Why say something like that? “Someone once told me that strength doesn’t only lie within the muscles and bones.”
“Someone.” His grin rose.
I stroked my fingertip across his chest, over his heart. “Your biggest strength lies within here.”
He kissed me much too quickly before lifting his head. “As for everyone else, no one is allowed to wear weapons around me other than my very well selected and tested guards.”
“What kind of test?”
“Magical ones. They can’t fake their way through them. Each person who serves us is completely loyal. They’ll die for us.”
A shadow scraped its way across my soul. “I don’t want anyone dying for me.”
“Neither do I. As for new sheaths, if they look decorative, most will ignore them.”
Always smart and using sly manipulation. At least he wasn’t directing that at me.
Rising, he tugged on the tunic and pants he took from a cabinet mounted on a wall near the door. We parted outside, him striding toward his meeting with his guards in attendance, me standing in place, staring after him until he paused partway down the hall and glanced over his shoulder.
“Watching my ass, aren’t you?” he purred.
“It’s notthatnice,” I barked out, trying not to laugh. My cheeks overheated, and I slapped my palms against them as if that would hide them from his view.
“You’re right. It’s not nice.” He smirked. “It’s perfect.” With a smile, he rounded a corner and disappeared from view.
I went to my suite and bathed, changing into a tunic and pants with my ladies’ assistance. They’d help me change into a formal gown before dinner. I settled on the sofa.
Faelith had taken Farris outside, and she’d return shortly. When she stepped inside the room, her cheeks bloomed pink, and Farris was panting as if he’d run for hours.
“Such a nice walk we had, now didn’t we, my fine fellow?” she asked, unclasping his leash from his collar.
Freed, he galloped over and leaped onto the sofa beside me, crawling into my lap for pats.
“One of the guards outside said the librarian, Valera Windhaven, sent a message,” Faelith said. “He asked me to deliver it when I entered. Lady Windhaven says she’s remembered, and ifyou’d like to stop into the library, she’ll tell you. She didn’t say what she meant, however.”
“I understand.” Something about the ring. The key as well? My curiosity lit, I slid Farris off my lap and stood. “I’ll go see her right now.”
Calista’s gaze traveled down my frame. “Would you like me to help you dress in a lovely gown?”
I took in my tunic and pants. “For a brief conversation with the librarian?” Excitement kept poking me, sharp and persistent. When Valera had started to tell me who Isodine wanted her to give the family ring to, she’d frozen like so many others had when I quizzed them about Evergorne secrets. The ring could be completely independent from all this, or it could be a clue that might unlock everything. “I can go like this.”
“Very well.” Calista stepped back.
“I don’t need anyone to go to the library with me,” I said in a breezy tone.
“One of us must. The king insists,” Calista said sternly. She nodded to Faelith and Moira. “I’ll attend to the queen, and you can remain here to tidy.”
They stepped back inside while I bit back my sigh.
As I strode to the fourth floor with Calista strutting behind me, my guards took the front and the rear. Surren led the group. It didn’t take long to reach the library, and I stepped inside, leaving all of them outside except Calista.
“You can remain here, by the door,” I told her, pointing. “I promise I’ll call out if I need you.”
Her lips thinned, but she nodded.
Leaving her, I walked toward Valera’s empty desk.
“My queen,” she called out from behind me, rushing over to join me. “What can I do for you today?”
