“True, but even when the guards knew I was a welcome guest and were showing me respect, they still sent for someone to escort me through the castle.”
Juri's face crinkled in thought.
“Do you understand now why we suspected you?” Cyn asked him.
“Yes,” Juri murmured as his expression went distant. “They must have enchanted members of the castle staff, maybe even a guard, who then escorted them in and possibly even spied for them.”
I considered that. “That sounds plausible.” Then I shook my head and cursed, “Fuck. I can't believe the Shanba have had that relic locked away in their temple for all this time. We're lucky they're peaceful people. Instead of merely turning armies away from Rercime, they could have taken control of them.”
“Indeed. But Tareth's Triumph wasn't made to be used like that. If we can believe what they told us about it,” Cyn said. Then he lifted a brow at me. “So perhaps my security is fine as it is?”
“Perhaps,” I conceded. “I guess I'm still on edge.”
“You should be,” Juri said.
“Excuse me?” I huffed.
“You'll be presented to our dread soon.” He looked at Cyn. “Speaking of which, would you like me to summon them?”
“Yes, and have Thomlin take care of the arrangements.”
“Yes, Sire. If there's nothing else, I shall attend to that immediately.”
Cyn nodded. “Thank you, Juri.”
Lord Juri stood, bowed to the King, then left.
As he walked out, I started to stand, but Cyn held out a hand. “One moment, Ru. I need to talk to you about something.” He looked at his knights and said, “Give us some privacy.”
The men marched into the hallway and shut the door behind them.
“What's this about?” I asked.
“The Midnight Clan.”
I leaned back in my chair. “What about them?”
“They are my clan now too, yes?”
“Yes,” I said warily.
“Ru, don't look at me like that. You know I would never hurt you or them.”
I relaxed. “Yes, you're right. I'm sorry. So what aboutourclan?”
“I want to help them. I can't leave them to live in the Forgotten.”
I blinked. Processed. Understood his position. He was the Dragon King, and I was his mate. He didn't want my clan, now his, living in the most dangerous district in the city while we languished in luxury. I felt the sting of it too, as if I were abandoning them. But Raltven were not like other people.
“I appreciate your desire to help them, but they're too proud to take hand-outs,” I said.
“I'm not talking about hand-outs, I'm talking about opening a few doors for them.”
“Doors to where?”
“Jobs. Legal work. Careers.”
I winced.
