by Chandra Ryan
Her love life had been cursed from its start, but maybe Kavin was worth the risk of a little bad luck. After all, she had never actually gotten anyone killed. And there wasn’t much worse that could happen to her. She doubted she could hit a lower bottom than the one she had six years ago.
As quickly as the thoughts invaded her mind, though, she brushed them aside. If anything was going to happen with Kavin, they would have to make it through this evening first. And for that, she needed to focus on what was going on around her.
As if to prove her right, the sentries posted at the door nodded to them stiffly and allowed them to pass, but then threw each other sideways glances of unease.
“What do you think? Did they recognize me?” Sara asked sarcastically.
Kavin’s hand moved to rest comfortably on the hilt of his sword. “Like there was any chance they wouldn’t. One thing I’ll give you, there’s never a dull moment when you’re around.”
She laughed at the truth of the words. “I do that on purpose, just to keep you interested.”
“Don’t go to any extra trouble on my account. I find you much more attractive with a head on those lovely shoulders than without one,” he quipped.
“I’ll try to keep that in mind,” she promised.
Following him down the maze of granite-tiled corridors, Sara began to smell the rich spicy aromas wafting from the dining hall. They were getting close.
With a nod and a wave of a hand, the rest of the group disappeared through a small side door. Sara didn’t blame them. Since they didn’t need to be presented nor introduced to the royalty present, it didn’t make sense for them to have to wait to eat. But, watching them disappear, she had to admit she’d never felt more envious in her life.
Turning one last corner, they arrived at the main entrance to the Great Hall. Sara handed her cloak to a waiting servant while Kavin provided their names to the elderly announcer. Secretly, she hoped no one would be able to hear the man over the sounds of the jovial feast already taking place.
“My lord and lady,” the elderly man called weakly. “It is my privilege to announce King’s Right Hunter and for the first time, Lady Guard Raven.”
Wincing, Sara leaned close to Kavin whispering, “Lady Guard?”
He just shrugged. “You still hold your title so we came up with a compromise.”
A young usher came to guide them through the orderly maze of tables. Their destination was the head table, where the royals in attendance were seated. One of those royals being, of course, the would-be rapist himself, Ashlyn. He sat on his father’s left while his mother sat on the Lord Livingston’s right.
Keeping her head high and her shoulders straight, she forced her lips into an icy smile as she walked. There was no way she was going to let them know how much seeing them again terrified her. And to make sure her voice didn’t give her away, she decided it would be best to leave the talking to Kavin.
“Lord and Lady Livingston, thank you for your hospitality. May I introduce the newest member of the King’s Guard?”
Their table had already been set with an abundance of food. At Raven’s Keep the royalty had been served last. But each keep set their own protocol and it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that the Lord and Lady of Livingston ate first. Not with their reputation for self-indulgence.
“You may.” The Lady Livingston didn’t even look up from the piece of fowl she was devouring as she answered.
“Lord and Lady Livingston, it is my great pleasure to introduce Lady Saraphina Lira Raven as a member of the King’s Guard.”
At her name, Lady Livingston choked and began a violent series of coughs trying to dislodge the food as her husband began beating on her back. But she only succeeded in showering them in bits and pieces of meat and skin.
When the lady’s throat was finally cleared, she growled softly and glared at Sara. It was somehow both more and less of a reaction than Sara had been expecting.
“It’s not possible for her to be a member of the guard.”
“I apologize for any misunderstanding, but the king personally requested she be recruited,” Kavin said curtly.
“But I own her,” she snarled.
Sara snarled back. She didn’t need the poke from Kavin’s elbow to tell her it wasn’t her best idea. But, bad idea or no, it felt good.
“I was told she was sold to a Rhuevian.” Kavin’s eyes were hard and his words clipped. “I’m sure I don’t have to remind you that slavery is illegal in this kingdom, do I?”
“But the king—”
“The king has always looked the other way, but I assure you he will not in this case. It seems his desire for her outweighs yours. And what the king wants…” He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t have to.
“She nearly killed my son.”
“And the king wishes you to know that you will be compensated for any loss suffered by your house at the hands of any of his agents, generously. And, of course, you will have his gratitude.”
“Gold and a thank you? Does he think that’s all my son’s life is worth?”
“Your son is quite alive and well.” Kavin’s gesture to the man pulled not only Lady Livingston’s attention to Ashlyn, but also Sara’s. She cursed the slip as he leered at her suggestively. But, before she gave words to the hatred that rolled in her gut, she turned her attention back to his mother.
“But—”
“I don’t think I’ve conveyed the importance of this. She is a guard. The king thanks you for making this a smooth transition. Should it not be smooth, however, he wishes to inform you that your husband’s cousin, Svenden, has filed a formal protest over the manner in which the Livingston line of succession has been determined. I’m sure it’s just the jealous rants of a younger sibling.” He gave her a shrug of understanding. “But then again, who knows what we would find should we start looking into the lines.”
From the look of fear that passed over both the lord and the lady’s faces, Sara was willing to bet Svenden had a pretty solid case.
