With a huff, she slid off her throne. “I didn’t need to.”
“What about the king’s advisor?” The man I suspected could’ve been her true love. No, this woman loved no one, perhaps not even Merrick. “Did the advisor kill the king?”
She rose from her throne and strode toward the door. “You’re out of your mind. He’d never—”
I leaped from the sofa, placing myself between her and the door. “Did you sleep with King Theon’s advisor?” Fuck, was he Merrick’s real father? Was that what she was trying to allude to here? Maybe I was adding up numbers and arriving at the wrong answer, but—
Her nails clicked when she latched onto the knob. “I believe I’ve said enough.”
Or not enough.
Her glare pinned me in place. “Do not challenge me for my right to rule this court as I see fit.”
“You’re no longer the queen.”
“Are you sure about that?”
37
REYLA
Erisandra swept the door open and strode out into the hall, where her entourage waited. She stormed through them, and they parted like they dragged a blade through a strip of fabric before the material resealed behind her. They flowed down the hall and around the corner.
A few of her guards hefted her throne and stomped from my suite with it.
“My queen?” Moira asked, her hands twitching at her sides, her gaze focused on the men carrying the throne. “Can I do anything for you?”
“I need time with High Lady Weldsbane,” Lord Briscalar called out, striding around the throne-carriers and over to stand beside me. “If you have time, my lady? This won’t take long.” At my nod, he gestured for me to go ahead of him into the sitting area. “We have many details yet to smooth out to ensure yourcoronation, the dinner, and the masked ball aren’t a complete disaster.”
“The queen mother was just here. She didn’t seem eager to offer her assistance.” And frankly, if this was how she’d behave, I’d rather not spend even one more moment in her company. I still couldn’t process all she’d said—andhadn’tsaid.
“Yes, well . . .” He coughed. “I’m sure you and I can handle the arrangements.”
We could.
“Ladies,” I said. “Please go to the kitchen and bring back a tray with tea, cups for the lord and I, plus a few sweet items to go with it.”
“A delightful idea, my lady,” Lord Briscalar said as he urged me over to the table where I took my meals. He nodded to Moira. “Don’t dawdle. Hurry now. And make sure they include two pots of tea,” he called out as she scurried for the door with Calista behind her.
“I thought I’d take our fine fellow out for a walk in the gardens again,” Faelith said, lifting the leash.
She and Surren exchanged subtle smiles. Was there something going on between them?
“That sounds fun.” I tried not to laugh as Farris played catch, darting around the sitting area and even leaping over a sofa to avoid her. She finally pinned him against my thigh where I sat at the table.
With a huff, she blew hair off her pink face and secured his collar. “Aren’t you a lively one?” Grinning with triumph, she led him from the room, him trotting behind her with a nyxin grin on his face and his tail swishing through the air.
Surren eased out into the hall to stand with the others. Once the door had closed, the lord turned to me. He snapped his fingers and a book and a quill pen appeared on the table. “The queen mother asked me to keep her informed of our progress.”
“Whose final decisions will be taken, hers or mine?”
He coughed. “Yours, my lady. Always yours.”
I was grateful for his loyalty to me.
He flicked the pen with the tip of his finger. “Take notes.”
I lifted my eyebrows. “You want me to take notes?” Though I wouldn’t mind keeping a book and pen like that around for the next timeEmber’s Shadowdecided to let me read it. That would be easier than memorizing whatever it chose to share.
