“Exactly. She influences people to compete willingly, then feeds off their deaths when they lose.” Dorion's jaw clenched. “Which goes along with the last bit of that chant. No wonder Laphira seems so empty. She's probably been forced to watch years of willing sacrifices.”
Reyla fed Farris a piece of cheese. He was enjoying our meal as much as us. “We‘ll ask Calista and Moira to investigate carefully. They’re right that they’ll be able to move around the castle easier than us.” She sucked in a breath and released it. “Any idea what the competitions will entail?”
“Nothing cute or fun,” Dorion said. “After that lovely chant at dinner, it’ll be wise to watch your back.”
“And get out of here as fast as we can,” Reyla said.
My only goal was to obtain the talisman and leave. If I could do it tonight, I would. I had no interest in competing in whatever “games” Naveer might dream up, especially when they put my wife at risk.
Dorion drained the rest of his wine and brushed crumbs off the front of his tunic before rising. “I’m going to look around.”
“Don’t get caught,” Reyla said.
“I’ll be careful.” He glanced toward one of the windows where darkness loomed. “Lord Vikire enjoys taking walks through the grounds at night. It’s a well-known fact. He’d stroll through the castle itself if it’s raining, which it is.”
“Let us know if you discover anything,” I said as he strode toward the door.
Farris lifted his head and watched Dorion, his tail thumping on the cushions.
Dorion paused at the door, his hand on the latch. “If something happens to me tonight, get Laphira out of here. Promise me.”
Before we could respond, he slipped out into the hall, leaving us with his desperate plea and the sound of rain pattering on the windows.
Chapter 21
Reyla
The need to do something—anything—churned through me.
After Dorion was gone, I rose from the sofa. “We should look around also. Sitting here isn’t going to give us answers or get us closer to that talisman. And every moment we wait gives Naveer more time to spring whatever trap she’s laying.”
Lore also got up off the sofa. “I don’t intend to lounge around for what’s left of the evening,” he drawled.
I traced a fingertip down the front of his tunic. “Plans?”
“Remember that thought, Wildfire. I plan to test you later.”
Now I was intrigued. “What kind of test?”
“The kind where you don't get to think about anything but me.” Heat blazed in his eyes. “Let’s dress in leathers and pretend we’re trying to find a training room.”
I pouted, though I wasn’t opposed to working out. “Training this late at night?”
“It makes a great excuse for Lord Rutherford and Lady Bliss to be in the halls dressed in leathers. They wouldn’t know where thetraining room is. Who’s to say they wouldn’t get lost even after someone gives them directions? Laphira was wearing the talisman. If she takes it off, it’s ours.”
I nodded, my brow narrowing. “Clever.”
He gave me a crooked smile that did amazing things for my libido. “I took a cue from my wife.”
“Oh, her.”
His arm scooped around my waist, and he tugged me fully against him. “Yes, her. She’s smarter than me.”
“I like that you think that.” His commentalsomade my libido leap around and come up with some wild ideas.
However, there was something I needed to do.
“Totally true.” Growing serious, he stared down at me, cupping my face in gentle hands. “You’re the thought behind my every breath, the reason the world feels less empty.”
