CHAPTER XIV #11
Keane is looking at me in his sharp Discerni features. Desmond is at his side, clad in his dark riding attire as I stand up swiftly from my chair, knowing that I’m being summoned.
Fuck.
I can hear Cal’s small chuckle behind me as I walk towards the brothers, Keane’s silent gaze unmoving and calm in its small anger. I ignore those intense brown eyes and move into the dark night, not even realizing where the time has gone as Stormfall flies past my shoulder.
“Perhaps she has the right idea,” Desmond laughs as him and Keane walk next to me. “I could use a drink or two myself right now.”
“Not now, brother,” the King replies coolly.
I take a deep breath and meet his gaze, my voice quiet.
“I honestly didn’t know if you wanted me to be with you for this…”
Keane is quick to catch my hand, stopping us both in our walk as he gives me a hard look.
“We’ll meet you there shortly, brother.”
The Master Informer sighs but nods his head, continuing his walk to Elena’s home.
“You didn’t think I’d want you to here?” Keane nearly laughs. “My betrothed and the future Queen of Disce? The woman who argued for this conversation to even happen in the first place?”
“This is between you and your family, Keane,” I watch him carefully, “I don’t want to intrude.”
“This is your family now, Alexis,” he says heatedly.
He’s right, of course.
“You’re right,” I move my fingers through his. “I misjudged. Can we continue on?”
Even as I say the words, a tension creeps within me, nervous for the conversation I really was trying to avoid.
“Your family, Alexis,” he repeats sternly, eyes still intense, “no matter what took place between the rest of us in the past. You are the future of the family Bardot.”
Ancients.
“You’re right,” I run my hand up his arm and hold his stare. “I get it. I’m sorry.”
Keane watches me for a few moments before leading us back to the cottage.
Ancients. This is not how we needed the night to begin.
I squeeze Keane’s hand, feeling my heart start a steady pound against my chest. He grips my fingers in return before opening the door, his hand coming to my back to urge me through.
If I thought Keane and I were tense it’s nothing to what we walk into.
Troy sits glaring at the kitchen table next to a silent Elena while Renate paces the small reading room to my left.
Desmond held good to his word and got a drink, the Master Informer pouring ale into his mug as his eyes dart back and forth from the liquid to Troy.
Everyone stops in their anxious beings to look at me and Keane, the room going still as he reaches a hand down to his pocket. Golem’s padded footsteps ease a bit of the tension as he walks out of the darkened hall and gazes straight at the Queen Mother.
“Oh,” Renate sighs heavily.
The two of them move towards each other in an embrace as Keane presses his hand against my back again, urging me forward. He walks us to the kitchen and pulls out the chair opposite of Troy at the small table, waiting for me to sit down as Stormfall jumps off my shoulder to land in the middle.
“It’s good to see you, Alexis,” Renate gives me a small nod as Keane pulls out the last chair for her.
Golem smiles in greeting before taking a stance behind the two of us.
“You as well, Your Grace,” I bow my head.
“And congratulations,” she gives me her best, cool smile. “Have you two set a date?”
Elena hides a small grin behind her toddy as I shake my head.
“Possibly when we get back to Gaumond,” Keane replies.
Wait.
What?
I shift in my seat.
That’s way too soon.
The King rests his hands firmly on the back of my chair, fingers reaching against my shoulders as if to calm the small outburst he knows wants to come.
I push hard against my abdomen, filling my want and need with heated anger, hoping that he feels it.
Keane’s hands give me a small squeeze, pushing his own amused summoning back into me as his chuckle vibrates within my bones.
I shift in my chair again and look quickly at Desmond, eyes flicking to the mug in his hand in silent help and watching as he smirks
“So soon?” Renate turns her cool blue eyes on the King as Troy does the same to me. “Perhaps you could wait a bit for the Kingdom to be settled?”
“The Kingdom needs an heir,” Keane replies smoothly.
Dear Elder Father and Mother.
“… and Lady Alexis will benefit from the protection her title will bring.”
The Queen Mother leans forward, shaking her head as she eyes the Bird of Ash. “Protection from what, son?”
Keane moves his hands back to the chair behind me, his knuckles brushing against my shirt as Desmond places a mug next to Storm. I smile up at the Master Informer but notice his dark glance has shifted on his mother, readying himself at Keane’s side.
“The answer to that is one of the reason’s we’ve asked you to join us here tonight,” the King replies calmly. “Among others.”
“Golem,” he commands the magical creature, “we’ll need silence on the home, please.”
