My eyelids popped wide. I looked at Ryo. I’d finally confided in him, telling him not to share that tidbit with another soul. I’d trusted him. And now he was spilling all our secrets to this demented bastard?
Ryo wouldn’t meet my gaze, choosing to poke at his slice of pie with his fork.
“Do not blame him, Melarue. Family is an unbreakable bond. It is what brought you to Faerie twice, is it not?”
Rather than answer, I glared at Ryo—not that he acknowledged me.
“You care about your sister deeply. I respect that. I do,” Albedo crooned on. “Liri was a monster to steal her away from you after killing her mate. I wonder what he said to get her to return. Did he threaten her child? Her mate? You? How many more times will he jeopardize her life and those she loves?”
I hated Liri, but I hated Albedo more. “Stop trying to manipulate me. Do you think I’m blind to your scheme?” I gritted out.
Albedo’s eyes lit up. There was something disturbingly erotic about his getup this morning: the tight muscular chest on display, the long, dark, feathered ponytail, and the jewel flashing above his own family jewels. Ew.
He leaned back and smiled. “Oh, no, I think you are as clever as you are fierce, Melarue. That is why we are having this conversation.”
Yet he was the one doing all the talking. Some conversation.
“May I be excused?” I grumped.
Albedo nodded. “I will send healers to your room to speed up your recovery. I want you to be in fit form.”
Albedo got up and walked over to pull my chair back. Lips pressed together, I stood and limped from the room in my haste to get away.
I waited until I was alone in the hallway to shudder and wonder what he meant by having me in fit form. I doubted it was so I could battle him with blades.
What did the bastard really want?
Part of me was afraid to find out.
Chapter Nine
Aerith
I have your sister . . .
The letter began with news I already knew but still chilled my blood. It arrived by messenger at dawn. The white-haired faerie in the maroon cloak who delivered it stood at the foot of the dais waiting for me to read it over. I sat back as though lounging in my full-skirted gold-and-white gown, a crown on top of my head.
The messenger said he had a personal message to deliver after I finished reading it. Before Galather and Folas would allow him an audience, they insisted I receive the messenger in the throne room, atop the dais.
The messenger bowed his head and waited patiently. Albedo had made him ride through the night.
I glanced back down with a steady hand to read the letter a second time.
Princess Aerith Elmray,
I have your sister, but do not fret. Miss Heiris is being looked after with the utmost care. Unfortunately, she suffered some blows when my guards apprehended her during an attempt to attack my brother. You need not worry on either of those accounts. Melarue is under my protection and care, as is my brother Ryo. Unlike Liri, family means a great deal to me, and I am extending my goodwill to your sister. The messenger I sent can vouch to the treatment Melarue is receiving at Ravensburg.
I write to you as a neighboring king. It is my wish that we can become great allies and bring our families closer together.
Fond regards,
King Albedo Elmray of Ravensburg
I had to fight my fingers from curling in like claws to shred the letter. Just knowing the creep’s pale slender fingers had touched the parchment made me want to burn it to ash before washing my hands in scalding water.
“Well?” I snapped, looking up from the missive to the messenger. “What can you tell me of my sister’s predicament?”
Folas folded his arms over his chest, and Galather cracked his knuckles and smiled dangerously.
The messenger looked up at me with silver eyes, perfectly poised. The first thing that caught my notice was he didn’t refer to the castle’s new master as king.
“Albedo brought me into your sister’s guest chamber to witness the care being tended to her. She was assigned four servants to be at her beck and call. A healer was called in to attend to her in the morning. She was unconscious at the time of my visit.”
I sucked in a breath, my eyes widening. Folas took a threatening step closer to the messenger.
“I was told she had fainted,” the messenger hurried to say.
Mel faint? Unlikely. I sat up taller in the throne and glared down at the messenger. He wasn’t the one holding my sister captive, but he was the only Fae currently available to focus my rage upon.
“Anything else?” I snapped.
“I have told you everything I am aware of.” He lowered his head.