“You’ve made your point.” Lady Livingston turned her attention back to Sara as she donned a forced smile. “It’s a pleasure to welcome you to our keep. If we may assist you in any way, please let us know.”
“Thank you, Lady Livingston, but I assure you, I will need no assistance from your house.” The icy words had the lady glaring at her again.
“Saraphina.” Ashlyn’s syrupy voice made her want to cringe but she refused to give in to the urge. “Bitterness doesn’t become you. We should treat this as it is. A new beginning. I know I, for one, would love to make you feel more…” he had a lecherous smile on his face as his gaze slowly devoured every inch of her, “…welcomed.” For a brief heartbeat, his thoughts overwhelmed her and she nearly choked in disgust. “After all, we have unresolved business, you and I.” He tossed his long black hair over his shoulder as he gave her his best come-hither look.
She stared at him for a moment, trying to figure him out. But she quickly gave up. There was no understanding insanity. “Really? I thought we’d come to an understanding.”
“I wasn’t completely satisfied with our former terms, but now that you’re more mature…”
Kavin’s knuckles were white as he gripped the edge of the table. And his mind was filled with an explosive and angry exposé on how he’d like to kill the man slowly—piece by piece. His desire for blood was too strong for her to block. Leaning forward, he growled, “You come near her and you won’t come away from my blade with only a scar. Do you understand me?”
Ashlyn, however, seemed either unaware of or unconcerned by Kavin’s barely controlled rage. “I don’t believe you have the right to speak for her.”
Kavin took a step back, the muscles around his mouth tight from him clenching his jaw. Ashlyn probably owed his life to the years of training and control the guard had given Kavin. She had certainly never seen anyone able to hold that much anger in check.
“I don’t need him to speak for me.” She m
oved the tunic so the handle of her daggers were visible through the slits of the tunic. “Don’t come near me. Don’t talk to me. Don’t even think about me. Or the king will be paying your mother more gold than your sorry scalp is worth. I promise you that.”
“I do so love a challenge.” Ashlyn’s mouth twisted in an evil smile. “But you know all about that.” His fingers brushed against his scar.
The warm teak of her dagger hilt was in her hand before she realized she had gone for the weapon. But Kavin’s arm was already around her waist and pulling her away from the table. She wanted to see Ashlyn bleed, but she allowed Kavin to lead her away.
“Are you okay?” Kavin pulled her closer to him as they made their way through the crowded room.
“I’ll be fine.” She hoped she would be, at least. Her anger was feeding off of his dark thoughts in a continuous loop that she didn’t know how to break. She sincerely doubted anything could be worse than how she was feeling at this exact moment.
“The others are over there.” He nodded toward a table in the back of the room. “Feel like company?”
“And alcohol.” Maybe if she drank herself into a stupor, the anger would subside.
“That we can do.”
Sinking into a chair, Sara grabbed the nearest bottle of wine and filled her goblet. It wasn’t until she had taken a deep drink that she realized several people were staring at her, Kemah being the most obvious about it. This evening just kept getting better and better.
“What? Can’t a girl drink?”
“Lady Guard Raven?” Kemah asked.
Of course, he would be the one person listening to the announcer in all this noise.
Shemeek laughed loudly as she raised her glass. Her slight wobble made Sara wonder how much the woman had been able to gulp down during the introduction. “They did not call me a lady when I was presented. Guess they knew what they were getting.” She laughed again, this time throwing her head back in delight. But Kemah ignored her.
“As in the Ravens? Of Raven’s Keep?”
She winced as she raised the goblet to her mouth again, this time finishing off the glass. “Damn. I’m going to need more alcohol, aren’t I?”
Kemah didn’t seem to get the hint. “You’re the Lady Raven?”
Fortunately Kavin was quick at refilling her glass, and the other guards at the table seemed to have lost interest in the conversation.
“Yes. I am Lady Raven of Raven’s Keep.”
Kemah shook his head. “But you’re a servant.”
“And isn’t that what royalty are? Servants to the people?” She laughed as she tipped back the glass again. It was a strong wine but she’d been drinking at feasts since she was twelve. She could handle it.
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
“And you know I’m avoiding your questions.” Her voice dropped an octave as she tried to impress upon him the seriousness of her words. “I am a Raven. I am a servant. I am a guard. And I do not wish to talk about it with you.”
She hoped that would be enough. The man was starting to give her a headache.
“Were you there the night of the raid?”
“Good gods! It’s like talking to a wall.” As the throbbing in her head intensifying, she pressed her fingers to her temples.
“You okay?”
Kavin hadn’t tried to reach her with his mind since they’d left Keep Drake but she remembered how clear he had been. Tonight his words were cloudy—almost garbled. It had to be the headache. “I’m fine. Just a bit of a headache.”
He picked up her goblet and sniffed at the wine tentatively.
“We’re all drinking from the same bottle, Kavin. If it were poisoned we would all be suffering.”
“There are some poisons the others wouldn’t feel.” His voice was steely as he looked down at her. “And I haven’t had the wine.”
