Layla and Zayde walked into the room, and they obviously didn’t see me because he lifted her and pressed her against thewall and started kissing her, his hands roaming her body. The sword hanging on the wall above them rattled.
I cleared my throat.
Zayde lifted his head, and it snapped in my direction, his wild gaze softening when he saw me sitting on the sofa.
“You’re back,” I said, rising. I kept a tight grip on the bag and wouldn’t release it until I’d found a secure place to hide it, assuming such a place existed even within a court still encased in the remnants of a curse.
“Yes.” Zayde lowered Layla to her feet.
She smoothed her gown and gave me a smile so joyful it made my heart spasm. Love used to make me feel that way too, but something had stolen it away. She crossed the room and gave me a hug.
“Is everything alright?” she asked.
“Vexxion went to Weldsbane to swallow his core. I’m going after mine in the morning.” A chill of trepidation shot through me. What if I wasn’t successful?
Back in Ivenrail’s bedroom, I should’ve struggled, found a way to break the spell he’d cast over me. Then I could’ve ripped his head from his throat and blasted him with power before turning him to ashes, like I’d done with the high advisor.
A wasted opportunity? Something inside me told me no, and it said that while the time was coming where I’d be given a final chance to act, that time was not now.
“He’s not back yet?” Layla’s smile fell. She took my hand and tugged me down to sit with her on the sofa, placing her arm around my shoulders. “I’m sorry. Does he . . .”
“No. Not yet.” And I worried he’d never remember. I shovedaside my endless mourning and lifted my eyebrows Zayde’s way.
He took a chair across from us, his indulgent gaze focused on Layla.
“What does the high lord of Riftflame have to say?” I asked.
“That he’ll consider our offer.”
“Only consider it?” I’d hoped they’d return with a definitive answer.
Layla nodded. “At first, he told us to leave, and you could see he was terrified Ivenrail would discover we were there to ask for help.”
“I assume the king placed spies in his court,” I said.
Zayde grunted. “We thought of that and approached him in his private sitting room, waiting until he was alone.”
“How did you keep anyone from seeing you?” He didn’t have threads like Vexxion, since that ability came from his mother, but he must have another way to mask his presence.
“I’ll teach you sometime.”
“Tomorrow?” I asked.
“Didn’t you just say you were going after your court’s core? I imagine that’ll keep you busy enough. After that? We’ll see.”
Alright then. I’d ask Vexxion when he returned or see if I could figure it out myself. “You mentioned my offer of eggs and dragons?”
“I did, and that’s the only reason he’s considering forming an alliance with us. He’s holding on for as long as he can. We overheard that he’d sent an emissary to Evergorne Court, and his emissary recently returned. My uncle didn’t share theinformation with us, but I verified it’s true. This is big. It could make a huge difference for us as well.”
“Evergorne Court?” I asked, unsure what he meant.
“Three courts rule the continent south of here. They’ve warred for a very long time, and the high lord of Riftflame thought he could gain support by offering allyship to the king of Evergorne who rules the northern part of the continent.”
“If they plan to support Riftflame against Bledmire, then I also need to reach out to Evergorne.”
“You’re right,” Zayde said. “We should send an emissary. This court is the last hold-out on the southern part of our continent. If Lydel Court falls . . .”
“The king won’t stop with Lydel. He’ll keep going, and with flying dregs, he’ll invade Evergorne first.”
