“Then wait a few days and leave on your own. You are the least beholden to Verdian. And is it not essential we secure an alliance with Khero? If you’re determined to do it in person, then I say it’s a pressing matter.”
Teryn’s expression brightened, his lips quirking into the ghost of a grin. “You really think so?”
Larylis straightened, shoulders squared. “As your king, I command it.” It felt like a mockery to refer to himself as king, but he supposed he should start getting used to it.
“Very well,” Teryn said, “but if I am to listen to a damn word you say, you better get to the Godskeep before Mareleau wears a hole straight through the floor with her pacing.”
Larylis forced a smile. “Deal.”
Together, they left the crypts and ascended the stairs to the hall outside the Godskeep. There he found his wife, a vision in white silk, her shoulders adorned in a velvet cape. A queen’s cape. Just as Teryn had said, she was pacing frantically across the floor. She paused when she caught sight of him. His heart lurched in his chest as their eyes met. Her gaze held a question steeped in worry, laced with trepidation.
He knew then how much his distance these last few days had hurt her. Knew how selfish he’d been in clinging to his pain. He wasn’t ready to let go of it completely, but he could push it aside, just enough so she could fit beside it.
His valet approached him with the royal cape—red with sable trim to match Mareleau’s—while a servant darted forth with a brush for his coat, frowning at the thin layer of dust Larylis had accumulated from the crypts. Larylis stepped past both of them, heading straight for Mareleau instead. He didn’t stop until she was against him, until both his hands had framed her face, and her soft lips were pressed to his. She met his kiss first with tense surprise, then with yielding. He felt her smile against his mouth, felt her grip tighten around his waist. With every tender brush of his lips, he conveyed his apology, his love, his promise.
I’ll never push you away, he thought.I’ll make today count. And when it’s time to go to Ridine for the signing of the peace pact, I’ll be ready to bring you home.
His valet cleared his throat while Mareleau’s ladies giggled. He reluctantly pulled away from the woman he loved. She smiled at him and he let himself grin right back.
This. He’d let himself enjoy this. He may not deserve it, but damn it, Teryn was right.Shedid. His fierce, beautiful, devious wife deserved his love.
They faced the closed doors and let their servants clean them up once more. Then they entered the Godskeep hand in hand and claimed their burdensome crowns together.
11
Cora’s arrival at Ridine Castle felt less like coming home and more like stumbling upon a traveling circus. The location was familiar but had been transformed by the uncanny. As she entered the great hall with her brother, she found it looked nothing like the understaffed castle Morkai had brought her to, nor the dark, chilling place of her once-constant nightmares. It bustled with activity, much like it had during her childhood, but with unfamiliar faces.
Servants and staff bowed low as Lord Kevan barked orders and made introductions. Chests and furnishings were brought in from the wagons that were being unloaded in the courtyard. The chaos was so unsettling, Cora found her shields weakening. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves and forced herself to focus on the latest introduction.
An older man with a slim build and kind face greeted her and her brother with a bow. “Your Majesty. Your Highness. I am Master Arther, your new steward.”
Cora nodded in greeting, then faced Lord Kevan. “Has Lord Ulrich already come?”
“No,” Kevan said, “we are not expecting him for another three days at least.”
Cora furrowed her brow. If Ulrich hadn’t arrived with the rest of their newly appointed staff and councilmen, then who were all these people? Neither Master Arther nor half of those scuttling about the halls had come with her retinue. None showed any familiarity with Dimetreus but seemed well enough acquainted with Kevan. That meant they hadn’t served under her brother when Morkai had had the run of the castle. Considering how empty Ridine had been the last time she’d been here, it was no surprise it required an overhaul of staff. Still, she hadn’t expected it to have been done in her and Dimetreus’ absence.
When Kevan didn’t elaborate, she turned a questioning look to her brother.
Dimetreus released a grumbling sigh. “King Verdian seized control of Ridine immediately after the battle,” he said, speaking low. “He’d already had it restaffed before we’d come to our agreement.”
A spike of indignation surged through her blood. While she understood Verdian’s suspicion over her brother’s involvement with Morkai, it felt wrong that he’d taken over Ridine Castle so prematurely. It served to remind her that until the peace pact was officially signed, she and Dimetreus were essentially on probation. Should they give Verdian—or his brothers—any reason to doubt their innocence, he could pull Khero right out from under their grasp.
Kevan narrowed his eyes at Dimetreus. “Yes, and you should be quite thankful for my brother’s generosity. Had he not acted when he did, you’d be coming home to cobwebs.”
“I am ever so grateful,” Dimetreus said through his teeth. This was the first sign Cora had seen to suggest he might share in Cora’s annoyance. For the most part, he’d demonstrated nothing but eager submission and a willingness to comply with whatever was demanded of him. She studied him closer and saw a tic forming at the corner of his jaw.
Lurel bounded up to Cora, her face alight with a wide smile. “You’re home, Your Highness! How does it feel? I bet you missed it greatly. You haven’t been back to Ridine in so long, have you?”
Cora nearly admitted that it hadn’t been long at all but decided against it. She hadn’t shared many personal details with her lady’s maid, so all the girl knew about Cora’s past was whatever was being said through gossip. Kevan had urged Cora and Dimetreus to speak little of recent events until they could hold a council meeting and agree upon the official story that would be publicly shared. That meeting, however, couldn’t commence until the rest of the council arrived with Lord Ulrich.
Lurel glanced around the great hall, her smile shifting into something like a grimace. “It’s rather…different from Verlot, isn’t it?”
“Different is a word for it,” Cora said. She’d been too consumed with her and Dimetreus’ fates to appreciate the luxury of Verlot Palace, but as she stared at the plain stone walls, bare wooden beams, and flagstone floor, she couldn’t help but admit Ridine left much to be desired.
Lurel bounced on the balls of her feet. “We can spruce things up, Highness. You’re the lady of the castle. It will be up to you to bring a…” She trailed off, frowning at a faded tapestry bearing a gruesome hunting scene that hung on the wall beside them. Her expression brightened as she met Cora’s eyes with a hopeful smile. “A feminine touch. That is what you’ll bring.”
“Your composure, Lurel,” Kevan said, tone gruff.