I snapped my gaze from his bowed head to Galather. “Have him wait in the hall while I pen a response to have delivered to Ravensburg.”
Galather nodded and snapped his fingers at several nearby guards to escort the messenger out of the throne room.
“I will fetch paper and quill, my lady,” a skinny young guard with spiky green hair said, taking swift steps toward the small apartment at the side of the dais. I’d instructed the staff to call me “my lady” rather than “majesty” or “queen.” I felt that was especially imperative now that Lyklor was finally in residence at Dahlquist.
The young servant ran back out with parchment, ink, quill, and a polished wood board to use as a writing surface.
Thanking him, I unscrewed the lid on the inkpot, dipped the tip of the quill, and touched it to the paper.
Albedo,
I have your brother.
The inky words were as black as the bastard’s hair and heart. I redipped the quill even though it was still wet with ink.
He is likewise being kept safe. We are in agreement that family is extremely important. I am sure you share my feeling of reasonability when it comes to protecting younger siblings. Send Melarue back to Dahlquist unharmed through a portal, and I will release Malon.
Your messenger will confirm Malon’s presence at Dahlquist.
Aerith
I left off any fancy titles and my last name. Purging the Elmray name from mine was long overdue. I felt more ready than ever to take Jhaeros as my mate and his name as my own.
Likewise, I left off any threats to Malon or inquiries into Ryo. It wasn’t worth the risk to Mel to add in what had run through my mind to scrawl at the end—that Malon had all his fingers and toes . . . for now.
But I did have Galather take the messenger down to the dungeon and have the Ravensburg faerie get a good look at Malon behind bars before sending him and my letter back to Albedo. I wanted the scoundrel to know I wasn’t bluffing about having his brother.
Keyed up as I was, I felt a tinge better knowing Melarue appeared unharmed and that Ryo was with her. It didn’t sound as though Albedo intended any harm to come to them. But the same two words hung in the air. For now.
Once the messenger was dispatched, I had Sarfina and Lyklor sent for and brought to a parlor with tea and assorted little cakes. At least Sarfina looked genuinely shocked to learn that her youngest brother and cousin had been switched as babies.
“What?” she screeched. “Albedo never told me.”
Thank goodness Fae couldn’t lie. They were devious enough as it was.
Sarfina paced one side of the coffee table without paying any attention to the tea or cakes. The sugar-obsessed side of my brain was already planning to binge eat the pretty little delicacies once I had the room to myself. Pregnancy cravings wilted all my resolve, especially when I had more than just a single sweet tooth—I had sweet teeth. The better to devour anything sugary.
Golden highlights streaked through Sarfina’s blonde ponytail. She’d been allowed to bathe and change inside her chamber with the help of a maid. In the sheer pink dress with the white slip beneath, she looked like her usual flouncy self.
Although I’d told Lyklor he could have his pick of any of his brothers’ clothes, he’d shown up in the
same wide-collared red jacket and snug dark breeches he’d first appeared in. He lifted his nose and flashed Sarfina a haughty look of boredom until she rushed at him, arms open to tackle him with a hug. Lyklor’s eyes widened as Sarfina crushed him against her chest.
“My brother. My true brother. Lyklor,” she cried out as though she’d just delivered a healthy baby boy and was beside herself with pride and joy.
Galather and Folas shared looks of confusion. They stood near the parlor door with Jhaeros, giving us space while keeping an eye on this little reunion.
Lyklor didn’t embrace her back, but he didn’t squirm away either, not even when Sarfina rocked side to side with him.
Sarfina loosened her grip to lean back and take in his appearance. “And so handsome,” she cooed, eyes alighting as she studied his rumpled blond hair, smooth cheekbones, and strong jawline. She nodded several times, never taking her eyes off Lyklor.
As endearing as all this appeared, this wasn’t a family holiday. I folded my arms beneath my breasts. “It is time to choose sides, Sarfina. Do you want to join your cousin Albedo in Ravensburg, or support your brother Lyklor here in Dahlquist?”
Her head jerked to face me, and her eyes narrowed. “I support Lyklor, of course. He is my brother.”