Golem nods, lifting his hands from his robes as I feel his summoning wash over the entire room. I swiftly reach for the ale in front of me and take a stiff drink, keeping my eyes trained on Stormfall as Keane continues, quick to start the discussion.
“Prince Yiannis of Livyatan tried to subdue our traveling group in our ride home from Red Falls…”
Troy’s eyes move on his brother behind me as he takes a sip of his own sparkling toddy, still remaining silent.
“He openly sought to take Alexis that night, a gesture, as you know, that quickly sent his younger brother to our lands to offer an apology.”
“The same happened here in Woodlands,” Keane’s hands tense on the chair, “within our second night in Etter. Lord Kaven and Lady Esme set their man Carsen to also abduct Alexis…”
“Even now in Alston, a young Woodlands woman had a friend of Alexis’ murdered in front of her. Another Discerni woman, Maude, fell shortly after that, with Lord Walker of Etter the next attempt. Lady Esme and her young accomplice admitted to the killings, with the former losing her life for it.”
“Then you’ve done the right thing,” Renate looks at her son in small grief, “the culprits were caught and judged while the Leviathans rest well outside our woods.”
“It would be the right thing,” Desmond takes a hard step forward, “had we not learned that Esme worked in conjunction with a small group from Woodlands.”
My eyes dart to Troy, looking at his sharp Discerni angles as he hides behind a mask of indifference.
His blue eyes are as cool as his mother and sister’s next to him, his jaw flexing behind the blonde stubble that reaches down to his chin.
He casually leans back against his chair, maintaining a relaxed demeanor as he takes another sip from his toddy.
“You are the Leading Lord of Woodlands Court, Troy,” Keane replies. “Tell us what you know of a group that calls themselves the Argents.”
Troy’s eyes flick to his mother’s before he looks back at the King.
“Never heard of the group.”
It’s a lie.
We all know it.
I sigh and reach a hand for Stormfall, curious as to how Keane and Desmond are going to pursue this.
“We would believe you,” Desmond’s cold voice slices through the thick tension in the room, “had you not met with the leader of the group twice since Esme’s judgement. Once just before you departed La Cour.”
Troy met with Gauthier before traveling to Alston? What is he playing at?
“You’re having me followed?” he leans forward, cool eyes piercing Desmond’s.
“Yes,” the Master Informer replies without hesitation, “right after that stunt you pulled in Etter.”
“I see,” Troy sits back with a shrug, “and can you blame me for wanting the night to go along smoothly without the two of you sulking in front of Voland?”
“I could give a damn about the Aireals,” Keane’s voice is hard, “but your actions caused Carsen to pursue Lady Alexis that night because he knew we were all distracted.”
“She had two men with her when she left, if I recall,” Troy eyes me casually. “She takes enough of your men without the two of you always by her side, so you said yourself that night.”
Keane’s knuckles press hard against my back, pure anger dripping off of him. I scowl at Troy in disbelief, hating how informal he’s making this.
“You summoned into the King of Disce,” Desmond takes another hard step forward, “that action alone should be tried and punished.”
“Is that not what we’re here for?” Troy looks at his brothers. “I figured as much when you demanded my audience.”
My eyes narrow on Troy.
How is he so easy in his being right now, urging the brothers to relive that night? Why is he so casual in his responses, like he couldn’t care less for what he did or any punishment that may follow?
He’s deflecting, Stormfall turns his yellow eyes on me. This conversation started with the King asking about his knowledge of the Argents. He wants to keep it on his summoning in Etter.
I grimace at the Bird of Ash and take another deep drink of my ale. He’s right.
“Troy,” Renate’s cool voice breaks the small silence, “what all did you do?”
“Nothing more than easing the tension between a dinner group,” he takes a sip from his toddy. “It’s not my fault these two don’t know how to hold a civil conversation.”
“There’s nothing civil about the former Lord and Lady of Etter, Troy,” I glare at him quietly, “pretending that there is only gives approval to what they were doing in secret to that village over the years.”
“They kept that village running for over fifty years, Alexis,” his cool blue eyes meet mine, “forgive me for wanting a single uninterrupted night that didn’t end in violence.”
Bring him back, Stormfall’s old voice fills my mind.
But I can’t, I don’t want to. I’m fuming in my own hatred as I stare back into his eyes.
“Did you know?” I ask quietly.
Troy pauses before he gives me a small nod. “Yes.”
Ancients. To think I ever let this man touch me.
Both Keane and Desmond still.
“You knew and didn’t alert me?” Keane’s voice is hard, hands still gripping the back of my chair.