Viggo knew there was more to the story. Just as he was aware neither Evander nor Victoria could or would willingly talk about it. Tension knotted his shoulders as he recalled the incident when Evander had been summarily summoned to the palace weeks ago. His lover had never gone into details about what had happened that day.
It seemed Evander’s connection to the royal family was more complex than he’d initially thought.
Victoria sighed. “Come now, you are wound up as tight as a spring, Mr. Stonewall. And if Evander grips that teacup any harder, he will smash the handle. I honestly just want to converse with the pair of you casually.”
Viggo’s gaze shifted from Evander’s white knuckles to the muscle jumping in his cheek.
“Your Imperial Highness,”—Evander started stiffly—“Princess Victoria?—”
“Drink your tea, Evander,” Victoria said pleasantly. “I’m having a conversation with Mr. Stonewall. You’ll get your turn to fret later.”
Viggo felt his lips twitch despite himself. There was something refreshing about Victoria’s directness, even if it still made him uncomfortable.
“So.” Victoria settled back in her chair with her own cup and studied Viggo with pale blue eyes that were far too shrewd for his liking. “Nightshade. Quite the enterprise you’ve built there.”
Viggo’s fingers tightened imperceptibly on his cup. “You know aboutNightshade?”
“My dear Mr. Stonewall, modesty does not suit you,” Victoria said tartly. “Your guild’s reputation extends well beyond London, as you are no doubt well aware. We hear whispers of it even in Berlin.” Her expression grew thoughtful. “An information network run by thralls, for thralls. Helping those society has cast aside whilst simultaneously gathering intelligence that even governments struggle to obtain. It’s rather remarkable, actually.” She glanced at Evander. “I can see why the duke’s interest was piqued.”
“Someone has to look out for the people the nobility would rather forget exist,” Viggo said flatly.
Victoria’s gaze sharpened. “Indeed. That that someone is a man who, by all accounts, should have perished in the streets as a child but instead built an empire from nothing is something that fascinates me.” She tilted her head. “Tell me, how did you manage it?”
Viggo shot Evander a wary look. The duke’s expression had grown pinched, but he remained silent, apparently unwilling to defy Victoria’s earlier command.
“I had help,” Viggo admitted slowly. “My uncle took me in after”—he stopped and swallowed hard—“after my family died. He gave me a chance when no one else would.”
“Your village was massacred during the zealot purges following the War of Subjugation,” Victoria stated quietly. “You were six years old at the time.”
A ringing sounded in Viggo’s ears. The room tilted slightly. He realised he was holding his breath and forced himself to inhale.
“How do you know that?”
“Because I made it my business to know.” Victoria’s voice had lost its playful edge. “After the War of Subjugation ended, my mother and grandfather attempted to document the atrocities committed by the zealots. Some records were destroyed by those intent on burying the truth, but most survived. Your village was among those recorded.” Her gaze held sympathy. “I’m sorry for what happened to you, Mr. Stonewall. And I’m sorry it took so long for justice to find Marquess Grimm.”
Viggo’s throat constricted.
Marquess Ezra Grimm was the leader of the Archmages behind the War of Subjugation and the man who had personally destroyed Viggo’s village and branded him with a signet ring bearing the initial of the name he had gone by in those days.
The fact that the man was long dead, murdered by a mob of thralls in the prison where he had been incarcerated, was of little comfort to Viggo even after all these years.
He was dimly aware of Evander’s hand moving as if to reach for him before the duke caught himself and returned it to his lap.
“Thank you,” Viggo murmured in the fraught hush. “For apologising for something you weren’t directly responsible for.”
CHAPTER 14
Victoria dipped her head regally.“I hope to make up even a little by having you join my entourage.” Her gaze swung between him and Evander. “With my access to diplomatic circles,Nightshade’s intelligence network, and your team’s work, I hope you will get to the bottom of who is behind these latest atrocities. Because no one wants to see another War of Subjugation, least of all me or Evander.”
The silence that settled over the cabin was broken only by the rhythmic thump of the paddle wheels and the distant cry of seagulls.
“You care about him a lot,” Viggo said, looking pointedly at Evander.
“That I do.” Victoria’s expression gentled. “And you love him very much.”
The question should have made Viggo defensive. Instead, he found himself answering with complete honesty.
“More than I thought possible.”
