Since she’d stolen the crown from her daughter, I doubted the right time would arrive outside of Naveer’s death. And she was chasing immortality with each person she drained.
Losing my appetite, I placed the rest of my second muffin back on my plate.
Laphira didn’t appear able to participate in a wedding ceremony, let alone a marriage.
“Her son is young,” I pointed out. A boy needed his mother.
“I agree, and have you seen the enforcer?” Moira asked, hervoice low. “Not that appearance says much about a person, but he…tortures small creatures, so I heard. You know I’d do anything to protect a beastie, much like you would Farris.” Her sad gaze met mine. “Who’d harm a sweet pet? If someone looks at him wrong, he’s been known to remove their eyes. Or their tongue if they’re caught gossiping about him.” It must’ve occurred to her that this was what she was doing, because all the color fled her face, and she sank down onto a chair near the door.
Most enforcers were horrifying, hence the title. Lorant, in many ways, had been Merrick’s enforcer. And my brother told me once that he’d done nasty things for the king. I’d brushed it off. I loved him and could forgive him, but sometimes it was best not knowing what someone had done in their past.
“The servant I overheard mentioned he’d once murdered an entire village when one unknown resident was accused of theft,” Calista said.
My gaze met Lore’s. “That’s harsh punishment.”
We’ll tell Dorion,Lore said.
When we saw him. My back spiked with tension. Had he returned safely?
I turned back to my ladies. “Anything else?”
Calista shook her head. “The staff went quiet after that. I lingered until I heard someone coming down the hall. As it is, I’m not sure that this information is of much value to our cause. I wish they’d talked about the challenges so I could give you some clues about what to expect, but despite moving among other staff, no one brought it up.”
“Alright. Thank you,” I said.
Calista glanced toward the bedroom door. “We’ll straighten your room.” They hurried into the bedroom.
My shoulders curled forward as I spoke, and I kept my voice low. “Obviously, Dorion’s assumption that the fete was being heldto find new blood to bind to Irridain through marriage was incorrect.”
“We know now why she’s holding it.”
“Something worse we have to fix now.”
“If we can.”
He was right. Our only priority was to grab the talisman and return to Evergorne to fuse the three together. We couldn’t spend time investigating the Irridain situation and stopping Naveer, though she should be stopped.
Calista and Moira returned from the bedroom, their cheeks flushed. “If we’re dismissed, we’ll make our way back downstairs and see if we can learn anything else. I’ll come back later for your trays.”
“Thank you,” I said, and they left.
We went down to the foyer, joining about twenty others mingling in the big open area. Some shot us sideways glances, a few sneering as they took in our numerous weapons.
“Lord Rutherford,” one man asked with obvious disdain. “When did you start wearing weapons that I assume you have no idea how to use?” His attention shifted to me. “Lady Bliss, that’s quite a statement you’re making by wearing pants, let alone the blades that I knowyouhave no idea how to use.”
I gave him a brow-raised look, tightening my mouth with scorn.
If I impale him with one of my blades,I told Lore,he’ll change his opinion and show me some respect.
Why bother?he drawled.
Right. I’ll save my bladework for whatever might be coming.The interaction revealed a problem we hadn't anticipated.Others know us, but we don’t know them.Or I didn’t, that is.
No worries.
“Take care how you speak to my wife, Lord Tyrrius,” Lore rasped. “Testing her is one thing. Testing me is another.”
I added my sneer to his but kept my mouth shut for now, taking a moment to study the competition.
