She could have hired lowborn assassins and paid them in different coins to deflect attention away from herself. It would mean she knew where Thyra and her father were hiding and, instead of giving me the chance to claim Thyra first, she sent messages to the other kings to make it harder for me. All without making it obvious she was acting against me.
I have no way to be certain. But I’m determined to find out.
Right now, I have to deal with the body.
For the next two hours, I set about burying the man and cleaning up the cabin.
By the time I’m done, the sky is lightening. My eagle hasn’t moved, and when I take a step toward him, intending to check on Thyra again, he cracks open one eye and glares at me.
“Fine.” I back away from him, telling myself she’s safe under his wing.
Dawn isn’t far away.
I don’t need much sleep. Far less than most highborn. An hour or two is enough.
Taking up a position on the porch where I can keep an eyeon the clearing, I lean up against the wall next to the door, remaining standing.
I give myself permission to close my eyes. Just for a moment.
“Antony?”
My eyes shoot open, alarm flooding me.
I not only fell asleep, but it was so deep I wasn’t aware of Thyra’s approach.
She stands in front of me, dawn sunlight glowing around her silhouette, the ruby circlet held in her left hand, while she raises her right wrist toward me.
She must have gone back into the room to retrieve the circlet, also without me being aware of it.
“How do I get this back on?” she asks.
My focus flashes from her arm to her eyes, dull blue eyes, but the dullness is only in the color, not in the life that burns behind them.
She must have retrieved her boots and pants, too, because she’s fully dressed, although she’s still wearing the tunic I gave her. She might have even rescued her bloomers from the bathing room. I’m instantly reminded of the press of her wet skin to mine, the arch of her back into my hands, the curve of her breasts, her needy moan…
I shake myself, trying to clear my head. “Are you hungry?”
She purses her lips at the question she obviously wasn’t expecting. “I’m fine, thank you. I ate another thistleberry.”
She inclines her head to her right, where I left the branch last night. “I fed one to Blue as well.”
“Blue?”
“Your eagle,” she says. “Until you come up with a better name, that’s what I’m calling him.”
Behind her, my monstrous bird sneers at me, ruffling his feathers menacingly.
I narrow my eyes at him.Challenge accepted.It can’t be that hard to name a bird. But my more immediate focus is on Thyra and the remarkable fact that she fed my carnivorous eagle a thistleberry. It won’t make him sick, but he usually prefers food of a different kind.
“He didn’t peck you?”
“Not once.” The chain jingles as she draws my attention to it again. “Antony?”
My chest feels heavy as I consider the circlet. “You can leave that off for now. You don’t need to wear it until we get closer to the Constellation.”
Her forehead pinches. “Your mother has eagles and fae at her disposal, yes? She was sending them after us when we landed at the forge yesterday. Then she sent Lady Delphina to cause trouble in the street. I don’t imagine she’s sitting idly by, waiting for you to bring me to her. I’d rather not be snatched away from you because we weren’t prepared.”
Thyra’s right. Even now, Mother could have eagles in the air, waiting to escort us home. For our safety, of course.
