15. Tempest
15
TEMPEST
“ W ill Drask be allowed inside her suite?” I stared toward the door I’d soon enter, one flanked by two guards. A beast writhed in the tall wooden panel between them, another creature trapped by a malicious fae lord. I’d talked about it with Vexxion, sharing what Will said, and he told me Ivenrail started pinning them in various surfaces after he annexed Weldsbane Court.
I felt as trapped as the beasts, held in place until I could bring this plan to fruition.
She won’t notice or care, Vexxion said in my mind. Take Drask with you.
You want him to spy for you.
I need to check in with you every now and then to make sure you remain safe, he bit out, reminding me of how he’d behaved when we first met. Back then, I found this irritating. Now, as he’d so recently stated, it turned me on. Even now, I could picture myself climbing all over him, smoothing out his sharp edges with my mouth.
What could happen to me while I’m fluttering among Brenna’s ladies? That was how I pictured them, like butterflies drifting through perfumed air, landing on flowers.
“In this place? Anything,” he snarled.
The guards gulped at the king’s controller and shot their gazes to the floor.
I need a dagger strapped to my thigh , I said.
No weapons are allowed near the would-be queen.
We’d see how long I’d obey that rule.
All weapons except magic, I pointed out.
Which you will use with the utmost care if you use it at all.
This sounds . . . interesting.
I’m sure it will be, he said.
I’d have to enter Brenna’s rooms soon and start pampering her. I had no idea what she’d expect of me. I doubted she wanted to learn how to fight with a knife, though she should. It might come in handy on her wedding night.
At this point, I said. The king must be determined to maintain the ruse. He won’t endanger it now. If he shows her who he truly is, she’ll call off the wedding.
She won’t be allowed to break this off. Her father promised her to Ivenrail, and it will take more than her seeing him in a nasty mood for her to risk the shaky truce the two kings formed.
Another truce?
One with mutual benefits.
Is our king sampling Nullen energy?
Vexxion gave me a sharp nod .
The fucker.
His lips curled up before smoothing. Exactly.
A gift or by theft?
The latter.
I’m surprised Ivenrail hasn’t killed him for doing it.
Vexxion urged me toward the door, and one of the guards swept it open. He’s not interested in starting a war.
Yet. Vexxion may not name it, but I felt the word score my skin.
Not until all the game pieces have been put into place , I said.
To win what you cherish most, you’ll have to be very clever. He left me with a stroke of his fingertip along my jaw, flitting to join the king.
As the guard closed the door behind me, I paused in the enormous sitting room. The few suites I’d been in so far shared similar layouts in that each had a large area with a fireplace flanked by plush furniture, plus a bank of windows looking out either at the valley far below or the plain stretching all the way to the mountain range between here and Riftflame Court. A bedroom was placed on one end or the other, with the adjoining bathing area and closets tucked in wherever they fit. Since Brenna was the future queen, her suite might have other rooms. A parlor. A second living area. Larger closets for her clothing.
Brenna’s suite faced the bridge and the aerie with the mountains gleaming in the distance. As the light sound of laughter drew me across the room to her bedroom, I glanced toward the tall peaks. Was Riftflame holding strong or were they preparing a way to concede power to Ivenrail? Once they succumbed, that only left Lydel’s thorn-covered island and whatever remained of their core of power for him to annex.
Then he could stomp across Nullen territory and send ships to take over other continents. Our king might feel his new truce and the gift of his daughter protected him from harm, but Ivenrail would toss all that aside to gain unrestrained access to every living Nullen.
I paused in the open doorway, taking in Brenna sitting in front of a vanity while one of her ladies arranged her hair.
Her gaze met mine in the mirror, and she turned with a smile. “Tempest? My fiancé mentioned he was sending a few more ladies to attend to my needs.” She looked me over, and her smile didn’t waver when her gaze took in the subtle pink slash mark across my throat. The vines had stopped writhing the moment Vexxion marked me for the second time, but I couldn’t keep my hands away.
“Come closer,” Brenna said. She must be used to seeing collared Nullens around by now. “What’s that creature on your shoulder?”
I walked in as ladylike a manner as I could across the enormous room hosting a four-poster bed, three armoires, another fireplace with six sofas and at least eight cushioned chairs, plus ornate carpets covering most of the hardwood floor. Pausing by one of the sofas, I stroked the bird’s spine. “This is my pet crow, Drask.”
“Why would anyone want a bird as a pet?” she asked, her eyebrows lifting almost high enough to brush the delicate curls posing on her forehead.
“He’s sweet. He won’t be a bother at all. ”
“Well, see that he isn’t, or you’ll have to remove him from my presence.” She turned back to face the mirror. “Don’t dawdle. Come closer.”
It was only when I stood at her side that I noted who was arranging her hair.
“This is Delaine,” Brenna said in a lilting voice, flicking her finger over her shoulder toward my former roommate dressed in another red gown. Did she always wear that color? While it suited her curly blonde hair and pale skin, it felt like a garish color to me. But what did I know? Vexxion always dressed me in green or black.
