look at Flyka. “I presume you already have your army of spies at work?”
“I do. We’ll find her.”
“And if she’s in Astera?”
His Haunt smiled at him, but it wasn’t pretty. “Then I’ll drag her back by her hair if I must.”
“And if she’s in Loriia?”
“Then we’ll find her soon enough.”
“Put up posters,” Eyri volunteered, stoppering his ink.
“We don’t want anyone branding her a criminal before we can get to her,” Flyka replied.
Eyri rolled his eyes. “Obviously. Spread posters of the queen in the south. Don’t say who she is, just that she’s a missing person that is important to the crown. Offer a fortune for information. Surely, if she’s in Loriia, Dahlia will be caught by a helpful citizen.”
Neve closed his eyes at her name, his rage, hurt, and need all stirred up together.
“And if someone from the palace recognizes her?” Flyka retorted. “It will change everything. Right now, people believe her to be the victim. What happens if they find out she’s the problem?”
