“She was yourdaughter.” I watched her face.
Was Dorion right; would everyone forget?
“Daughter?” Her eyebrows rose, and her laugh burst out. “Oh, my queen, you’re joking. Me, a daughter? Wherever would you get that idea? I’ve never wed, though I had my offers, let me tell you. Not that one needs to be married to have children, but I assure you, I have none. I’ve sometimes wondered if I should’ve tried harder to find the right one and have at least one child, but I enjoyed my independence too much to give it away to any man.”
She truly didn’t remember Moira.
YetIdid.
My heart still hurt from the loss of someone I’d thought was a friend.
Damn Prager. All those willing deaths feeding her power, making spells like the memory golem easier to maintain.
“No need to pack.” Lore stepped between us, holding out his hands. “We’re leaving for Evergorne now.” His head tilted, and his attention shot to the door.
Shouts rang out in the hall, the thud of footsteps coming this way.
Lore latched onto Calista’s hand. Sputtering, she gaped up at him.
I snatched Farris up in my arms and leaned into Lore’s side.
A blink, and we stood in our suite inside Evergorne Court.
“Oh, my.” Calista’s eyes widened as she stepped away from Lore. “That was an interesting way to travel, now wasn’t it?” She stiffened and gave us both a pert nod while I placed Farris on the floor. “Shall I notify the head chef that you’ve returned and will be dining? I can also draw you a bath. I’ll let Faelith know we’re here and have her take Farris out to play, if you’d like.”
“I can handle the bath,” Lore said. “Take Farris to Faelith, and you both can wear him out in the gardens. Yes, notify Dulvade we’re here, but we’d only like a tray sent to the room.”
“Something well crafted, however.” She grabbed Farris’s leash from a table and attaching it to his collar. “Surely you need something decent after what you went through.”
“Anything, Calista,” he said, nudging her toward the door with Farris.
She left, and he secured the door behind her, turning to lean against it.
My chest lifted and fell with my sigh. I still felt like my heart had been yanked through a too-small hole.
Lore drew me into his arms, holding me while I sniffed. How could I mourn someone who’d never existed?
That’s when a touch of anger shoved aside some of my sadness.
“Fucking Prager,” I hissed. “What will she do next?”
“If I have my say, die.”
“There’s competition, so you’d better be fast.” I snorted out a bitter laugh.
Leaning back, he watched my face. “I’m sorry. I know you cared.”
My laughter gone, I shook my head and walked over to the flickering fire, holding out my hand, trying not to cry. “How could I care for someone who didn’t truly exist?”
“But she did. I’m sad about the loss too. And angry that I didn’t see and eliminate the threat.”
“Would you do something for me?” My voice still carried traces of tears.
“Anything.”
“Make me forget everything if only for a short time?” I needed him to remind me of what was real.
He flitted to stand in front of me, gently cupping my face, staring into my eyes. “I’m here for you. Always.”
