“I’ve got it,” I bark and step out of the harmless-looking prison and slip on my dressing cloak, shoulders drooping in relief. “You can turn around.”
Del moves to the sitting area near the cold fireplace and drops into a chair. “I just confessed to treason, andyou’reconcerned about entrapment,” he laughs. His strong hands drag down his thighs while I consider him. “Are you going to tell me whatyouwant, Queen Veya? Because I know it isn’t marriage to Nerian,” he drawls, leaning forward, elbows to his knees, his gaze devouring me.
Disclosing my desire to conquer Goreon to its very own second is not in my best interest. I want to trust Del. Yet I still can’t talk myself into it. I would consult with Second, although I’m fairly certain he’d prefer to die trying it ourselves than conspire with our sworn enemy.
Del’s voice forces me out of my head. “It’s taken me decades to plant the seed in the king’s mind that inviting you here would be entertaining before we take your kingdom. I knew I had to get you here to stand a chance of changing Goreon.Together.”
My mouth falls open; I don’t bother to stop it. I did not see that twist coming.
“How clever of you.”
“I’m excellent atlong-gameplanning,” he says, throwing my words back at me.
I glare at his smirk.
“Should I start guessing what you want? Should I surmise why you were in the west wing?” Del continues in my silence.
My eyes sweep to the door and the soft human weeping behind it, tearing at my heart.
“Because I think you want what I want, Queen Veya. I believe you need the horror to stop. And you want to reign over Goreon with the laws you live by in the Night Kingdom.”
My face jerks back to Del. “What do you know of our ways?”
“I snuck into your kingdom after you built that wall a century ago. Credit goes to your sentries. They shot me down as I flew over but missed my heart by an inch.”
I curse at their mistake.
“Thankfully, they missed,” Del emphasizes, eyes burning. “For me. And for the sake of Goreon.”
I plant myself in the chair opposite Del. “Your first opportunity to demonstrate trust, Del. Tell me what you saw and what you know of my kingdom, and Imayspare your life for trespassing into my territory.”
This isn’t just some conversation about trusting someone with a family secret or money. This is treason, this is toppling kings and kingdoms, war, and everything and everyone at stake. And I will be nothing but careful and cautious with who I involve in that.
Del’s mouth pinches before he speaks. “I’d like to point out that confessing to trespassing counts as myfirstdemonstration that you can trust me implicitly.”
Says the trespasser.
I ignore his comment, mouth pursed. “I’m waiting.”
His face softens, and his plum eyes burst with a surprising brightness I haven’t witnessed yet. “You should be very proud of yourself, my queen. You’ve built something truly remarkable.”
I believe him because I know it to be true. I clear my throat. “Thank you. Tell me what you saw, what you know.”
He rises and starts a fire while he speaks. “I know you have a kind heart by the way you treat your humans. With the laws you’ve enacted.”
“You knownothingof my heart.”
Del swivels his head to smirk at me like I can’t talk him out of the obvious. “I know you’ve built an army so loyal and grateful they’ll die inthislifeandthe next for you.”
He’s not wrong.
He tosses a log into the fireplace. “You’ve made some bold choices in eradicating those who don’t align with your beliefs.”
There isn’t room for error with the fragility of life.
“Where did you hear that?” I ask, leaning back in my chair and enjoying the heat from the blaze in the hearth. Del’s gaze flicks to my exposed thigh as the dressing cloak slips, and I wish I didn’t enjoy his eyes dragging up my leg as much as I do.
“Vampire taverns talk,” he replies.
