Page 24

Auki cleared his throat, and Gunter lifted his chin. A grin flashed over his sharp features, still lined in kohl and painted runes. “Ah, found the melder.”

I shook off Brynn’s hold and took a step toward Gunter. Foolish of me, no mistake, but he’d sworn to Roark that he’d see to it I was safe during the council, and I had little choice but to trust the man.

“Come on, then, best to get you behind closed doors and away from all us frightening Draven folk.” Gunter winked and nudged the door open with his toe.

“It is not Draven blood I fear.” I kept my back to the wall and slid past Gunter, attention focused on the blade now sheathed on his belt.

“Clearly,” Auki said, shoving between both of us. “Since she’s bedding the prince.”

Heat flushed my face. His sister had practically declared me her rival, and he spoke his assumptions so blithely.

Strange, but laughter followed.

Even Brynn fought a smile.

I shook away the odd interaction and stepped into the room. My heart fell to my stomach in such relief, I nearly stumbled over my first step. “Emi!”

Seated on a wooden chair, a book made of blue leather on her lap, Emi jolted at my shout. Her face had been scrubbed of the dirt and sweat from the wood, and her pale hair was free down her back.

“Lyra!” Emi scrambled from the chair, the book falling to the floorboards, and rushed across the room. In the next heartbeat her arms were choking off my air from her embrace. “Gods, Gunter hid me away the instant he saw the fara pack, and I-I-I didn’t know…”

Her voice cracked and faded against my shoulder.

“Are you all right?” The pain of deceit and anger from Emi’s secrets faded in the face of her emotions.

She pulled back and proffered a small smile. “I’m fine. I’m a little cleaner, and Gunter saw to it I had a bit of pheasant.”

“Don’t know why you’re so damn surprised.” Gunter sealed the latch over the door, locking us into the room. “Said I’d look after you lot”—he opened his arms, a snide sort of grin on his face—“so here I am. Looking after you.”

My grip slid to Emi’s wrist, a bolster for her or me, I didn’t know. “Then why send them?”

Gunter’s attention shifted to Brynn and Auki when I used my chin to point their way. “Brynn and Auki tend to the wolf packs of the Dark Watch, including Virki’s. They were nearby and eager to join in the fun.”

Emi stiffened at the mention of her father.

Auki went to a small table with a wooden ewer and horn and poured himself a drink the color of sea-foam. “The queen didn’t speak the exact truth. She summoned us. Not Gunter.”

“Makes a bit of sense. Your queen wishes me dead.”

Auki peered at Gunter over the rim of his horn, his brow furrowed. “Why does she think we’re all going to slit her up? She was skittish the whole way here.”

They couldn’t be so thick in their heads.

“It’s not a coincidence my aunt asked Brynn,” Emi said over my shoulder.

“Exactly,” I blurted before I could think to stop. “What you told me about you and Roark is enough motivation to want me dead.”

Brynn sat in one of the wooden chairs tucked in a corner. “You think I want you dead because my arranged betrothal from childhood is broken?”

“You said I stole your crown.”

“Well, didn’t you?” Brynn was a strong woman, beautiful and frightening. But when she smiled, her entire countenance softened like the calm of dawn. “Dravenmoor is on the brink of war. By all means, Melder, take the damn crown. I don’t want it.”

What sort of game was this?

“I think we’ll need to speak a little plainer,” Gunter said, low and like he was trying to whisper but wanted me to hear all the same. “She doesn’t trust a word from our mouths.”

“Why should she?” Emi snapped. “Our clan has wanted to kill her all her life.”