I could swear Reyla glanced my way, but when I looked at her, she was staring at the floor. As always, she stood nearby, ready to receive and execute orders, but not engaging in conversation. A pang shot through me. I thought we’d made progress, but maybe not. It was getting hard to cling to hope when it kept ripping through my fingers like sharp wire.
“What role will an enforcer have in our court?” Brenna asked stiffly. Her concerned gaze met mine.
Delaine shrugged. “He’ll enforce the king’s rules, I suppose. Too many feel they can do as they please. I’m sure the king hates that.”
He appeared to have full control of his court already. Why an enforcer?
“Isn’t that the role of the controller?” Brenna asked.
A smile twisted Delaine’s face, and she purposefully met my eyes. “Remember, the controller is being replaced.”
While Vexxion had no interest in serving the king, we needed his role here in the court until the wedding but that was tomorrow. Let Kerune “enforce” whatever he pleased after that.
“I doubt that will happen,” I rasped, my voice betraying my anxiety. Would Delaine notice? From the sparkle in her eyes, she did. “The king needs Vexxion too much.”
“Do you actually call him by his first name? The scandal,” Delaine lisped, her eyes sparkling even more. “But then, you sleep in his room. Perhaps there, he permits you to do many things for him. I’m sure you call out his name while he fucks you.” She shoved past me, literally knocking me backward.
Drask flew off my shoulder and attacked her, his claws raking down the front of her dress.
I grappled with my skirt, hiking it up to pull my blade.
Delaine smacked Drask, and he jerked backward, swooping over to land on my shoulder once more.
Reyla stiffened.
Her gaze hit Delaine like a blow, and her snarl echoed in the room.
She lifted her finger and shot a thin bolt of lightning at Delaine’s face.
41
TEMPEST
Shrieking, Delaine clutched her face.
Brenna cried out and gaped at Reyla.
Reyla stomped over to Delaine and smacked her arm. “Shut the fuck up, you bitch.” Pivoting, she sashayed over to stand beside me.
I remained motionless, staring at her with my jaw ajar.
“Are you alright?” Reyla—my Reyla—asked, her eyes soft with concern.
I burst into tears. “Reyla?” I wailed. “Reyla?”
“Aw.” Reyla wrapped her arms around me, whispering by my ear. “It’s okay. I’m here. Delaine didn’t hurt you, did she?”
I leaned back in her embrace. “You’re back?”
“I am,” she said in a low voice, for my ears alone. “I’m going to maintain the ruse that I’m still whatever I was before.”
I suspected she’d already given it away.
Her fingertips rose to stroke Drask’s back, and he preened as if he was responsible for her transformation.
“Oh my.” Brenna rushed to Delaine and carefully pulled her hands away from her face. Her gasp rang out. “That looks nasty.”
“Nasty. Nasty?” Rage boiled in Delaine’s voice. She stomped over to the mirror and peered at her reflection. “You burned me, you bitch!” Turning, she rushed toward Reyla, her fist swinging out.