Brenna was a true princess from the top of her head to the tips of her decorated shoes. “Delaine’s father is my fiancé’s high advisor. She’s been giving me wonderful advice about the court. I can’t imagine what I’d do without her.”
“Delaine and I have met,” I said pleasantly. “I’m sure she’s shared all sorts of gossip about the court.”
Brenna’s pout deepened. “Gossip?” Her gaze met Delaine’s in the mirror. “She has not. Why not?”
“I plan to.” Delaine scowled at me, though Brenna was now gazing in my direction through the glass, so she probably missed it. “I thought we should finish getting you ready before we went to your living area. There, I intended to share gossip.”
Brenna tittered and patted Delaine’s hand lying on her shoulder. “Very well. It had better be good.”
“Oh, it will be.” Delaine’s gaze snarled at me, though her expression remained sweet and compliant.
“One more lady will be joining us,” Brenna said, her plump pink lips thinning. “I asked for at least eight to serve my needs but was denied. Truly, how can Ivenrail think three will be sufficient? Seven ladies attended to me at my home court, and that was barely enough.”
“You’re so right,” Delaine simpered, artfully tucking a curl up into the high arrangement on top of Brenna’s head. Sunlight pouring in from our right caught the golden highlights in her rich brown hair. “I can’t imagine why he’s this stingy. I’ll tell my father, the high advisor , that you need more attendants, and I’m sure he’ll make sure it’s done.”
“Thank you, Delaine. That’s sweet of you.”
Why was Delaine making an effort to impress someone who’d soon be dead? Unless she wasn’t aware of the king’s plan. The high advisor must be. He may not share everything with his daughter—this one that is. I bet he’d shared almost everything with Selitta.
“Select some shoes for me, Tempest,” Brenna said, flicking her hand toward the open door of a closet almost half the size of the adjoining sitting area. “Something that matches my gown perfectly but can be walked in. Stairs are torture for me. Why hasn’t the king had at least three lifts installed inside the castle? Surely his guests don’t enjoy climbing up and down multiple flights of stairs.”
Some of us flitted rather than climb the stairs, though there was no need to point that out.
I collected shoes, the first pair I found that vaguely matched her dress. How anyone thought I could be a lady’s maid was beyond me. Party shoes all looked alike. I liked boots. They were comfortable to wear while working with dragons and they’d served me well in battle .
After lowering the shoes beside her feet, I stooped down, suspecting it was also my job to dress her in them.
“I’ll ask my . . .” What was I supposed to call Vexxion, anyway? “The king’s controller ,” Oh, how I delighted in touting his position to Delaine, “if he can arrange for some lifts to be installed. Or magicked.” Was magic used in construction or were buildings erected and maintained by the hard labor of Nullens like me? I suspected the latter. Few fae would care to expend their energy laying bricks even if it only took a flick of their finger.
“That’s right. Vexxion claimed you,” Delaine said in a sultry voice, her lips curling up as her eyes drifted across my neck. “You’re his Nullen servant. I’m sure you do whatever he asks without question.”
I kept my face smooth, though inside, I chuckled. “Sometimes, I argue with him.”
“No,” Delaine pretended to gasp. Her head tilted and her barely masked snicker made her dangling gold earring brush against the decoration adorning the right shoulder of her frilly gown. “Does he punish you when you misbehave?”
“You sound excited by the idea.”
Brenna snorted. “I do adore how you tease each other, ladies. I’m delighted to see you two getting along so well already.”
I simpered her way, leading her to believe I lived to tease Delaine.
Wait until I shared this with Vexxion. He’d delight in the idea of “punishing” me inside the bedroom, though it wouldn’t come from a smack of his hand. Anything he did to me would be delicious. “Vexxion can be stern, though he’s yet to be mean to me.”
Brenna released a shiver. “It’s horrifying that you’re bonded to such a man. Those scars! I can’t imagine having to gaze upon them all the time. And he has such a nasty demeanor. If Ivenrail hadn’t been with me when I met Lord Weldsbane, I would’ve shrieked. The controller frightens me. I can’t imagine being forced to serve him.”
As far as Farnoll and the commander were concerned, Brenna had read Vexxion correctly. Since it wasn’t in my best interest to persuade her or anyone else that his reputation was unfounded—for me, at least—I made sure I carefully crafted everything I said.
“Sometimes, I fear him too,” I said in a hushed, quavering voice, making myself shudder. “I avoid him as much as I can.”
“Does he . . .” Brenna lowered her voice to a whisper. “Surely he doesn’t make demands of you inside the bedroom.”
Not as often as I’d like.
I struggled to bring tears to my eyes, and then delicately swept them away. “Please, my dear queen, I’d rather not say.”
“I’m not a queen,” Brenna said with a charmed gleam in her eyes. “Not yet. Soon, however.”
