Ronan ignores me and nods to Quinn and Zara, who lead me through a passage—this time I see them press the stone on the wall to open it—down a spiral staircase and directly into Ronan’s private bath.
It’s a small chamber, but it’s not claustrophobic. The rock formations arch over the pool, which steams with heat. The servants there undress us all, and Quinn and Zara help me into the luxuriously warm waters.
Quinn narrates the entire sequence of events of the tournament to Zara, who was down at the Guild Hall when it happened.
“She loosed one arrow. One fucking arrow! Perfect shot. I couldn’t believe it. I thought she was trying to kill him butmissed—so did the guards, apparently—until I saw the body hit the floor. Right there in the fucking shadows.”
“Ronan couldn’t feel him?” asks Zara.
It’s a great question, I realize. Ronan had no trouble feeling the man in his throne room. This man was even closer to him.
What had changed?
“Probably too much going on. Too many feelings all at once,” says Quinn, but the way she says it makes me think she’s hiding something.
Zara doesn’t seem to pick up on it. “I hate to run, but I need to get back to the Guild. Sylvie, don’t forget the elixir. It’s important that you keep taking it even if you feel better. There’s a lot going on inside our bodies that we can’t see. That even the God-King himself can’t see.”
“Understood,” I reply. “And thank you, Zara.”
“Thankyou, Sylvie. Without you, I fear we’d all be in a very different situation tonight.”
Quinn splashes some water in my direction after Zara has left for the changing room. “Come on, we should get back too before he thinks I’ve kidnapped you.”
The servants dress me in a loose Selaran evening gown I don’t recognize. It’s a soft linen fabric in a dark navy, and it feels wonderful on my skin.
Quinn whistles. “I can see it. I mean, I hated you, but I get it now. Sorry I was an ass. I thought you wanted to kill him.”
I’m grateful Quinn can’t feel my feelings. Ididwant to kill him.
Oh shit, that reminds me of Adria. “Can someone tell Adria what’s going on?” I say to the servants. I don’t want to see her right now, not until I can figure out what I’m going to say to her, but she’s probably setting fire to the dungeons as we speak. “Can you tell her I’m okay, that they know I saved the king, and that I’ll be back to the room soon?”
“Yes, miss,” says a servant. She hurries off into another passage, again pressing on a specific stone.
At least I’ll have that bit of information to share with Adria when I see her. Maybe it’ll help soften the blow of saving the life of the person we’re meant to kill.
By the time we return to Ronan’s chambers, everyone but Taran has gone.
Ronan takes my hand, leading me to a different couch. It feels so good to have him touch me again. I didn’t realize how starved of it I had been these past few weeks.
“Your majesty, I’m sorry to interrupt—” says a guard as they enter.
“Godsdammit,” says Ronan. He turns to me apologetically. “Give me a moment.”
I nod. It’s fine.
He’s the king.
Ronan slips out the door, and Quinn takes his place. “I didn’t want to ask with the servants around, but you and Ronan—”
“Quinn,” warns Taran.
“What? I’m not blaming her. Look, Sylvie, we’ve all been in love with him at least once. I thought I only liked men because of him, for fuck’s sake, Sylvie.Men.”
I blush furiously. I also have to restrain myself from rolling my eyes—he told me everyone had been in love with him, and I thought he was just being arrogant, but I guess he was telling the truth. “I don’t know what you’re talking about—”
“I promise you’re with friends here. Taran, tell her.”
“Leave her alone, Quinn. She’s been through enough without you barging into her personal life.”
