“Always a pleasure, Son,” the King muttered as Ryker took his place next to me.
“You called, did you not?” Amusement colored Ryker’s tone, but his father did not share the sentiment.
“Now,” Ryker said, clapping his hands together. “The raids.”
A murmur rippled through the room, voices overlapping in alarm. Ryker raised a hand, and everyone fell quiet.
“We’ve lost three supply caravans in the last two weeks,” said a pale man with gaunt cheeks and sweat beading on his forehead despite the cold air. “All of them headed for the palace. Each one was ambushed in the same region along the Black Rock Pass.”
“Too convenient to be a coincidence,” added another, a burly man whose face was as ruddy as his tunic. “They knew the routes. The timing. We have a traitor in our midst.”
Ryker steepled his fingers and looked thoughtful, but I could see the tension in his jaw. “And yet you’ve all sat on your hands while the palace stores were bled dry.”
“We’re stretched thin,” the burly man shot back. “Ever since those lunatics made it inside the perimeter, the border patrols have been prioritizing defense along the eastern side. We don’t have the numbers to cover both fronts.”
“And has anyone taken responsibility for these raids?” I asked before I could stop myself.
Every head turned toward me. I could almost hear the collective intake of breath. Ryker merely smirked, crossing his arms over his chest as he waited for someone to answer.
The King cleared his throat. “We believe the rebels are responsible for the raids.”
My brow creased in confusion. I hadn’t heard of any rebels attacking the palace. Although I wasn’t up to date with the court gossip either.
“He means the Crimson Enclave,” Ryker clarified.
My blood ran cold in my veins.
The Crimson Enclave was to blame for the food raids? Was this my father’s plan to undermine the Unseelie Court?
Then another realization hit me.
If the council suspected a traitor inside the palace, then my father already had eyes on me. How long would he wait before he turned against me?
My thoughts swirled as the meeting dragged on. I tried to listen, to study the councilors and their interactions.
But my mind continued to drift.
After the meeting concluded, Ryker and I lingered, along with the King. When the hall was empty, he fixed his narrowed gaze on Ryker.
“Was that necessary?” he bit out.
Ryker only shrugged. “You asked me to intimidate them, and I did.”
“I did not ask you to murder my council members,” the King spat. “Now I will have to deal with Lord Thorne’s son, who is even less amenable than his father.”
“Next time, be clearer.”
Ryker stood from his seat and held his hand out to me. “Come, wife. I’m sure you’re eager for this to be over.”
I placed my palm in his and let him lead me toward the doors.
“Son,” his father called after us.
Ryker halted, but he did not turn back to face him.
“Remember what’s at stake here.”
Ryker clenched his jaw, his nostrils flaring.