Delaine’s mouth twisted, though she didn’t bring up what she’d seen between me and Vexxion so far. We’d have to be careful when we were out in public.
“I assume his demeanor and his quick anger are some of the reasons he’s such a good controller,” I pointed out. “The king needs him.”
“Yes, that must be it.” Brenna frowned and plucked at her lower lip. “If I dared, I’d ask Ivenrail to replace his controller now rather than after the wedding.”
The air stilled in my lungs.
“What do you mean?” I barked. I swallowed hard and forced a sweet smile, lightening my voice. “Ivenrail plans to replace Vexxion as his controller?”
“So I overheard.” Her gaze met Delaine’s in the mirror, though I couldn’t read what their shared look might mean. “Vexxion must have displeased him in some way, though I’m sure my fiancé has given him every opportunity to make up for it. Ivenrail is kind. I can only imagine what Vexxion might’ve done to displease the king.”
Did you know the king plans to replace you after the wedding? I barked to Vexxion.
I’d heard. His future plans won’t matter.
I loved that he didn’t sound worried about this, but a worm of unease kept digging beneath my skin.
“Now, there’s the fiancée I adore so well,” someone said from behind us.
Cutting the conversation off with Vexxion, I turned slightly, watching as the king strode into the room dressed in an understated dark blue tunic and darker blue pants. Vexxion told me this man had a way with the ladies. Would I see this in action?
Since he believed I’d been recently drained of power, I masked my face and kept my gaze lowered, though I watched him out of the corner of my eye. I also shored up the forest covering my mind.
If only I had a weapon other than the power I was still learning to control .
As he strolled over to stand behind Brenna, placing his hands on her shoulders and gazing at her in the mirror, I projected a dullness I didn’t feel. My heart pounded; everyone must hear the heavy thump in my throat because it thundered in my ears.
Delaine stepped to the side, simpering as she gave the king a low curtsy. “Your Highness.”
I dipped forward as well just in case he was looking.
He ignored her, and I felt the weight of his gaze on me in the mirror as he bent forward to kiss Brenna’s cheek.
She shivered and tilted her head back to look up at him, though without the adoration I’d expected if the king was as charming as Vexxion believed. “It’s nice of you to come see me this morning, Ivenrail.”
“Only six days until our wedding. How can I stay away?” He released a low chuckle that with any other man might sound sultry, but it only made vomit eager to hurtle itself up my throat.
“The staff you assigned to handle the wedding plans have been amazing. I barely have to do anything myself,” she said, turning slightly to face him.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“I have the final fitting for my gown today.”
“I can’t wait to see how you look on the day of our wedding.” He lowered his voice to a husky rumble. “Or naked on our wedding night.”
I swallowed hard, struggling not to cringe.
Delaine watched me, not them. What did she see?
Brenna released a shrill titter that jarred more than anything else. With stuttered breathing, she turned back to face the mirror. “Thank you so much for visiting me.”
He stroked his fingertips down her neck and brushed her hair to the side before kissing her nape. “My pleasure.”
“Will I see you in the throne room later?” she asked, watching her fingers fidget with a sparkling necklace tossed onto the gleaming surface of the vanity in front of her. She lifted it and dropped it as if it was a simple bauble. I suspected it would fetch more money than I’d made in one year working at the fortress.
“Come by in the afternoon,” he drawled, his gaze sweeping to Delaine before he glanced at me, his attention remaining on my frame. “I have some matters to take care of before lunch. I’d rather you joined me when I handle less complex matters. Then my focus can be on you.”
She clicked her tongue against her teeth. “Will you allow me to make some decisions today? You said I could soon.”
“I’ll select a few,” he said in an indulgent tone, his fingertips tracing back and forth across her nape. “I’m curious to see how you deal with them.”
“My father allowed me to settle disputes when I joined him in his throne room,” she said. Her swallow took a very long time to go down. “I do hope I’ll impress you today, my king.”
“I’m sure you will.” Pivoting, he strode across the room.
I didn’t watch—didn’t dare watch or do anything else that might give me away—but I felt the heft of his gaze on my spine before he left, taking my heightened tension along with him.
“So wonderful to see the king,” Delaine said, coming over to stand behind Brenna once more. She fussed with the other woman’s curls that he’d sent into disarray. “He’s rumpled you in a delightful way.” She straightened a few pins and artfully tucked a curl up into the ongoing arrangement. At this point, Brenna’s hair resembled a bird’s nest more than something gorgeous to me. But what did I know? I was anything but courtly.
Finished fussing, Delaine hung sparkly dangling earrings that brushed across Brenna’s shoulders, plus coiled a matching choker snuggly around Brenna’s throat. A jeweled collar before the wedding; a thorny vine one the moment she said I do. How sweet.
Since I didn’t know what might be expected of me, I simpered and muttered a few phrases about her beauty. That should please Brenna.
“Ah, there’s my other new lady-in-waiting now,” Brenna said, her gaze locked on the mirror.
I turned and bit back my cry of dismay as Reyla floated across the room.