Page 86 of Veil of Night & Flames

“Solenne,” I say. “Which chamber is hers?”

He frowns, then peers down the hall, and I’m starting to think I’m going to have to pound on doors to find her, when he says, “Fifth. On the left.” Then he bows, scurries backward, and disappears.

For a second, I worry that I’ve made him late and he’ll get in trouble. Then I push that out of my mind as I rush to the fifth door and pound on it.

And pound.

And pound some more.

I try the knob, only to find the chamber locked. Out of pure frustration, I try again, and this time I hear the lock click open. Queenly powers of locksmithing, I presume. But when I push the door open, the room is empty.

Shit.

I turn to head back the way I came so I can go find Adric, which is probably where I should have started if I’d been thinking clearly. I’m passing the second chamber when I hear descending footsteps. I look up, and a combination of relief and joy crashes over me, as if I’ve just won the People Lottery.

“Mistress Solenne,” I say, reaching for her hand. “I need your help. I need you in the Real.”

“My queen,” she says, tilting her head. “There is sickness?”

“A friend,” I say. “Ripped to shreds. He was with us when Chase was bitten. I don’t know if he has wolf venom in him or if he was captured and tortured, or even exactly what his injuries are. All I know is that he somehow managed to get to the Real, and he’s in terrible shape.”

She nods. “Will go, yes. But only if have blessing of king.”

“Next stop,” I say. “Follow me.”

I don’t see Kali, thank goodness, but we do pass Maren, who jumps a little when I call her name.

“Have you seen the king?” I demand, then realize I’m twisting Mom’s warm ring like a worry stone. Something I only seem to do in the Nightmare Realm. But I’ll worry about breaking the habit later. Right now, my plate is full. “Maren?” I press.

She dips her head and takes a step back as she says, “The king is in his Council Chamber, my lady.”

I’m already on the move as I shout my thanks back to her, then look helplessly at Solenne. “I don’t remember where that is.”

“Come, my lady,” she says, then takes the lead until I see the closed door ahead. I sprint forward, then burst through the doors as every man and woman at that table turns to face me.

“Beloved,” Adric says mildly, but I hear the what the fuck? in his voice.

“I need your help,” I say.

His gaze sweeps the room, looking over his council, then landing on Solenne.

“We will continue this another time,” he says to his counselors. “Please leave us now.”

They don’t look pleased. But they also don’t argue with their king. Instead, they incline their heads and go, even as Adric crosses to me in three strides, then puts his hand at my elbow.

“Tell me,” he says after the last counsellor has left the room.

“Whistler’s alive. He’s in the Real. Solenne’s needed. And I need you, too,” I say, the words coming out before I can think about them.

“Do you?”

“Please, Adric. You said if I summoned you, you’d come. I’m summoning you.”

“And I will return with you,” he says, his voice gentle. “Tell me—how bad is it?”

I shake my head. “Bad. I don’t know.” He holds out his arms, and I curl into his embrace, wondering how it is I can feel so deeply for both these brothers. Such different personalities, and yet each has carved a place in my heart—and in my bed.

“Beloved?”