Lucenna moved to sit on the floor with her back resting against the couch. “We can’t tell you what to do about your relationship, Dyna, but I think I’m finished with men. The whole damn lot of them can piss off.”
Dyna arched her brows at her. “Did something happen with Klyde?”
She blushed. “Why do you assume he has anything to do with it?”
Keena giggled like a tinkling of bells. “Lucenna, your squabbling was clearly flirting. Now there are leaves in your hair and your lips are flushed. You kissed, didn’t you? It was bound to happen.”
She groaned and dropped her head on Dyna’s lap. “I allowed him to lure me in with those infuriating dimples and cocky charm. All he cared for was the chase. How much of an idiot can I be? I was never this blind.”
“Are you all right?” Dyna asked as she brushed the silver tresses from her face.
“Of course.” Lucenna scoffed, ignoring the lump in her throat. “I have more important things to do than brood over someman.”
“Gods, you’re right. We have lost sight of what’s truly important. The only thing that matters right now is Lord Norrlen.” Wiping her eyes, Dyna rose to her feet and marched toward the door. “Everyone else can piss off!”
“Where are you going?” Keena asked.
“To find some wine. We need a drink!”
Well, Lucenna wouldn’t argue with that. Dyna stepped out into the hall with Sowmya, the door shutting behind her.
“Whatever happened between you and Klyde, I doubt it was only about the chase.” Keena’s tiny slippers padded on the velvet upholstery as she sat on the edge of the couch by her nose.
Lucenna arched an eyebrow at her. “You’re defending him? I thought he wasn’t one of your favorites?”
“Eh, I find him amusing, but I like to make him think he’s not.”
Lucenna smirked. That must really vex him.
Keena smirked back. “One benefit of being small is that no one notices me there when I’m paying attention to them. And he is always looking at you, Lucenna. I don’t mean like a lustful fool, but like someone who worries and cares.”
She didn’t know what to think about that.
It didn’t make sense because Klyde would say one thing and do another to contradict himself. Why kiss her merely to call it a mistake?
The lump in her throat turned to a burning that threatened to rush up her nose. It was too confusing and embarrassing. Regardless, he was right.
Involving herself with him was the most dimwitted thing she could’ve done.
The fairy princess canted her head, staring at the fireplace thoughtfully. “The world is so big, but at times it seems so small. Tarn is Dyna’s sworn enemy and somehow you end up meeting his brother on Troll Bridge.”
“Actually, I first met Klyde in the Port of Azure.”
Keena’s hazel eyes turned to her with astonishment. “Would you consider that coincidence or fate?”
Lucenna rolled her eyes. “Coincidence.”
They simply had been in the same place at the same time. A witch’s den, oddly enough.
“Klyde joined you to take out his brother for his nephew’s sake, but Tarn is dead, right?”
Lucenna sighed. “Yes.”
It was probably a good thing Klyde hadn’t told Tavin about him. It would be too difficult of a conversation.
“With his brother no longer a threat, that means Klyde lost his reason to be here, Lucenna.”
She blinked at her, realizing she was right. He had only joined them to hunt down Tarn.
