“I agree.” Her chin lifted. “I’m better off without him.”
“You are.”
“If you hadn’t brought up your gift of high-born status, I would never have mentioned it. You took considerable risk elevating me, my daughter, and Faelith. I’m grateful. Truly. This means the world to me. But it’s changed things.” She patted my arm as if I was the one who needed comfort instead of her. “I’m sure things will smooth out eventually. Please don’t worry about this, my queen.”
I took her hand, realizing I might’ve misjudged her. I’d thought she wasn’t happy working with me when maybe it was everything else going on around her. “Can I do anything to help?”
“Time, my queen,” she said. “Time will help this, I believe.”
“Let me know if there’s something I can do, anyone I can speak with.”
“I certainly will.” She pressed for a smile. “The necklace, and I believe we’re done. You look amazing, my queen. Simply lovely.”
“Thank you.”
After she’d secured it around my throat, I stood.
She stepped back to appraise her work. “Much better.”
I reached for my twin blades the moment she turned to tidy up, strapping them to my hips. Then came my sword sheath, which slid smoothly into place across my back. By the time she’d turned around, my weapons were fully secured. Her mouth pinched, but she said nothing.
“I won’t budge on this,” I said firmly.
Her snort burst out, and I was actually glad to hear it. “Why did I think you’d say something like that? Honestly, my queen, the blades make you look…”
“Horrifying?”
“Oh, nothing like that. I was thinking…” She tapped her chin. “Badass, though don’t let Moira hear me saying such a thing.”
My low laugh rang through the room. I was glad we’d talked because it had let me see a side of Calista I’d missed. She put on a stern and proper front, but underneath, she was more like me than I’d believed. “She won’t hear it from me.”
“Thank you, my queen.”
“Would you do me one more favor?”
“Naturally.”
“Could you go to the kitchen for some treats for Farris? He’s been a good boy and deserves them.”
“I’d love to do that for you.” She dipped into a small curtsy and headed toward the sitting room. I followed, finding that Moira and Faelith had returned. They stood in the open doorway, chatting with the guards.
Moira beamed at her mother. “Where are you off to?”
“The kitchen, darling.” Calista brushed by, stepping out into the hall.
“I could go with you.” The hopeful spark in her voice reminded me that she was eager to flirt with the head chef.
“You just came from there,” her mother pointed out.
I nudged Moira’s side. “I don’t mind. Go.”
Moira’s face lit up, and she scurried after her mother.
Faelith strode into the room to remove Farris’s collar and place it on a table.
“Would you like me to straighten up your bathing area and bedroom for you?” she asked. “I also need to bathe Farris.” She pinched her nose. “He rolled in something awful outside.”
“Yes, please do.”
