Lucenna choked. She guzzled her tea to swallow down the dry lump of bread stuck in her throat, only to scald her tongue. She winced and coughed, rubbing her stinging lips.
The barmaid chuckled. “She attracted some trouble with a handful of redcaps who wanted to feast on her flesh, but then her husband gallantly arrived on a unicorn to her aid.”
Lucenna shook her head. No way was any of it true.
“It’s true. I heard it from the other barmaids.” She clasped her hands together, swooning. “Well, you know how stories alter as they’re passed around, but doesn’t it sound lovely?” With that, she floated away happily.
Lucenna smirked. “You don’t believe her story, do you? It sounds ridiculous.”
“The tale was rather outlandish,” Rawn agreed. “However, she described Lady Dyna and Prince Cassiel.”
“But to confuse them as husband and wife is…” Lucenna wanted to say it was also ridiculous, but when she had first met them, she too thought they might have been a pair. Prince Cassiel was protective of her and Dyna was often watching him as if she couldn’t help it. Both would often fall into unspoken conversations with each other, seeming to communicate with nothing but a look. “Do you think there is something more between them?”
Rawn busied himself by brushing a speck of nonexistent dust off his cloak. “I suppose anyone could misconstrue Cassiel’s willful protectiveness for that of a mate.”
Lucenna eyed him, reading the evasiveness on his face. “That isn’t an answer, Lord Norrlen. I imagine with your keen hearing you know more than you pretend.”
He sighed and said in a quiet tone, “It is not my place to say, my lady. I ask that you keep any suspicions to yourself. Zev would not receive the notion well, nor would Prince Cassiel for that matter.”
Gods, it had merely been a guess, but Lord Norrlen had all but confirmed therewassomething between them.
Before Lucenna could reply, Zev returned to the table, glaring at him. “Why did I waste my time with the tavern keeper when you know which room Cassiel was to stay in?”
“Oh, right, of course.” Rawn cleared his throat. “I reserved him on the third floor in room 311.”
Zev barreled for the stairs. Lucenna and Rawn’s chairs scraped against the floor as they quickly rose to follow. The pounding of their boots echoed in the stairwell as they hurried up the stairs. They reached the third floor and rushed together down the hallway until they arrived at Cassiel’s door. Rawn took a deep breath and lifted his hand to knock, but a male moan from inside halted him in place.
“Oh, Cassiel. You look exhausted.”
Lucenna gaped at the grains of the wooden door, not sure if she truly heard Dyna’s voice. Zev stiffened in place.
Rawn shook his head. “No, Prince Cassiel would never—”
“Of course, I am,” Cassiel grumbled. “I’ve been exerted to the point of exhaustion. Not to mention last night was somewhat eventful, mind you. I half expected to receive complaints.”
Rawn covered his face. “God of Urn.”
Lucenna stifled a snort. She hadn’t thought Cassiel or Dyna were the type to indulge in the throes of passion so willingly, as both were prim and proper. It proved one couldn’t judge character by appearances. Lucenna placed her ear against the door to listen better.
“My lady,” Rawn chastised her quietly.
She grinned and motioned for him to listen.
“I’m sorry to have burdened you,” Dyna said.
Cassiel was quiet for a pause, then said in a gentler tone, “It could not be helped. You were quite distracted at the moment, and I had some fault in it as well.”
Lucenna’s muffled laughter ended abruptly when Zev’s shocked face turned red. His whole body shook as fur sprouted up his arms to his bulging neck. His eyes flashed yellow and his claws grew.
“I’m going to tear out his throat,” Zev growled.
“We mustn’t misconstrue,” Rawn said in a low whisper. “Prince Cassiel would never partake in such debauchery.”
“Thank you for allowing me to stay the night with you,” Dyna continued.
“Think nothing of it. What kind of man would I be to turn you away? Now let us hurry and meet the others before they find us in such a disreputable state. Do you have your belongings?”
The door swung open, and Cassiel’s impatient expression switched to shock to find them there. There was no time for Lucenna to shout a warning. Zev’s fist smashed into the prince’s face, launching him across the room.
