The king’s dark eyes flickered to Lephas, who shifted from foot to foot and kept his gaze downcast.
“As for you – I am disappointed a senior officer, such as yourself, became romantically involved with a target but I cannot deny I need you, Lephas. I have had a little time to reflect and perhaps I was too harsh in claiming your choice in bed mate was an act of treason.”
Lephas remained quiet, still staring at the floorboards in front of him.
“How does Lori feel about this? Is she also committed to our cause?” Zelrus asked.
“She is, my king,” Lephas replied.
“Then it’s settled. I do not care to hear any details of either of your relations. I entrust the princess’s care to you both and will hold you responsible for them. You still serve me and I will make no exceptions for either of you. I expect the same high standards I always have, am I making myself clear?”
Both Raxx and Lephas nodded.
Zelrus sighed wearily. “I shall send correspondence to Rosenhall to make Cirro aware of his nieces’ decisions. He assured me the princesses would be willing to side with us, but I am sure it will gladden him to have confirmation he was right.”
“Thank you.” Lephas bowed his head. “You won’t regret this decision, I swear it.”
Zelrus shook his head. “You best hope that I don’t, Commander. Dismissed.”
Just as Raxx moved to follow behind Lephas, Zelrus cleared his throat.
“Raxx – a moment.”
The shadow demon hesitated before turning back to face the king.
Lephas shot him a sympathetic smile as he let himself out. The door clicked softly behind him and Raxx met Zelrus’s dark gaze with his own.
“Come.” The king got to his feet. “Accompany me to the aviary. We need to talk.”
Raxx swallowed. He nodded before obediently falling in behind Zelrus as they headed through the corridor.
Neither of them spoke as they steadily climbed the steep staircase. With each footfall, Raxx grew more nervous. This could only be about one thing – Vorg.
The demon had been so confident in the bird’s abilities. What if Vorg had been captured or worse, killed? Raxx would have single-handedly wiped out their last method of communicating with the faeries. Maybe they would be writinghisname next to Edwin Goldwyrm’s in those history books. Raxx’s palms grew sweaty and he wiped them against his breeches.
The door to the aviary creaked open and Raxx nearly collapsed with relief as he spotted the large raven back at his perch. Vorg cawed at them in greeting.
Zelrus stroked his palm over the bird affectionately as he passed, before pulling a letter from his pocket. It was stamped with the king’s royal seal.
“I already took the liberty of writing this letter to Cirro. After that astounding display from both Fayeandyourself, there’s no way I could refuse the girl’s offer of help. You were not making light of her abilities; I see that now. I thought it best to inform their uncle of their fate if I am to employ the princesses as allies.”
The shadow demon remained silent whilst he watched Zelrus fasten the letter to the back of a different, smaller raven. Just as Raxx had done with Vorg, the king carried the bird to the window and let it loose. He watched it fly away in silence for a long moment before speaking.
“Whilst I was disappointed in Lephas, I wasn’t wholly surprised – but you?”
“There’s more to it than you think,” Raxx replied.
“That’s putting it mildly. Whatwasall that out there? I am no master of majick, but I have never seen anything like—”
“A kinship? You’re not alone. Very few people have ever seen one.” Tabitha appeared beside Raxx and the shadow demon flinched, looking down at her with surprise.
“Indi? What are you—” Zelrus’s eyes widened.
“Oh, yes, about that.” Tabitha glanced down her body. “My name is Tabitha, proprietor of the Lady of Fortune tavern.”
“What need does awitchhave with my sister’s body?” the king growled, his eyes flashing angrily.
“It was an agreement between Indi and I. There’s a signed contract and I am more than happy to explain it to you later, but first...” Tabitha smiled up at Raxx.