I didn’t point out that Liri was, too, or that two weeks ago Sarfina had been willing to sell out the kingdom, and her siblings, to Albedo.
If Sarfina could change her ways, then I was willing to overlook the past.
“Lyklor will need your help if he is to rule Dahlquist,” I said.
Sarfina’s eyes glittered. “You mean to supplant Liri?”
I gave the barest shrug. Liri had abandoned his kingdom. He’d been warned. I didn’t consider this a coup. “For now, why don’t you give Lyklor a tour of the castle?” I suggested.
Sarfina positively beamed as she linked her arm around Lyklor’s. “Come, Brother. Let me show you around your home.”
She sounded like Faerie’s friendliest female at the moment. I’d never seen her warm that way, not even around Cirrus, whom she’d adored. No, for Lyklor, she’d turned to full-on doting. Good, he needed the support of family. He wouldn’t get it from Liri or Jastra.
Sarfina had been easy. Now I needed Teryani. Once I figured out how to get her kingdom back, she’d owe me—big time. I’d already dispatched a letter to her after sending Albedo’s messenger back to Ravensburg. The plan to infiltrate Ravensburg had failed. It was up to the exiled queen to come up with a new plan. In the meantime, I was getting my sister back.
With a sigh, I loosened an arm and pressed my hand over my forehead.
Jhaeros had gotten close enough to the former queen of Ravensburg to kill her by posing as her enchanted paramour. Maybe I should offer myself in exchange for Mel. Get closer to Albedo. Pretend to accept his offer of marriage . . . My stomach instantly revolted at the idea. I would not do that to Jhaeros or our baby.
I glanced at him, and he offered me a smile.
“That went well,” he said.
“One of us should follow them,” Folas suggested.
I shook my head. “Let them roam and get acquainted. Does anyone else want tea and cake?” I settled onto the sofa.
Jhaeros came over, poured two cups of tea, and handed me one while Folas and Galather made themselves scarce. I ate bites of the small square layered cakes in between sips of sweet tea.
Jhaeros sat beside me, taking an occasional drink.
“There’s a pink one that has your name on it,” I teased.
“I think they all have your name on them.”
After popping another mini cake into my mouth and gobbling it up, I lay back and placed my hand on my belly.
“I’m afraid I can’t blame all this extra weight on the baby.”
Jhaeros set his cup of tea down and turned to me, eyes blazing into mine rather than on my bulging belly. “You deserve to treat yourself,” he said.
I smirked. “I suppose I do, what, with ruling and all.”
“You always deserve to treat yourself.”
I forgot about the cakes and stared into the smooth brown depths of Jhaeros’s eyes. It was probably too cheesy to tell him that he was the best treat of all.
Metal clanged against the courtyard’s flagstones as Jhaeros knocked Lyklor’s sword out of his hand with one fell swoop of his own sword against the blond Fae’s blade.
Lyklor scowled at Jhaeros, making no move to pick his sword back up.
“It’s okay, Brother. It’s only your first lesson,” Sarfina called out from the stone bench where she sat watching from beneath a lace parasol.
Folas had brought me a thick cushion, which I perched on in the full sun, soaking up the warm rays. I enjoyed exposing myself to the elements. Well, not full exposure. I chuckled to myself, remembering my time with Mel on the beach in Hawaii. The memory swirled inside me with fondness overlapped with worry and dread.
Jhaeros aimed a sharp glare at Sarfina before returning his attention to Lyklor. “Pick up your sword and try again,” he said gruffly.
Lyklor tossed his head back and made a show of taking his time scooping his sword off the ground. The moment he straightened, Jhaeros knocked it right back out of Lyklor’s lazy grip.
Thunk.
Jhaeros smirked. His white shirt had been unbuttoned halfway down his chest, revealing lightly tanned muscle and a soft dusting of hair that turned to copper in the sunlight. He probably had no idea how much he was turning me on right now.
“Again,” Jhaeros said in a tone I had once found arrogant and infuriating. Watching him knock this Fae princeling down a peg had my heart pounding with anticipation.
