“He and I . . .” I couldn’t see a reason to hide it. “I bonded with him.”
Her dark eyebrows lifted. “Bonded? What does that mean?”
“It’s an old spell. No one knows much about it. It was basically an accident.” I also had no reason to hide from her that I’d sung spells, but she was an unknown, and I wasn’t giving my trust to anyone easily.
“It’s wild.” She gave me a sly smile. “That must be why you were able to steal him from the king. That had to burn Ivenrail’s ass.”
I was sure it had.
We ate, even the guys, though they did it mechanically, and cleaned up after. Leaving the kitchen, we sat in one of the parlors. I should go to bed, but I was still too tense to sleep.
“You’re sure you’re alright?” I asked Airia.
She rubbed her chest. “It’s funny, but my memory of the dreg battle is hazy. I thought he got me. I could swear I felt the blade sinking into my chest, but you were there when I woke up on that branch. He didn’t hurt me.”
Odd, but it didn’t matter as long as she hadn’t been harmed. “Why did you come with us?”
I didn’t need to possess magic to read the flint in her eyes. “I hated it at Bledmire. I’m sure you think me coming with you was a spontaneous move on my part, but I gave it good thought. I saw Reyla and Brodine saddling Glim, and I watched them. Alright, I did more than watch. I crept close to the stall, and I listened. I’m sure Reyla thought she needed to explain what was going on to Brodine—”
“I did,” Reyla said.
“I saw leaving with you as my chance to escape that trap.”
“How long did you live at the castle?” I asked. She’d listened in on our conversation while we ate, contributing like the rest of us, but I’d noted she’d shared very little about herself.
“Over a year.”
“You told me that your lord didn’t live there himself,” I said.
Reyla listened with a speculative gleam in her eyes. We couldn’t trust anyone outside our original team. Had Airia been sent with us to spy?
“He doesn’t.” Airia tugged on one of her many tiny braids. “He collared me at the Claiming two years ago, took a few sips of my energy, then ignored me. It was so boring at his estate. When he said he was traveling to Bledmire for a visit, I snuck into his entourage. I doubt he saw me with them. When they left, I stayed behind.”
“And he hasn’t looked for you?” Reyla asked.
“I imagine he forgot all about me.”
“Did he come to the wedding?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I doubt he’d care for something like that.”
My guards remained high, and when I met Reyla’s eyes, I got the impression she’d had the same thought. Airia was taking great care not to completely answer our questions.
“I don’t think he’s noticed I’m gone.” When Airia’s gaze fell on Brodine, it softened. “Do you really think you’ll be able to bring him back, Tempest?”
“I’m going to do all I can to make it happen,” I said.
“I wish I’d had the chance to meet him before this happened.” She reached out and ran her fingertip down his bare forearm.
Brodine’s mouth twitched.
Holding my breath, I watched him. Had the twitch meant anything?
“He’s a good guy,” I said. “One of the best.”
“Thebest,” he muttered, his eyes still fixed on the far wall.
Reyla had spoken before I brought her back and with intention, so him speaking may mean nothing.
