“I’m assigning you and a few select staff to my lovely queen.” His attention fell on three others. “I want you to escort her wherever she wishes to go and ensure she’s safe at all times.”
Surren nodded, his gaze scanning the three who’d stepped forward behind him. “The queen’s detail is in full force. We are honored.”
All four of them bowed in my direction.
Merrick’s gaze sought mine. “It was remiss of me not to assign a guard yesterday, and I apologize for that.”
“I’m fine.”
His jaw tightened. “I won’t allow anyone to harm you.”
One of the waiting advisors cleared his throat. Merrick scowled and a grumble rose up his throat.
I stroked his arm. “Go take care of your business. I’ll find something to do by myself.”
“Keep your guard with you at all times, please.” With one last, lingering look at me, Merrick strode down the long hall, joining the advisors. They walked around the corner, disappearing from view.
I atelunch in my suite with my new guards standing at attention, two in the hall on either side of my door, the others inside the sitting room. Did they ever get tired of standing stifflyin place? I wouldn’t ask them. Back at the fortress, our guards remained on the top of the wall, though they watched for movement in the valley below. An attack never came from the sky.
But that was my past, and my new life was here where attacks could come at me from all angles.
While Farris snoozed on the rug by my feet, my ladies puttered around, straightening ornamental objects that didn’t need touching and making sure my afternoon gown was ready for me to don. Afternoon gown? I couldn’t imagine why I needed to change my clothing again, though I did need to tug on new undergarments. My pulse throbbed at the memory of Merrick kneeling in front of me, his face buried between my thighs. It would be easy to lounge on the sofa and let dreams carry me away.
Instead, I rose and walked into the bedroom with Farris padding behind, shutting the door in Moira’s face. She didn’t say a thing. She wouldn’t. Neither would the others. I was their queen, and my every whim needed to be respected.
Unused to having seven people around me at all times, I wanted to be alone if only for a short time.
Farris jumped up onto the bed while I removed the sword and scabbard from my spine. While no one would protest me wearing it, the odds of me needing to pull and use it here were practically zero. Before I could draw it, one of my guards would handle whatever threat lurched my way.
I’d always been better with short blades, and I’d keep them handy instead.
I placed the sword inside the closet, stroking the handle before shutting the door.
After donning a new undergarment, I dropped onto the bed and lay on my back, staring at the lush silver and green fabric artfully draped between the bedposts and smoothing down the sides. Lore’s touch inside my bedroom. Why in the world would Merrick allow such a thing? Except, they were friends, and Merrick would never suspect a friend of poaching.
Farris slept nearby, lightly snoring.
I fiddled with the bracelet Merrick had given me, sliding it down my arm to reveal the infernal mark that wouldn’t go away, before shoving the band back up to hide it.
Itwasn’ta fated mate mark.
It wasn’t.
Because, if it was, I was in deep trouble.
I dozed and woke with late-day sunshine slanting across the sky and something pressing into my spine. I hitched my arm around to yank my sword from its scabbard only to remember I’d already removed it. Rolling to the side, I scowled atEmber’s ShadowI hadn’t left on the bed.
Sitting, I tugged it onto my lap.
“What are you going to tell me today?” I whispered.
Farris’s tail thumped on the bedding, but he didn’t open his eyes. He tucked his nose deeper into the bush of his tail and released a long sigh.
I flipped open the book, giving the fates a chance to decide if there was something I needed to see. The book split in the middle, to something scrolling across the page as if being written by hand at this very moment. My fingertip traced down the page as I struggled to decipher the handwriting, and I read it softly aloud.
In shadows reach where secrets lie,
A golden ring the true heart must spy.
