Her words broke off at the growl rumbling from Rey’s chest. Silla slid a hand along Rey’s newly trimmed beard, checking for uneven strands. “It does not matter,” she said, stroking his jaw. “You are here now.”
“It mattersvery much.They made you doubt my feelings for you. They’re trying to drive a wedge between us. But it is more than that, Silla. They think their rank permits them to treat others as though they’re dispensable.” Silla lifted his hand from where it rested on her hip and entwined her fingers with his.
“I do not disagree. But we must be cautious, Rey. Right now, we need unity, as well as Atli’s sway to muster warriors. Let us put the missing letters behind us for the greater good—”
Rey’s chuckle was low and dark, but he brought her knuckles tohis lips and pressed a reverent kiss there. “I will put it behind me once I’ve had a little talk with Atli.”
A shiver rolled through Silla as she took in the coldness behind his eyes. “He never overtly—”
Rey shook his head. “Of course not. It is not his way. The man is a serpent and a schemer—”
She cut him off with a kiss. “We must retain a good relationship with House Hakon,” she warned. “Please, Rey. If you’re to speak with Atli tonight, let it be about the battle in the heartwood. Let it be about mustering the warriors we need.”
“Very well,” said Rey. His eyes softened, his gaze growing tender. “Tonight is your night.”
For a moment, Silla wanted to abandon all plans of the feast—to drag him to the bed and repeat what they’d done this morning.
But something flickered in Rey’s eyes. “To be clear, Silla, Iwillget to the bottom of the missing letters.”
Silla sighed heavily. “But first, the feast of the Shortest Day. At the very least there shall be good food to be had.”
Rey grumbled something inaudible into her hair.
“You do not like the fineries of Kopa?”
He drew back and surveyed her through narrowed lids. “I like them just fine. It’s the people I find intolerable. There’s a reason I preferred my time on the road, doing the Uppreisna’s tasks.”
Worry gathered within her. “Please be…kind tonight, Rey.”
He huffed a dry laugh. “I shall try, though you must know the people of Kopa make this a difficult task.”
“I mean it, Reynir,” she said, poking him in the chest. “I’ve worked so hard to make a good impression tonight. And youraxe eyesdo not exactly inspire goodwill and trust.”
His scowl only deepened, sending a tremor through her body. “Though if you want to bring them into bed afterward,” she whispered, “I’d not be opposed.”
“We could skip the feast and go straight to bed,” he rasped, fingertips digging into her hip.
“Later,” she promised, heat unfurling inside her. “After.” Her hands slid along his jaw, pulling him down to her—
A knock on the door had her jumping to her feet.
“It’s time!” called Runný from the corridor.
Rey let out a long-suffering sigh.
Silla chewed on her lip, taking in Rey’s miserable expression. “If you wish, you can stay behind—”
“I will go,” he asserted.
“Very well.” Slowly, she pulled him up from the bench and led him to the door.
Chapter 31
Silla’s head began to pound as she, Rey, and their retinue of guards approached Ashfall’s great hall. The enormous oak doors were thrown wide, raucous laughter escaping from the room beyond. Her pulse picked up, and Silla tried to calm herself by repeating Lady Tala’s advice from their meeting earlier in the day.
Show your backbone and be sure not to smile too much. Kindness and compassion will not win the jarls’ respect. Show them a queen they can believe in.
This advice did nothing to temper her nerves, as none of that was intuitivelyher.For a moment, she was filled with frustration. It should be Saga here, charming the nobles. Winning their fealty. Myrkur seized this frustration. Amplified it. Was Silla to do all of the work, only for Saga to slip in and enjoy the fruits of Silla’s labors?
