“I would…maybe I would…like a hole to open up and swallowme,”Satrineremarked, just as the door to the suiteopened.
Marlow sauntered in, fist in the collar of one of thecretins that, as he’d ridden upon them, Loren had seen meeting with Satrine,Carling and Beacher in that alley.
The most filthy, fetid one.
Carling and Beacher followed him, Carling fretting, Beacherstaring in shock at the king.
They both went into deep bows, with Carling adding, “YourMajesty.”
“Rise,” Tor ordered.
They did and Carling instantly looked toSatrine.
“I’m fine, Carling,” she said gently.
He relaxed.
“Carling,Satrine’shouseman, andBeacher, one of her grooms,” Loren introduced.“That one”—his lip curled as hestared at the man who Marlow had forced to his knees—“I don’t know.”
The man moved his wide-open mouth, but not his stunned eyesfrom Tor, as he mumbled, “Buttersnatch, my king.”
“An informant of her father’s, milord,” Beacher added.
At this detail, spots formed before his eyes, he waiteduntil they dissipated, then, very slowly, he turned to the love of his life.
“Okay, I see you’re mad,” she said swiftly.
“Mad?”
“Angry.”
“I know what mad means in this instance, darling.Though theword does not do justice to what I’m feeling right now.However, the otherdefinition of it is whatyouare for being in the presence of one ofyour father’s delinquents.”
She kept speaking swiftly.“Right, we had a plan—”
“Who is ‘we’ in this scenario?”he demanded.
“I’m omitting names to protect the innocent,” she returned.
“Like the two innocents in this room with us who are on yourstaff?Both, I’m relatively certain, men so devoted to you, they’d throwthemselves in front of runaway carriages in order to save you?”he inquired.
“I would do that, Your Majesty, with pride,” Carlingannounced, addressing Tor, his back ramrod straight.“She’s the finest lady inthe realm, outside her mother.Er…present company excluded, my other Majesty,”he finished with his eyes on Cora.
Loren wasn’t sure, but he thought he heard Farah actuallysnort with amusement.
True was looking at his boots but not hiding his smile.
Lahn and Tor were grinning widely.
Cora and Circe appeared about ready to collapse in laughter.
Loren didn’t find anything funny.
He crossed his arms and invited his bride, “Let’s hear thisplan, my dearest love.Me and the rulers of three great realms are agog withinterest.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Have I shared yet I’m not a fan of sarcasm?”she asked.
