They had rushed straight into Lucilla’s council room the moment they’d arrived. Thankfully, Lucilla had already received the messages about Andred—as much as they could risk committing to paper, anyway—and she’d taken one look at them and ordered them to go and rest. There was time to take a bath. Time for clean clothes. Maybe even a short nap.
Keely had pulled off her cloak, washed her face in the warm water left in a large basin for them, and then while Tor washed his face and loosened his jerkin, she’d collapsed.
She groaned, and then whimpered with relief as Tor pulled her boots off, one after the other, releasing her aching feet. He crawled up beside her and tugged her onto her side so he could lie behind her, cuddled up against her, his knees slotted into hers, his big arm lying across her hips so his hand could spread out to cradle her belly.
It was the position that they had gone to sleep in every night, no matter how small the bed. And just like each of those nights, his breath blew out gently against her hair as he sighed; the soft sound filled with contented relief, as if he could finally relax.
“We should get changed,” she said without opening her eyes. “Don’t want to get mud on the sheets.”
“Yes, we should,” he agreed, not moving.
“Just one more minute.”
“M’kay.” His voice was deep and soothing, rumbling behind her as she drifted in a tired haze.
Someone knocked heavily on the door, and she flinched. Tor tightened his arm around her and growled.
“Ignore them, and they’ll go away,” she whispered.
Tor grunted in agreement.
The person in the corridor knocked heavily again. “I want to see you both. Right. Now.” It was not a question.
Bollocks. Keely opened her eyes as Tor pushed himself up to sitting. “Was that Ramiel?”
“Think so,” Tor muttered, dragging his hand through his hair and leaving it standing in spikes.
“I guess we have to answer.”
Ramiel knocked again. “Tor!”
Tor pushed himself up and stalked over to open the door while Keely dragged herself off the bed. Couldn’t they have had five bloody minutes?
Ramiel strode in, his purple eyes flashing as a muscle jumped in his jaw. “Tell me you didn’t arrest my niece and throw her into the Constable’s Tower.”
“Bard.” She closed the door gently behind him and lowered her voice. “We didn’t—”
Ramiel’s eyes narrowed, and he turned his glare on Tor. “The palace staff are buzzing with the news that a Nephilim truth seeker called Daena was dragged through the gates by Tor and thrown into the cells. I heard them whispering to each other. It. Was. The. Truth.”
Tor shook his head slowly. “Yes. But not the whole truth.” He waved toward the pair of armchairs beneath the window. “Have a seat.”
Ramiel folded his arms over his chest, raising himself to his full, formidable height, and glared at them both with all the authority of a man who carried the mantle of Supreme Justice. “I’d rather stand.”
“Fine,” Tor muttered as Keely took his suggestion and lowered her aching body into one of the comfortable chairs.
Tor watched her with concern and then glared at Ramiel, folding his own arms as he answered, “Daena was being held captive in Andred’s camp and helped us to escape. But before she was his prisoner, she was his—” He shrugged, looking to her for help.
“Lover,” Keely supplied. “Daena was Andred’s lover. And she helped him set up the army he planned to attack Kaerlud with.”
“Gods,” Ramiel muttered. “Surely, she wouldn’t. Her family, my sister…. We’ve all mourned her, all this time. And to help with….” He scrubbed a hand down his face tiredly.
Damn. Poor Ramiel. His face was strained, and his hair seemed to have gone grayer since she’d seen him last. He lowered himself slowly into the opposite chair.
“Andred lied to her,” she said softly, trying to explain.
“That’s not possible,” Ramiel insisted. “She’s a truth seeker.”
“I think that’s what hurt her the most,” Keely admitted. “She was arrogant, thinking no one could lie to her, which made it easier for him. And he was careful. He only told her the things he really believed. He was the one who saved her from the reiver attack, pulled her out of the fire, and organized for her to be nursed back to health. You can understand why she fell for it.”