Pregnancy hormones—it was all about sugar and sex. Who was I kidding? It was always about sugar and sex.
When Jhaeros knocked Lyklor’s sword from his hand a third time, Sarfina huffed and turned to me. “Tell your elf puppet to go easy on my brother.”
“Be grateful Jhaeros is willing to work with him. You won’t find a more skilled fencer.” I shook my hair back, lifted my head to the sun, and closed my eyes.
“Are you ever going to tell me what really happened between him and my aunt Naesala?” Sarfina demanded.
“Nope.”
The clang of metal had me reopening my eyes. Lyklor’s blade lay at his feet.
“You’re not even trying,” Jhaeros said in disgust.
With deliberate slowness, Lyklor crossed first one arm and then the other. “Swordplay does not interest me,” he retorted.
“Every ruler must know how to fight,” Jhaeros shot back.
“I don’t want to rule.” The blue in Lyklor’s eyes turned to ice.
Jhaeros took a step toward him, sword at his side, tip pointing at the ground. “Regardless, every male—and female—should know how to defend himself or herself.” Jhaeros took another step closer, eyes narrowing on Lyklor. “What do you plan to do the next time someone attacks you? Portal out?” Jhaeros raised a brow in challenge. “What if you’re unable to run away? Huh? Stand still and take it?”
With a growl, Lyklor snatched up his sword and jabbed it at Jhaeros, who blocked and pushed back. Metal sang against metal. Jhaeros landed a kick to Lyklor’s stomach, making the blond Fae stumble back several steps with a grunt.
Lyklor looked down at the dusty boot print on the white linen top he wore under his fitted red jacket and scowled. Knuckles tightening over his sword handle, Lyklor advanced on Jhaeros, fury in his eyes. It was Jhaeros’s turn to look bored.
When Lyklor lunged, Jhaeros sidestepped him with a masculine grace and brought his own blade crashing against Lyklor’s. The brunt of Jhaeros’s blow pushed Lyklor down, but he seemed determined to hold on to his sword. He and his blade dipped toward the ground before he was able to right himself.
I fanned my face with my hand. Heat blazed in my loins. Jhaeros was hotter than hot and not even breaking a sweat.
He adjusted his collar and flicked a look at Lyklor. “At least you managed
to hold on to your sword this time.”
Wrinkles formed like cracks during an earthquake over Lyklor’s forehead when he scowled. “I’ve had enough for today.” He threw his sword at Jhaeros’s feet and spun around before storming out of the courtyard.
Sarfina scrambled to stand, following, but not before turning her head, lowering her parasol, and glaring at Jhaeros. “Show-off,” she snipped.
I couldn’t hold back a snort-laugh. I put a hand on my hip and turned to Jhaeros. “Just gotta go making everyone else look bad, don’t you?” I joked.
Jhaeros sighed as he picked up Lyklor’s discarded blade. “I miss Ryo,” he said. “He actually enjoyed our lessons. Too bad we can’t trade him for Lyklor while we’re at it.”
Resting my hands gently on my belly, I squinted into the sky. “I’d like to get him back too,” I said. “I hope he’s okay. I hope they both are.”
Chapter Ten
Melarue
“Ah. Om. Ya. Ya. Ya. Ya. Ommm. Ah.”
I’d only been lying on my bed for five minutes listening to Lulu before I felt like I’d leap out of my own skin with boredom.
Gem had my foot propped up on a pillow. I didn’t know that it would do any good. I thought that was just for broken ankles.
“When are the healers coming?” I asked over Lulu’s chanting.
“This afternoon, my lady. King Albedo sent a rider into the village to summon the best,” Gem said.
“Good,” I said. “The sooner I’m fixed, the easier it will be to kill him.”
Lulu choked on her next hymn. All four of my Fae attendants stared at me in wide-eyed horror.
“My lady, do not say such things,” Gem admonished.
“Why? Are you required to report back to Albedo?” I challenged.
They stared at me, lips pursed, saying nothing. I sighed. I supposed that was answer enough.
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