Amari tilted her head, inviting more.“If I had my way, I would love the nightmares right out of you,” she whispered.
He sighed.“Not sure it will work.”
“No reason not to try,” she said, then stifled a groan as the baby kicked her hard.“Oof.I fear the babe has other plans.”
Orval chuckled, then moved them both so that she was on her side, spooned within his arms.His hand rubbed over her belly.“Go easy on your mama, little one.”
The babe kicked again.
“I suspect this child will be a fighter, the way it kicks.”Orval said, and yawned.
“I hope she has your eyes,” Amari let out a slow breath, closing her eyes at the comfort of Orval’s touch, relaxing into the warmth.
“He’ll have more than that,” Orval said drowsily into her ear, clearly fading into sleep.“He’ll have our love.”
Chapter Forty-Three
In the Palace of Xy
“They’re all dead?”
Her father’s words made Halithe hesitate as she gave up the reins to the waiting stableboy.She expected her father, Lord Marshal Tarwain, to be furious with Captain Ussin.
Instead, he almost seemed…panicked.
“Aye,” Ussin said as he swung off his horse.“The mage took them out before I could take him down.”He looked Tarwain right in the eye.“Powerful things, mages.”
Behind them, the portal snapped closed.
“Well,” Tarwain caught himself, looking around as those gathered in the courtyard started to react.“You men, see to the dead,” he ordered.“Captain Ussin, come with me.The King and Queen are waiting.”His gaze snapped to Halithe and he frowned.“Come,” he ordered.
“Yes, father,” Halithe said as one of the grooms moved to help her dismount.She was glad she had changed her boots for slippers before passing through the portal.
The Palace halls were filled with gossiping, whispering courtiers.Halithe kept her gaze down, as was proper, but that sick feeling of knowing condemning eyes were on her rose in her gut.Tongues would be wagging, she knew.
“Halithe,” Tarwain snapped, summoning her to his side.
Ussin gave them both a glance and fell back.
Her father strode on, his boots ringing on the marble floors.“I don’t blame you, entirely.”He kept his voice low.“I blame Kara, for filling your head with wild fantasies, and the Guildmaster for indulging them, but you are returned.Are you still ‘untouched?’”he demanded.
Of course, that would be his first concern.Halithe burned with both embarrassment and anger, and struggled to keep her feelings out of her voice.“Yes, Father.”
“I expected nothing less,” Tarwain said.“And would not expect a different answer even if that were not the truth.Regardless, it may still be possible to obtain a good marriage if—” he stopped as they reached the throne room doors.
The Herald stood there, staff in hand.“You are to have a private audience,” he said, then focused on Halithe.“Welcome back, Lady Halithe.”
Halithe gave him a small nod.
“Just open the doors,” Tarwain growled.
The Herald raised an eyebrow, then gave him a very slow nod and struck the floor with his staff of office.The doors swung open, revealing an all but empty throne room.
Private audiences are never truly private.There were the guards, of course, and a smattering of others standing to the side.Both the King and the Queen were seated on their thrones.The Bondmaidens stood behind Satia’s throne, demure in matching gowns.
Halithe only had eyes for Caris.Who met her gaze with no change of expression, though there was a spark of hope in those lovely eyes.Then Caris stiffened and looked away.
Halithe used her mage sight, though her bracelet tightened in resistance.The strands of the Bond glowed all around the Bondmaidens as they always did, with the one strand flowing away from the Queen in a straight line.But those around Caris seemed tighter, as if they—it—sensed a threat.
