Onyx tapped a finger against the arm of his chair. “You’re a dreadful liar.”
“I often tell him the same,” Maddox responded with a sigh. “Truth is, we know little about the reason behind King Silas targeting him, but we believe it pertains to the broken treaty all those years ago. The kingdom of Haran is known for holding grudges. The royal family has been targeted for centuries. Prince Sawyer has faced his fair share of capture and assassination attempts as well.”
Damn.He’d said it so effortlessly that even I started to believe him.
“True.” Onyx lifted his hand back to his mouth. “Several kings have ruled in Haran in my many years, but Silas is the most ruthless. Which is why killing the mercenaries wouldn’t keep Evan safe for long. Silas would only send more mercenaries in their place. It’d be for naught. A fool’s errand at most.”
“There’s nothing foolish about wishing to protect the one we love,” Maddox said. “It’s unreasonable to expect him to stay with you forever.”
For a split second, I could’ve sworn Onyx looked hurt. He reverted to his cool demeanor. “Why not? I find it quite lovely here.”
“What’s lovely for the spider is chaos for the fly,” Maddox countered.
The two of them stared each other down, brows heavy and eyes throwing daggers.
“Who wants dessert?” I asked, breaking their death-glare connection by drawing attention to me instead. “I can whip up some cookies.”
“Regrettably, I must retire for the evening.” Lord Onyx pushed back from the table with more force than necessary. “Excuse me.”
He bid us goodnight and took his leave.
“Don’t mind him,” Varys said once he’d left. “He likes to be alone sometimes. Prefers it, really.”
“He showed me the greenhouse the other day.” I glanced at Onyx’s now empty chair, feeling a strange pressure build in my chest. “He said it’s one of his favorite places in the castle.”
Varys nodded. “He goes there to find peace. It’s home to many plants, trees, and flowers that are unable to naturally grow here in the Shadow Realm. I believe it makes him feel less isolated from the outside world.”
Isolated. What did he mean by that?
The more I learned about Onyx, the less I understood. He was warm one moment and cold the next. Some of his smiles reached his eyes and others were only surface deep, with a heavy sadness lying beneath them.
“I should retire for the evening as well.” Varys dabbed at his mouth with a napkin before rising from his chair. “Morning comes early.”
***
The walk back to our room after dinner was quiet. Meeting Varys and learning about his love for my dad had seemed to dissolve some of my men’s worries about us being in the castle. Enough so that the knight trio told us goodnight and went to their own room instead of holing up in ours.
Progress.
“Where’s Yoyo?” Maddox asked once we’d reached our room, sweeping a gaze along the floor.
I cracked a smile. He used the wrong name on purpose now. “Outside, I think. Probably wants to run off some of his energy before bed.”
“He can sleep on the rug,” he grumbled.
“I hope he bites you in your sleep,” Rowan said from his window perch. “I’d never stop laughing.”
“Be nice,” I told him, then shot a glare at Maddox. “That goes for you too.”
“What wrong have I done?” the big grump asked.
I loudly cleared my throat before doing my best imitation of his voice. “The food is fine. It’s the company that’s soured my appetite.” My hands went to my hips. It was my warrior pose, threatening a brat-level tantrum if he didn’t start behaving. “Was that really necessary?”
“Indeed, it was,” he said, amused. “You’re awfully endearing when you’re like this. Full of fire and sass.”
I shut my eyes, praying for the strength not to pummel him.
“Ev?”
