I need a dagger strapped to my thigh, I said.
No weapons are allowed near the would-be queen.
We’d see how long I’d obey that rule.
All weapons except magic,I pointed out.
Which you will use with the utmost care if you use it at all.
This sounds . . . interesting.
I’m sure it will be,he said.
I’d have to enter Brenna’s rooms soon and start pampering her. I had no idea what she’d expect of me. I doubted she wanted to learn how to fight with a knife, though she should. It might come in handy on her wedding night.
At this point,I said.The king must be determined to maintain the ruse. He won’t endanger it now. If he shows her who he truly is, she’ll call off the wedding.
She won’t be allowed to break this off. Her father promised her to Ivenrail, and it will take more than her seeing him in a nasty mood for her to risk the shaky truce the two kings formed.
Another truce?
One with mutual benefits.
Is our king sampling Nullen energy?
Vexxion gave me a sharp nod.
The fucker.
His lips curled up before smoothing.Exactly.
A gift or by theft?
The latter.
I’m surprised Ivenrail hasn’t killed him for doing it.
Vexxion urged me toward the door, and one of the guards swept it open.He’s not interested in starting a war.
Yet. Vexxion may not name it, but I felt the word score my skin.
Not until all the game pieces have been put into place, I said.
To win what you cherish most, you’ll have to be very clever.He left me with a stroke of his fingertip along my jaw, flitting to join the king.
As the guard closed the door behind me, I paused in the enormous sitting room. The few suites I’d been in so far shared similar layouts in that each had a large area with a fireplace flanked by plush furniture, plus a bank of windows looking out either at the valley far below or the plain stretching all the way to the mountain range between here and Riftflame Court. A bedroom was placed on one end or the other, with the adjoining bathing area and closets tucked in wherever they fit. Since Brenna was the future queen, her suite might have other rooms. A parlor. A second living area. Larger closets for her clothing.
Brenna’s suite faced the bridge and the aerie with the mountains gleaming in the distance. As the light sound of laughter drew me across the room to her bedroom, I glanced toward the tall peaks. Was Riftflame holding strong or were they preparing a way to concede power to Ivenrail? Once theysuccumbed, that only left Lydel’s thorn-covered island and whatever remained of their core of power for him to annex.
Then he could stomp across Nullen territory and send ships to take over other continents. Our king might feel his new truce and the gift of his daughter protected him from harm, but Ivenrail would toss all that aside to gain unrestrained access to every living Nullen.
I paused in the open doorway, taking in Brenna sitting in front of a vanity while one of her ladies arranged her hair.
Her gaze met mine in the mirror, and she turned with a smile. “Tempest? My fiancé mentioned he was sending a few more ladies to attend to my needs.” She looked me over, and her smile didn’t waver when her gaze took in the subtle pink slash mark across my throat. The vines had stopped writhing the moment Vexxion marked me for the second time, but I couldn’t keep my hands away.
“Come closer,” Brenna said. She must be used to seeing collared Nullens around by now. “What’s that creature on your shoulder?”
I walked in as ladylike a manner as I could across the enormous room hosting a four-poster bed, three armoires, another fireplace with six sofas and at least eight cushioned chairs, plus ornate carpets covering most of the hardwood floor. Pausing by one of the sofas, I stroked the bird’s spine. “This is my pet crow, Drask.”
