I wasn’t sure what he planned to do, though I’d already drawn power and prepared myself for almost anything.
Brenna stepped between us. “I don’t take kindly to you coming here and approaching one of my ladies in such an aggressive manner. I don’t care who you are. I’m going to speak to my fiancé about you as soon as I see him.”
Backing away, Kerune swept his arm out and bowed, a stiff smile rising on his chiseled face. “I do apologize, my lady. I’m unnerved, terribly upset about Delaine.”
“Yes, yes, so am I. Leave my presence.” I was reminded again that this woman had been raised in a royal household and trained to behave as if she might one day rule our territory. Her Lydel blood proved she could handle almost anything if I could keep the king from draining her power. “Do not return again until you can behave in an appropriate manner.” A true sob shook her shoulders. “I must mourn the loss of my lady-in-waiting, and I don’t need you here as witness.”
His gaze raked across me again, and I didn’t need to be able to foresee the future to know that I’d have to watch my back atall times. He suspected I was involved in Delaine’s death, which meant he must be privy to the plan to kill me.
This man would not stop until he found full vengeance.
He’d make me pay for taking Delaine’s life, and my death would not come swiftly.
I added Kerune to my growing list of enemies.
46
TEMPEST
Upset about Delaine, Brenna opted to remain in her rooms to compose herself. “You may leave, my ladies. I’ll see myself to the dining room once I’m ready. Please return later to help me undress.” Something she rarely asked us to do, though it was within our duties. On deadened feet, she walked into the bedroom and shut the door. Her soft cries echoed within the room.
“We need to talk, but there’s something I need to look into first,” Reyla said.
“What’s that?” I didn’t want her snooping into anything, but I couldn’t exactly forbid her when I had a hidden reason for being here.
Her lips curled up slyly, but no malice lurked in her eyes. “You’re not the only one with secrets.”
I braced her forearms. “Tell me you’ll be careful. The castle is swarming with fae lords and ladies. They’ve come for thewedding, and they’re universally mean. You have almost no magic to protect yourself.”
She held up her finger. “This suggests otherwise.” Her smile fell quickly. “I saw Brodine but only from a distance. He’s not . . .” Tears filled her eyes.
I hugged her, whispering by her hair. “I haven’t given up on him yet, just like I didn’t give up on you.”
“You’re going to make me sob, but I think that’s alright.” We hugged a bit before she leaned back in my arms. “Were you involved with . . .” Her shoulder jerked toward the door.
Stepping away from her, I shrugged, not willing to name anything without Vexxion’s threads wrapped solidly around me to keep others from overhearing.
“Just promise me you’ll be careful,” I said. “Don’t go where a Nullen isn’t normally allowed.” No sneaking into rooms to steal books, in other words. Actually, I wanted to tell her to go to her room and stay there until this was over, but how could I ask her to do that when I wasn’t going to do so myself?
“You be careful too. I was shocked to see Delaine here. Since then, I’ve beenlookingaround. She was the high advisor’s daughter.”
“Selitta was too.”
“Selitta?”
She must not remember the other woman’s name, so I carefully refreshed her memory.
“Two daughters lost in such a short time.” Taking my hands, her fingers tightened on mine. “We need to watch out at all times.”
I jerked out a nod.
“I’ll find you when I have something to share,” she said. Easing around me, she strode toward the door.
“I love you, Reyla,” I called after her.
Turning, she shot me a smile that stabbed through me, because it showed me my friend was going to be alright if we could survive tomorrow. “Love you too, Tempest. It’s good to know we both have a friend inside this wretched place.”
Once she’d left, I flitted to my suite’s sitting area. Drask hadn’t returned, but that wasn’t unusual for my feathered friend. I dressed in leathers quickly.
