He snorted.
Noticing a group of servants coming our way, I ducked into the next room I came to—one of several small studies evenlyspaced along the hall. Phantom followed closely behind, settling down and stretching and kneading his paws in and out of the plush velvet carpet.
“If you’re so concerned about this latest development, you could go guard my bedroom door,” I said, “and make sure no one bothers him. You know, if you wanted to be helpful for once.”
(I amalwayshelpful.)
“Alwaysis a generous word choice,” I replied, scratching him between the ears.
Something shifted in the corner of the room, and I realized we weren’t alone.
“Still doing the weird talking to your dog thing, I see,” Zayn said. He was reclining in a worn armchair, his feet propped up on an equally threadbare ottoman.
Maybe it was the warm glow of the fireplace beside him, but I thought he looked much healthier. Much more…alive.
Phantom stalked toward him, cautiously sniffing at his boots.
“He’s still starting conversations with me.” I shrugged. “It seems rude not to answer him.”
Zayn smiled a bit at this, sitting up and holding out his hand for Phantom to smell. Phantom’s fur bristled, but he finished his inspection and then ultimately relaxed, allowing Zayn to stroke the white patch of fur on his forehead; he wasn’t one to turn down head scratches, regardless of who was giving them.
“He seems anxious,” Zayn commented. “And so do you, for that matter.”
“It’s been an eventful night.”
“So I’ve gathered, based on the bit of gossip I’ve overheard.”
“That didn’t take long to spread.”
“It never does.” His voice dropped slightly as he studied me and asked, “So…what have you done this time, Princess?”
“Most are calling meQueennow, actually.” I fixed a twist of hair that had loosed itself from the crown of braids I wore. “Though there’s been no official coronation yet.”
“Duly noted.” He cocked his head. “But we’re changing the subject, aren’t we?”
“What if I am?”
“It makes me all the more curious about what you’re hiding, that’s all.”
Phantom gave another knowing little snort, as if to sayI told you so.
With a sigh, I sank into the chair opposite of Zayn, hesitating only a moment before telling him about nearly everything that had happened.
Maybe it was foolish, being so open with him. After all, I still didn’t know how much of him was…well,him. But it was that connection to Lorien that made me so eager to talk, too—because I wanted to know everything he could possibly tell me.
And trust had to go both ways.
He didn’t seem surprised to learn that the rumors about Aleks being back were true.
“I thought I’d felt a surge of Light magic,” he said.
Aleksander’s, or Lorien’s?
I was afraid to ask who it had felt like.
Could he tell the difference?
“Aleks said something that’s been bothering me all morning,” I told Zayn. “That he feelshollowed out, as if Lorien took pieces with him when he left.” I forced my gaze not to waver, my voice not to shake. “Is that how you feel, too?”
