The other man spoke, “If you must meet with Goldoth, have them come here. You shouldn’t travel to another nation, and the witch should be kept here. If they wish to see her shadows, bring them to us.”
“I am no coward. We’ll travel to the south, and Morgan will come with me. Selene, you’ll of course stay here to run things in my stead. But Elio, I’ll have you at my side. There are many reasons why I wish to visit our neighbors to the south. Write back to say that we’ll arrive two weeks after the Night of Feasts.”
Morgan could hear shuffling from within the wall. She backed up, bumping into a faelight sconce on the wall. She reached up to try and straighten the light, but it was too late. The orb clattered to the ground, plunging the hall into darkness.
“Who’s out there?” Selene asked, and Morgan tried to sneak away into the shadows. The wall dissolved before her and she met Selene’s gaze. “Just the witch we were speaking of,” Selene said as she pulled Morgan into the room.
Morgan didn’t bother putting up a fight as she was tossed to the floor. The room was illuminated with soft light from the widebalcony overlooking a cloud-covered sky. A spacious sitting area meant to accommodate wings and a table laid with tea met her.
“Who do we have here?” Elio asked. His wry smile showed just a hint of arrogance.
Morgan didn’t dare speak as she lifted herself off the ground and looked at Rylo. His eyes seemed to gleam like two golden orbs, and Morgan didn’t know if it was in delight or displeasure.
“Selene and Elio, you are dismissed,” Rylo said with a wave of his hand. Both left without question.
“Morgan, don’t you know it’s rude to listen in on private conversations?” Rylo asked as he took his seat on the couch. “Tea?”
Morgan shook her head.
“Well don’t just stand there, take a seat. If you’re going to listen in, at least own it and don’t loiter about like an unwanted pet,” Rylo said, pouring himself a cup of tea.
She sat down across from Rylo, and couldn’t help but notice how his long, lean muscles seemed to flex just by raising a cup of tea to his supple lips. He quirked a tiny grin at her as he set his teacup down.
“So, what did you overhear?” Rylo asked.
“Just that we’ll be traveling to Goldoth to meet the king there.”
Rylo let out a shrewd laugh. “Just that! And what do you think of traveling to another nation in Aeritis? Your last travel plans went so poorly, wouldn’t you agree?” He lifted his hands up, exposing the black lines that snaked up to his elbows as he moved around the table and sat down next to Morgan.
“Do you actually want my opinion?” Morgan asked, meaning it.
“Your opinion will not make a difference, but I like to hear a person’s reply when I know they aren’t satisfied with the outcome.”
“Then why ask at all? You already know I didn’t want to go to Orofine, but I still went. Do you think this will be any different?”
“Of course there will be a difference. You aren’t Goldoth’s kingslayer. You’ll be treated as an honored guest and will be at my side. You’d like that, wouldn’t you? To be on the arm of a king?” Rylo said, reaching his blackened hand to her chin. He caressed her jawline, and Morgan felt a tingle down her spine from his touch.
Morgan batted his hand away. “I’d be happiest staying here. You’ve been generous enough to open your library to me and I want to continue to utilize my time there. Actually, that’s why I came here. I was looking for you to ask about some other texts you may have,” Morgan replied, keeping her voice cool and calm.
“I’m sorry, that is not going to be possible. I’ll need you with me.Youcould very well be the cause of war in my lands, thanks to that move you made in Orofine, and I find myself in need of an alliance. If bringing you with me gets that alliance, then so be it.”
Morgan knew he had a point. If Avery’s lover was offended enough to declare war against Nephel it would be all Morgan’s fault. She was the one who’d screwed up the plans— and probably left a few bodies behind in her wake. But she didn’t need him knowing she felt guilty over it.
“And if I refuse to go with you?” Morgan added, “If I used one of your oaths to stay here?”
“It would be a waste of an oath, Kingslayer. I have need for you yet, and will see no harm come to you in Goldoth. We go to Goldoth for reasons beyond the diplomatic.”
Morgan knew Avery didn’t trust Rylo. He’d kidnapped her, after all, but he’d never shown her any reason to distrust him. Despite the time in the Tower of Teeth, Morgan had come out stronger, more resilient. She didn’t even fault him for putting her there after she’d done exactly what he’d told her not to do. In some ways, she wondered if he knew that she would comeout stronger, yet there was still the nagging point that Avery had emphatically declared Rylo to be insane.
“You know my sister thinks you’re crazy, right?” Morgan said, changing the subject. “She told me how you locked Savine away foryearsin the Tower of Teeth. Why should I trust you after what you did to her and Savine?”
Rylo leaned in closer to her, a sharp smile on his face. “I showed your sister the side of me she most wanted to see. The mad king, as Latiah believes me to be. Do my people treat me as if I am mad? Would they allow me to rule if I were?”
Morgan leaned closer to Rylo. Close enough for her to smell his sweet and spicy scent. “So it was all an act? I thought you couldn’t lie?”
“Perhaps there is some truth to my actions. Often where truth and lie meet is not a clear line. More to the point, why would I want them to believe anything other than what they already think of me? To see me as mad, as frivolous and cruel.”
Morgan reached out and traced her finger along the black line at Rylo’s fingertip. A dark mist grew around their feet, dancing up their legs. “So you admit you are those things. You had my sister kill an innocent man and locked Savine away because you’re cruel.”