His words sent a wave of dread crashing through her. Had she been slipped Royalsbane? Staring at Kavin, she tried to tune in on his thoughts but they were growing murkier by the second. It was like trying to see a fish in a mud puddle.
“I think I need to lie down.” She tried to stand, but couldn’t get her legs to obey. “Kavin, I can’t stand.” Terror raced through her causing everything to take on a hazy veil of the surreal.
In an instant Kavin’s arms were around her and she was being carried against the strong wall of his chest. He didn’t speak and if he was thinking anything she couldn’t tell. It was absolute silence until they’d made their way out into the gardens where he promptly dropped her to her feet.
“You have to throw up, Sara.”
“What?”
“There was something in the wine, damn it. Throw up.” The chill in his voice only sparked more terror. The world was starting to swim around her.
“No, you don’t.” He caught her just as her knees buckled. “You need to throw up—now.”
Taking a deep breath, she leaned over and pushed her fingers as far back in her throat as she could and forced her stomach to purge its contents. It wasn’t her finest moment, but when there was nothing left to purge, the headache did start to lift.
“Was it the Livingstons?” Her throat was sore and tears pricked painfully at the back of her eyes, but the worst was over—she hoped.
He shook his head. “As much as I’d love to place this on them, they were genuinely surprised to see you.”
“Who then? Do you think it was the same people responsible for yesterday’s attack?”
“I don’t think so. Everybody at that table was a guard. None of them would’ve slipped you the poison intentionally.”
“Then what?”
“There are other uses for Royalsbane. It could’ve been slipped into the wine by someone not wanting his mate to bear a child.”
She couldn’t believe she’d forgotten about its other use. Enough of the servants used the herb for her to be wary at Keep Drake. “There’s no way for us to know for certain?”
“I’ll ask around tomorrow, but I think it’s best for you to rest tonight.”
“Am I going to be all right?”
He still looked a shade or two paler than usual under the moonlight, but he nodded slowly. “I think so. It takes time for Royalsbane to destroy the magic completely.”
The time she had spent listening to Kemah as the headache grew haunted her. “What if I wasn’t quick enough?” Fear would have made her sick if she hadn’t already thrown up everything in her stomach.
His gaze swept over her again. “No, the magic is still there. I can see it in your aura. It may take a little time for it to be full strength again, but you’ll be fine.”
She was so relieved she almost didn’t put the pieces together.
“Wait. You can see my aura? You’re a healer?”
He was silent for a minute. “I guess it’s only fair you know.”
“Not that you were planning on telling me.” She kept her tone light but she was only half teasing. It bothered her that she knew so little about him but he seemed to know everything that’d happened to her over the past seven years.
“You don’t need me to tell you anything.”
“Are you trying to bait me into reading you?” She had touched on his feelings, heard his thoughts when they were too loud for her to ignore, but she’d never done anything intentionally invasive. The thought had her taking a step away from him. “I would have access to everything, Kavin. It’s not just your current thoughts but your memories, your feelings, your hopes and desires.”
“Are you asking permission?”
“No. I’m giving you a warning.”
“There will come a time when you will have to use it, Sara.” He started walking off toward the barracks leaving her to either follow or stay alone in the dark courtyard. “Damned idealist.” The last words were muttered softly, but she still heard them.
“You’re angry because I scared you.” It was just the gentlest push into his mind but she was certain that, had she not bee
n so relieved at being able to still do it, it would have felt like an invasion.
He stopped, but didn’t look back at her. “That would be pretty apparent to anyone, Sara.”
“But not because your mission was at risk. You were scared for me.”
He nodded stiffly. “We should get back to the barracks. You need to get cleaned up.”
The image of her in a bath sent a wave of fresh desire through him, one she felt too clearly. “Oh.”
Now he turned to face her. “And damned if I don’t need a drink.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t—”
But he shook his head and smiled softly at her. “Never apologize for being who you are.”
The fear and anger had left him, leaving her lightheaded. “I think I could use a drink too.”
“After you bathe, of course. You smell funny.”
She managed a small laugh. “Thanks.”
With the mood lightened, they made their way across the courtyard in comfortable silence. When they walked through the door to the barracks though, she felt some of her nervous energy return. She was going to be sharing a room with him. Everyone assumed they were lovers. And it’s what they both wanted. But he was waiting for her to make the first move.
Ignoring the stairs this time, he found a servant and requested a bath be brought up to his quarters before briskly walking down the corridor the others had used earlier. Following him, Sara noticed that this hallway was every bit as lavish as the upper floor. But, as she peered into the spacious rooms, it was apparent that this floor was more for communal activities.
“That’s the dorm,” Kavin said with a nod as they walked by the room that housed large beds in neat rows.
“So that’s where a peon like me would normally be sleeping?”
“If you could find a bed. They get pretty packed. Sometimes you have to share with one or two other people.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” she teased.
He chucked, but didn’t stop. “Damned if being a guard isn’t already a bad influence on you.”