“Pardon me.” I shoved around the guard. “I need to speak to my wife.”
Truth be told, the man didn’t put up much protest when I slipped into the room. Either the guard did not feel he could overrule the word of a prince, or he agreed with me.
Skadi was seated in one of the chairs near her half-built inglenook, knees touched against her chest, her eyes vacant and aimed at the threads of the rug beneath her. When I approached, she jostled from her seat and stepped around the chair, like a damn shield between us.
“Is everything dealt with?” She curled her fingers over the back of the chair.
I paused in front of the seat. “We believe he was convinced this alliance would be the downfall of your people. I don’t know why, nor where he planned to take you.”
“He was of the light elven,” she whispered. “I don’t know if it is hard to guess.”
“Do you believe Prince Arion was behind it?” There was the condition of the alliance where Skadi could choose the wretched prince within the first turn. This could’ve been an attempt to frighten her into his arms.
“Doubtful,” she said. “The prince is a fool, but this would be an act of war and he lost many men in the battle. He’s not strong enough to bring another one. Yet.”
I did not revel in her last word. My fingers dug into my palms when I curled my fists. “Then this sod acted on his own.”
“It is possible. Many Ljosalfar adore Arion. They might think he was slighted.” Skadi took a step for the bedchamber. “Thank you for telling me.”
She was trying to distance us.
“You saved me,” I said. “I have not thanked you.”
“Well, we’re square, I suppose.” Skadi tucked a lock of her hair behind one ear. “You didn’t slit my throat for nearly killing your brother.”
I folded my arms over my chest, biting back the words I truly wanted to speak. “I know this was likely upsetting for you. Are you all right?”
A crack of vulnerability sliced through the mask she tried to hold in place. “I am sorry for you and your people. Destruction follows me like a curse. Because of me being here, three littles could lose their mother and father?—”
“Skadi, that is not your doing at all.”
“I did not poison them, but my presence brought their pain. You and people you love nearly died.”
“And you saved all of us.” I drew closer. “Skadi, we aren’t afraid of you.”
“You have not seen the true dangers of my affinity.”
“And you have not seen all of mine, something else we have in common, Wife.”
Skadi returned a hesitant sort of smile, one that barely curled the corners of her lips.
Hells, I wanted to go to her, offer a bit of comfort, but I held back.
Since that bastard was spotted in the gardens, since a gleam of terror had flashed through Skadi’s eyes, I wanted nothing more than to ensure it never returned.
The strange possessiveness burned in my chest, I merely refused toreveal it. What would be the point? Not even a day before, her sentiments were clear—she did not want to know me above our duty.
With a reluctant step, I returned to the corridor. “Well, I am glad this day did not end with royal funeral pyres. I will leave you to do as you wish, merely wanted to make sure you were well and tell you what we learned. Do not blame yourself for Annetta and Teodor. As always, should you need anything, I am not far.”
Distance was likely for the best. Already I was growing too vulnerable with her, and that was the trouble. For the first time, I wanted to.
Chapter 21
The Mist Thief
Jonas kept his word.I saw little of the prince in the days after the Ljosalfar attack. The only sign he remained in the palace came from the sound of his door opening and closing, his steps on the stone staircase that took him to some mysterious place I dared not investigate.
My nights were haunted with dreams of me never reaching the great hall in time to stop Jonas from drinking the sweet venom leaves.
