Jeez, she wasn’t going to sneak out to be with Zayde, was she? Didn’t she realize how close to death she’d be if she did something like that?
“Plans for what today?” Delaine asked.
“Plans for nothing,” Brenna said as I twirled a swatch of her hair and artfully pinned it in place on the top of her head.
Reyla hooked jewelry though Brenna’s earlobe.
Delaine frowned but didn’t press her further.
We escorted Brenna to dinner. Thankfully, she dismissed us outside the dining room, stating she wouldn’t need us again tonight.
“Would you come with me?” I asked Reyla. I needed to ask her if she’d taken the book, though I wasn’t confident she’d respond.
“No,” she spun and hurried away before I could latch onto her arm.
Since I had no interest in spending time with Delaine, I followed Reyla, though I didn’t catch up to her.
Giving up for now, I flitted to my suite.
Vexxion was expected to remain with the king through the evening, which meant I was free to do whatever I pleased.
It was time to explore a location Vexxion made me promise to avoid.
The king’s bedroom.
35
TEMPEST
Vexxion might be busy with the king, but he was savvy. Since I didn’t want him seeing what I was doing, I tightened the forest and walls around my mind. After changing into my leathers, the clothing I was most comfortable in, and forbidding Drask from coming with me, I flitted to a shadowy corner of the king’s living area. I peered around quickly to make sure I was alone. If someone was already here, I’d flit, hopefully before they noticed I’d arrived.
The room remained empty.
I strode past the fireplace, noting that the chairs remained in place, waiting for me to be forced to sit in one of them. I could almost see the vines erupting from the floor to hold me in place and Ivenrail slamming his thumb against my forehead to drain me. Drain Vexxion, actually. I couldn’t fathom how much power the king had taken from him over the years. Vexxion’s power must be enormous because he could still outmaneuverme most of the time. Yet he still didn’t have enough to kill the king.
My gaze was drawn to the Wraithweave board. It fascinated me for some reason, though I wasn’t a player. Who sat across from the king and assumed the role of the high lady and her fearless defenders?
My gasp was followed by a frown.
The high lady had moved farther down the board, close to where Vexxion and I had sheltered at his mother’s estate. She stood on the border between Weldsbane and Lydel Court, but that wasn’t what surprised me the most. A dragon piece had joined her, crafted in shining gold. I wanted to lift it and hold it to my chest because it reminded me of Seevar. It wasn’t him, of course, and I was no high lady.
Players could purchase a dragon, though they rarely did. The beasts could only offer a few moves in the game, so few bothered with the expense.
The high lady’s white defender remained near the start of the game while the other two stood near her side, as did her shield.
The opponent’s master had moved closer to the fortresses on the Nullen border with the wasteland. What was the strategy there?
My low growl slipped out, and I stepped away. I’d been here too long, pondering a game that had no bearing on real life. It was time to explore the king’s bedroom.
Although, I knew why I’d stalled and remained beside the gameboard. Vexxion had warned me more than once to stayaway, and I was rightly cautious about entering the king’s private room. Scared, actually.
Be quick,I hissed to myself as I hurried across the living area, my footsteps light, my favorite blade in my hand.Look around and leave.A dagger was nearly useless within a castle full of fae lords and ladies who could do magic with a flick of their finger, but I was nearly as fast with a blade. It also felt good to have one in my hand.
As I moved across the room, a metallic tang burst across my tongue. Sweat beaded on my clammy skin, and my heart thundered much too fast. My heart was a frantic bird trapped in a bone cage. Each breath hitched, sharp and painful against the dread clogging the air.
I paused outside the door and pushed on it, almost expecting to meet resistance. Surely it was warded to keep anyone from entering. But it nudged open easily, almost in a welcoming way, as if it knew me. As if it wanted me to come inside to play.
Fear clawed its way up my throat.
