Chapter 32 #2
“Your people have been most hospitable. But as you all know, your reillov and I did not marry for love. I had not met him before I was taken from my home, and he was less than enthused by the prospect of a saloes wife. We did not start with the same level of trust as most marriages do. Even though there were many beautiful giants I have met along the way, I was attacked at the Seed by the king’s own sister and could have died.
I was a foreigner thrust into a culture I was taught to hate my whole life.
You can understand how that would have been scary, no? ”
Abeo nodded. “I do.
“Our reillov’s memories have been murky on his attack,” Flyka spoke. “We all assumed you had been taken, but there were witnesses that said you fled on your own. Could you tell us what really happened?”
Sell it, but don’t let it sound rehearsed.
“Your king and I were setting about to procure an heir.” She blushed, and Vidielle smothered her grin with her hand. At least her embarrassment was convincing. “I remember him slapping the side of his neck and then his body ceasing to work properly.”
Accusing eyes.
Ragged gasps.
So many tears.
The tears that heated her eyes and the guilt were real.
“I knew what it was immediately and didn’t know what to do.
” Her voice cracked with real feeling. “It was horrible. I didn’t know who had attacked him or what to do .
. . until he told me to run.” Abeo inhaled deeply, scenting for the truth.
“So, I did what he asked. I didn’t know who I could trust, if I was next, or if I would be blamed.
” She swallowed hard. “I am no stranger to what Loriians do to those who are even suspected of treachery, so I obeyed the reillov and ran.”
The king’s hand stilled on her back. His whole frame stiff. Did he remember telling her to run?
Vidielle leaned forward in her chair. “How did you manage to survive your escape? The weather is cruel to saloes.”
“I had one friend. She is the reason the reillov still lives.” Flyka’s expression closed off.
This was not what they’d practiced, but Dahlia wouldn’t let another soul believe Loshika was a traitor.
“She sent a healer up to the reillov as I fled for my life. I believe he would not have survived without the quick response of that nonnae.” She shrugged.
“I masqueraded as her servant for much of the time. She kept me warm, safe, and fed. I owe her everything, as does Loriia.”
The Frost King blew a slow breath on the crown of her head, like he was trying to keep his emotions under control.
“She’s quite the hero,” Olwen said, his signature half smile lifting his lips.
“More than you will ever know.”
Chemaine leaned her elbows on the table and circled her hand to include the table. “So, you were hiding out because you were afraid someone in the Loriian court wanted the both of you dead?”
“Yes.” Namely Flyka, but they didn’t know that.
“Why did you not go home?” the woman asked.
Lia arched a brow. “I assume you have connections to the Asteran palace, which is why you are here?”
“I do.”
“Have you spent much time in Allium’s acquaintance?”
The woman bared her teeth in a grimace. “Unfortunately.”
“Then imagine what she was like as a mother. Do you really think there was a possibility in any world that she would welcome me home?” She glanced around the table.
“And not only that, but the day before I left with the Loriian delegation, I stumbled upon one of your spies in the Asteran palace. This vallos scared me so badly, I hid in my closet for hours afterwards.” She locked gazes with Flyka.
“Why would I risk returning when I wasn’t even safe in my own home in the first place? ”
“I can understand why you’d feel that way,” Chemaine allowed. “But why not come forward sooner? Your family is sending thousands into battle in your name. Your people are bravely rising up against the king and queen in the capital. Can you not find the same strength?”
The commoners were rebelling? That was news to her.
“I have been a pawn so long that it’s hard to think of myself as anything else,” she admitted. “But I am tired of dancing to their tune. I will not stand for—”
She choked on her words when another member of the frost council stepped into the room. Lia schooled her expression despite the shiver that ran down her spine.
Bacti.
The lavender-skinned traitor sauntered into the tent, his perfect smile taunting.
A memory crashed into her.
“Did you really think you were going to be sent here without any supervision?” He cocked his head, licking his lips. “You’ve had two jobs, and yet you’ve failed on all fronts.” She froze as he glanced down her body and then back up. “Your queen made a mistake sending a common whore.”
“How dare you speak to me in such a manner,” she snapped, fear tightening in her gut.
“Yes, valles, keep playing your part.” He pressed her harder against the window and crowded over her.
“You have one day before I spill your secrets to the reillov. One day before I send word to have your mother executed.” She flinched as he ran his tongue along the rounded shell of her ear.
“And don’t worry, we’re very close to finding your brother. ”
She snapped out of it as Bacti bowed with a flourish. “Welcome, Reilleve. You have been missed.”
He straightened and sat in the last chair. They stared at each other.
He knew about her family.
He knew the truth of her actions.
Keep calm.
Her husband banded his arm around her waist, anchoring her against him, his grip a little too tight.
“You’re late,” Neve commented, his tone bored.
“I am. Forgive me, my lord.” His smile widened as he continued to pin Dahlia to the spot with his gaze.
Lia forced herself back to the conversation she’d been having with Chemaine. The woman’s lips had pressed thin at the arrival of Bacti. It made Lia like her all the more. “I was saying it is time for this war to end. I won’t have more innocents die in my name. They deserve more.”
“Perfect,” Bacti cut in, bringing all the attention back to him. “I was hoping you felt that way. I say we send you for a visit to dear old dad and let the soldiers see their princess-turned-queen is alive and well.”
Chemaine blinked slowly. “That could work. We need the Asteran army on our side.”
Vidielle shook her head. “It’s too much risk to the reilleve.”
Abeo arched a brow. “It’s her own father, and she is his only legitimate child. Why would that be a risk? He wouldn’t hurt her.”
Bacti’s smile widened. He knew she wasn’t the princess. Marching into Randa’s hands was a death sentence. She hid her shudder at the memory of the way the king’s eyes had roved over her person in the past.
It would be a long, humiliating, and painful death.
But perhaps if she played her cards right, she would survive. It was a long shot but maybe with the reillov’s help . . .
Stop. You can’t count on him. You don’t deserve anything from him.
Chemaine caught Dahlia’s eye. “Allium is stealing people’s children and sending them into the Asteran fields to keep the soldiers and people in line and frighten any who think to desert.”
She gasped.
The pollen of the flowers burned the lungs, eyes, and skin. Most of the workers went blind first, then numb, and eventually drowned in their own blood. It was a gruesome, painful death for the rare jewellike dye.
Children.
This was not her fight, but she could not get Cosmos’ face out of her mind. He could have been one of those stolen children or one of the young soldiers drafted into the war. Allium and Randa were killing their own people with their greed.
“Not only that.” Chemaine stared down Lia. “Randa has taken wives, sons, and daughters and sold them into the flesh trade for control and coin to fund this war. It’s ugly.”
Ugly was too flowery of a word for what the monarchs had done.
Despicable. Vile. Evil.
Enough was enough.
Dahlia smiled at Bacti, enjoying the way his grin dimmed.
“I’ll do it.”
Today, she took her power back and maybe earned a little redemption.