Iver reached for his goblet of wine and took a long sip as he studied Samkiel. He placed the glass back down with a heavy sigh and folded his hands on the table in front of him. “With all due respect, we have fulfilled those. You were presumed dead for a thousand years. Nismera is from Unir’s line, just as you are. Her legitimacy is just, no matter your return, and we cannot break our allegiance to her.”
Samkiel was quiet for so long that I wondered what he was planning. Was he reassessing how to approach the remaining houses in these realms? But as I brushed against his mind, all I felt was disappointment.
Anger raced across my skin like a scalding flame. The Ig’Morruthen in me raised her head toward the perceived threat, my willingness to protect him second nature to both sides of my being. The words were on my lips, but Samkiel’s fingers squeezed mine.
“If we threaten violence, we are no better than her,”Samkiel said.
“He’s a fool. They all are.”
“He’s loyal to her as they all have been. Fear does that. I would want them to follow us with such loyalty as well.”
A low growl vibrated in my throat.“I’d rather he followed her into a grave. He’s a waste of air.”
His soft chuckle flowed across our bond even as our faces remained stoic.
“They are allowed their choices. This is why we have traveled to ask. Loyalty gained out of fear can be lost as easily as it is promised. I just have to figure out how to get them to trust me.”
I huffed but said nothing because, as always, he was right. Samkiel forced a smile and rose, his hand still in mine as he pulled me up with him. The guards’ shields and spears clattered as they drew closer to their lord. Iver waved them off and stood, realizing we did not rise in threat.
“I appreciate the honesty and hospitality,” Samkiel said with every bit of kindness I did not possess. Cold food, dirty silverware, and snide comments were not hospitality.
Samkiel squeezed my hand again as he heard my every thought. “We shall take our leave now.”
Iver bowed slightly, his lips quirking in an evil grin as if he knew something we did not. Samkiel only interlaced his fingers through mine and led me from the castle. As we left the waterbound city, I worried more about the woman behind those walls than the alliance with Lord Iver.
3
DIANNA
We made it back right at sunset. Samkiel had been quiet, and although I knew he wasn’t mad at me, I still felt bad. I shifted fully back to my mortal form and grabbed his hand, raising it to my lips to pepper kisses against the back of it. He tossed me a half smile, but I could tell his mind was a million miles away. He wanted so badly to restore these realms to what they used to be, and it felt like every time we turned around, his hopes were doused like water on a flame.
We made it through the front door with barely a peep. The enormous castle seemed empty, but rattling from the kitchen and the smell of roasted meat proved that at least one person was home. We rounded the corner, and I strode into the kitchen. Cameron was half-slouched at the large wooden table. I playfully shoved at Cameron’s shoulder and hopped up to sit beside his plate, swinging my feet. Samkiel stopped at the entry and leaned his shoulder against the doorway.
“Hey, people eat here,” Cameron joked, gesturing toward my sitting form.
“Oh, if you think this is bad, you should have been here when Samkiel first showed me this kitchen.”
Cameron made a face and quickly lifted his plate.
“Dianna,” Samkiel said.
I shrugged and waved him off. “It’s been cleaned. I was only joking. Sort of.”
“Well, now that I am scarred by that mental image that I am sure will haunt me for the rest of my days,” Cameron said, “how did it go?”
Samkiel grumbled and rubbed his hand over his face.
“Not well, I take it?” Cameron asked, taking a huge bite of his sandwich.
“No,” Samkiel said. “Regardless of my wife’s chipper mood, not well indeed.”
I stuck my tongue out at Samkiel.
“Why are you so happy if it went terribly?” Cameron asked, around a mouthful of food.
I shrugged. “I blame it on the whole not having a soul thing.”
No one in the room thought that was the least bit funny.
