“Has everyone returned?” I ask, wondering about all of the members of court that Marjorie had evacuated. Armond gives me a brief nod, catching on to the arm of a passing staff member, “send Marjorie to her.” He orders, his clipped tone sending the boy off running to the healer’s quarters.
We pass the doors to the throne room again, the scent still thick. I cannot imagine the state Vada must be in. “Does she know Eveera’s back?”
He dips his chin, “I’m assuming that’s the only reason the castle isn’t a pile of rubble today.”
We arrive at the council room, and I give him a sidelong glance. “You’ve brought me here unwillingly.” I chide. He shrugs and pushes open the door, revealing a roomful of people standing, waiting for me. I stand still for a moment, unsure of what to do, until Will gives me an incredulous look and discreetly waves for me to get my ass up to the head of the table.
All their heads bow in reverence as I pass, joining Felix at the head of the table. Looking over the room, I clasp my hands in front of me. “I’m going to hope that the reason that I’ve been removed from her Majesty is a good one.”
A few council members’ eyes shift around nervously until they all land on Lady Alina. Looking expectantly at me, she fixes her hands behind her back, lips flattening into a thin line. “We need to know what to do with these.”
With the snap of her fingers, Bennett walks in, the men from Sabel in tow.
Right.
“Thoseneed to be sent back through the portal.”
“Fine by me.” The taller of the two replies, his tone annoyed.
Devlen quickly steps forward, objection at the ready, “now wait a second.” Bennett clamps a hand on his shoulder, holding him back from making any more steps towards me. He huffs and crosses both arms across his chest. “I’m not leaving until she dismisses me.”
“Devlen.” His companion warns and whirls around the opposite way, a finger going straight into the man’s chest.
“Caz, I am not leaving until she says so. She trusted us.” He urges.
“And she’s back where she belongs. In her world ofWielders,” the word comes out like a slur. “We,” he points between the two of them, “belong back in Sabel. I am sure she will be well taken care of here by her own kind.”
Devlen shakes his head, “I’m not leaving until she says so.”
“Well, she’s not in any position to be making decisions right now,” I say bitterly, my fists curling against the wooden table. Caz reaches for his partner in an attempt to urge him from the room willingly, while Bennett moves behind them in case he needs to use force.
Devlen darts out from between them, “I’m not going.”
“I am ordering you to go! As your partner already reminded you – you do not belong here.”Who is this guy? I wonder silently.He’s spent maybe five minutes with her, and he thinks he can just demand to stay by her side?
“She told me that she was the queen of this kingdom, and I assured I would help her get to safety. I’m sure she’s taken care… but I would feel better if she were able to send me away herself.” His chest puffs out as he gains a modicum of ill-placed confidence.
The laugh that rumbles from my chest is nothing but the product of sheer irritation and exhaustion. “This is a fucking joke,”SLAM!My hand smacks against the table, and the room flinches.
Devlen looks desperately at Caz, his hand fidgeting in front of him, “she was running from someone… we can’t leave–”
“We were going to leave her to traipse through the desert by herself. She’s certainly better off here. We need to go.” Caz grabs onto his forearm, dragging him over to the doorway with Ben on their heels.
“But–”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, and Bennett clamps onto Devlen’s shoulder. “I’d really stop arguing. He’s a bit overprotective when it comes to his wife.”
“Wife? You’re her husband? She never mentioned a husband.”
“That’s because I didn’t know Ihada husband.”
Her voice cuts through the room like a knife, and pain lances up my arm. “Ah!” I hiss, swiveling around towards her voice.
She’s dressed in a simple black gown, her wild curls assembled messily on the top of her head, and held in place by a thin dagger. Even with the bandages adorning her wrists, and the hollowness in her face, she looks as lethal as ever.
And despite my desire to go to her – I know that if I move even a millimeter, she’ll have me torn apart and strewn across the room as decoration.
The room erupts into a cadence of reverent greeting, each council member bowing respectfully. Eveera doesn’t have to say anything for them to understand and make themselves scarce, her eyes never leaving me.
