I’ve stayed here enough times to have gotten the tour, but I don’t know the castle all that well. Better than my sister—Fenella famously got lost the first time she stayed here, ending up interrupting a council meeting between King Magnus and the President of France.
The king still teases her about it.
I bet Sophie knows the ins and outs of the castle. Secret rooms, secret passages. What’s really down in the dungeons. If she was here as a kid, she’d know all of that.
And now she’s back.
My mind is on the king’s offer as I head for my room, and what Fenella said yesterday, so it takes longer for me to recognize the voice.
But as I turn down the hall leading to the stairs, I slow my steps because who wants to talk to someone who thinks you’re a blight on the face of civilization?
Or someone who really doesn’t like me.
The conversation continues, voices speaking in low tones. A laugh.
Duncan Lazcanlaugh. Everyone seems to love him, but he hasn’t endeared himself to me.
Probably because he doesn’t like me.
I hit his daughter with a car. I don’t blame him.
With a deep breath, I keep walking. I may be a lot of things, but no one has ever accused me of being a coward. Turning the corner, I see Duncan.
His silver hair sweeps to the shoulders of his dark grey suit. The king wears jeans and old sweatshirts when he isn’t in a meeting, looking more like someone who works in a start-up than a monarch, but I’ve never seen Duncan looking anything but impeccably dressed. I’ve seen pictures and videos of when he was in the band, and Duncan never wore the ripped jeans of his bandmates, the denim so tight it was practically glued to their legs. Duncan favoured slim pants or even leather, with flowing silk shirts. Even scarves.
I kind of respect him for the scarves.
But I’m not cataloging his fashion choices today. Instead, I’m agog at the sight of Duncan—
And Mrs. Theissen, the warden/chief babysitter and Castle Manager.
It shouldn’t be odd to see them together… only it is.
Mrs. Theissen is all but leaning against the wall, more relaxed than I’ve ever seen her. She’s… smiling… and looks about twenty years younger than the last time I saw her.
She’s smiling at Duncan, his arm resting on the wall beside her, and leaning down, almost as if—
No. No way.
The soft scuff of my shoe gives away my approach. Mrs. Theissen straightens and actually lifts a hand andpushesDuncan—Lord Laz, chief advisor to the king—away from her.
If seeing the two of them like that wasn’t suspicious enough, the push really sells it.
“Ashton.” Duncan’s voice is deep and disapproving.
I give him my best smirk. “Lord Laz. And Mrs. Theissen. Fancy meeting the two of you here.”
“What are you doing here?” Duncan barks.
“I’m staying at the castle at the king’s invitation.”
He scowls, and it actually makes him better looking.
It’s no wonder I don’t mind women thinking that I’m grumpy if it improves my looks.
“I meantnow. Here. Don’t you have something to do?”
“I just came from visiting Sophie. We hadanothernice visit.”
