A small smile turned his expression lighter. “Your people do make delicious food. Even the simple meals of farmers and innkeepers are exquisite.”
I poured a spoonful of broth into my mouth. “Perhaps I should not admit this, but I believe the years of living off of cave fish are making me appreciate these meals even more.”
He chuckled. “Indeed.”
“So…” I braced for his answer. “What were you thinking when we sat down?”
His smile faded. “Let it go. You don’t want to know.”
I didn’t let things go.
I opened my mouth to insist he talk, but a knock on the door cut me off.
“Sir?” Maeva called through the wood. “Lord Taedo is here to see you.”
* * *
Maeva brought us back downstairs to the dining room and pointed out a table where we were supposed to sit with the city’s lord. I thought I knew Lord Taedo, but the fae in front of me was a much younger stranger. Perhaps a son? Had the nobility changed so much in only forty years?
Andar reached for my hand under the table. I threaded my fingers through his as a thrill ran up my arm. He was doing this for Lord Taedo, right? To convince him of our charade. It wasn’t because he wanted to hold my hand—
Andar bowed his head. “Lord Taedo, thank you for allowing us into the city. We’re very grateful for a place to rest.”
The city’s ruler tipped his head forward magnanimously. “Of course. I put the city on lockdown when the ice dragons flew south earlier. I intend to keep us on lockdown until they return to the mountains. What are you doing out?”
I shifted closer to Andar, hoping he would carry the conversation in a protective husband-ly way. Neither of us could lie, and it would be harder for me to twist my story around to make sense.
He looped his arm over my shoulder. “The Snow Queen escaped her prison and held me captive.” His gaze fell to me, deceptively warm and appreciative, and then turned back up to Lord Taedo. “We just wanted to be free, my lord. And that freedom seems more difficult to attain than expected.”
Andar pointed his head in my direction before finishing. “She is having a difficult time with our challenges.”
Lord Taedo shifted as someone set mugs on the table in front of us.
Mugs of tea! The earthy, floral scent of chamomile filled the air, and I almost jumped out of Andar’s arms to grab a cup.
“Perhaps some chamomile will help her relax,” Lord Taedo said. His voice reminded me that I could not risk jumping into the conversation.
Andar must have noticed because his hand tightened around my arm. “Perhaps. We will take it to our room when we finish speaking with you.” Smart. This fae had gone out of his way to help me and was smarter in our charade than I was. I buried my face in his side.
Lord Taedo tapped the table with his fingers and asked directly, “Is the Snow Queen free? Completely unbound?”
Andar rubbed my arm with his hand, as if to comfort me. Unbidden desires crowded out my attention. I wanted him to hold me like this and mean it. No wonder love-sick fools made reckless choices. To be held in someone’s embrace who wanted you there—who hadn’t just agreed to a charade because he felt indebted to you for his freedom, but who wanted to be at your side—that would change everything.
Andar’s chest rumbled as he spoke. “The Snow Queen is certainly free. She has bound herself to at least one bargain that we’re aware of, but nothing that would stop her from seeking revenge or reasserting her rule.”
That’s right. I didn’t have time to hope for a relationship. I had revenge to demand and a sovereignty to establish.
“Do you have any idea what she plans to do?” Lord Taedo asked.
Andar sighed. “Honestly, my lord, I believe we are only here because she is preoccupied with revenge and finding out if Prince Bylur is a threat to her.”
“Ah.” Lord Taedo’s voice lifted in the tones of a smile. “Well, hopefully Prince Bylur proves to be a bigger threat than she expects.”
Andar sipped from his mug. “Can you tell us anything of his plans?”
Lord Taedo answered. “Prince Bylur has made some interesting propositions. He’d like to organize a council to rule Kalshana. I suspect he’ll be able to rally enough of our nobility to defeat the queen. She ispowerful, but everyone has their limits. One person, even a queen, can only manipulate so much magic before she is exhausted, and if enough of us are ready for that moment—” He huffed a small chuckle. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and those cursed dragons will take care of her for us.”
Andar tensed, the hand on my arm stilling. I lifted my head to see what was wrong, but Lord Taedo caught my eye. He stood up and nodded at me. “Regardless, you are welcome to take refuge in the city from the dragons. Or the queen, though I’ll confess that our forces as they are may not be enough to keep her out.”
