“Gwynnore?” Lord Otto interrupted, his blond head snapping in my direction.
“Yes, my lord?” Pure innocence.
“From now on, keep your mouth shut.”
“Yes, my lord,” I griped.
I slunk down on my chair and crossed my arms.
This was the worst day ever.
Master Niallan lifted a blond brow. He only had eyes for one person in this room. And they weren’t for me. The druid was still staring at the lord sitting next to me. With no arrogance in his tone, only business, he asked, “Only I came for her?”
Lord Belshazzar nodded once. “Correct.”
Green eyes did flick in my direction. They ran up and down my frame slowly, taking their time to study each part of my person. I didn’t squirm. I simply glared harder. When his eyes returned to mine, meeting the hatred in my gaze, his lips quirked in humor.
My eyes flashed red. I gave him one warning.
That was all I would give him.
His green eyes dipped to my breasts, then back to the only lord he seemed to want to talk to. “I’ll take it.”
My shoulders tensed.
Lord Belshazzar’s head cocked. “Do you mean you want to be considered for King Novitiate? Or are you saying you’ll take her?”
“Both.” An arrogant shrug. “Both appeal to me.”
My breath came in short pants.
The lord gradually nodded his head. “The Council will consider it then. However, nothing will be officially stated until the next queen is crowned. And you will need to stay at this stronghold starting now. There are duties you will need to do for the Queen Novitiate.” He paused and cleared his throat roughly. “And whether Gwynnore allows you to ‘take her’ is entirely up to her.”
My jaw clenched.
Master Niallan smiled. It was beautiful. “Deal.”
I shoved from my chair. I’d had enough of this.
They wanted him.
What the overlords wanted, the overlords got.
As I shoved the door open to the jail, I peered over my shoulder at the Original. His green eyes were following me. I showed my fangs, and then I slammed the door shut behind me.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
~ GWYNNORE ~
Droplets of water dangled from my black hair, my soul refreshed from a hot shower, as I bent down to lift the envelope from my floor. Someone had shoved the innocent white letter under my apartment’s front door while I recuperated from the King Challenge. I ground my teeth together as I straightened from my crouch, noticing the official royal wax seal on the back, the symbol as powerful as the blood pumping in my veins—two deadly swords protected by the almighty crown.
Another Challenge.
It had to be.
Only an hour after the last was completed.
I cracked my neck and tightened my bathrobe. This one couldn’t be too bad. Hopefully. The ancient book had said the third Challenge would be—Secret.
