Chapter Fifty-One #2
The message repeats as I scan our surroundings, assessing for any sign of what might be tracking us from within the forest.
“Whatever it is seems to be retreating,” Danor reports.
The warmth fades, and my pulse thrums in my ears as each emotion I noticed depletes.
“Move along,” His Majesty commands.
We arrive at the clearing where breakfast is served and the rest of our party lounges, only pausing to bow to the Emperor as we make our way to the lone table.
Roy pulls my chair out for me, and I smile in thanks, then force myself to eat while the Emperor whispers to Wyrth. I stare out at the colorful landscape and become lost in the deep green leaves—until my heart lurches when His Majesty pins his attention on me.
“Your role in Annovia will be to act as our distraction. You will keep the queen occupied. Charm her. Do whatever you have to.” He pierces a sausage link with the gold tines of his fork before shoving it past his lips, already slick with grease.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“We will be meeting with the sort of officials where your presence will not be required,” Wyrth says.
“My magic will not aid in obtaining answers in said meetings?” My pulse pounds louder, and I have to strain to hear his response.
“You will be summoned if so.” His Majesty stares down at my plate with a look of distaste. “You have eaten more than enough, my little witch. You are dismissed.”
My nearly full plate screams otherwise, yet Roy merely bows to the Emperor before pulling my chair out for me. I turn to the Emperor, now deep in conversation with Wyrth, and refuse to bow to His Majesty if he will not acknowledge my existence.
“After you.” Roy’s green eyes are filled with sympathy as he gestures toward the road.
I take the lead and stride down the path where my Guards should be finishing their task, ready to be reunited after the unnecessary theatrics of this audience His Majesty did not need with me.
Drusilla is nowhere to be seen, and my heart hammers the longer we go without encountering any of my Guards. My chest jolts when the trunk they set to the side of the bank is no longer present, meaning we should have seen some sign of them, unless they are taking the trunk back to the carriage.
I turn on the path when the sight of a neatly folded black uniform stops me in my tracks.
I scan the horizon where gorgeous golden light casts over the water.
Pink, orange, and yellow all meld in ripples that seem to emanate from somewhere near the center.
So I cast my attention over and suck in a sharp breath when I find the source of the disturbance—a sorcerer who happens to be marked with two flying Dragons inked across his shoulders.
My throat dries, unable to stop myself from tracing the course each droplet takes on its way down his body. Sluicing around each cut of muscles, tensing and flexing as he raises his arms to run his hands over the wet strands, forcing a cascade of water to pour down his neck and shoulders.
Roy clears his throat to my left, yet I cannot tear my gaze away from Varic. No longer caring that any of the interim Guards could report my behavior to the Emperor.
But what would they say exactly? What is wrong with me staring at my Imperial Lead Guard? The one we were seeking, and who just so happens to be turning this direction.
Varic’s posture shifts, relaxing his shoulders, and my heart thumps low and slow as I stare at the way his expression brightens the moment he sees me.
“Hi.” His voice is filled with mirth, and his small smile lifts into a smirk.
The water laps against his abs as he strides closer, and I stare when he dips further under the water until he is submerged up to his jawline, then tips his head back to rinse his hair one more time.
I pull in a shallow breath when he rises, still wearing the same expression.
Then his stomach muscles tense and undulate when a hearty laugh rises from his chest.
“Enjoying the show, huh?” Lars’ voice sounds from somewhere behind us.
My cheeks burn hotter with so many eyes on me.
“She wouldn’t know. She hasn’t seen the finale.” Fray’s voice is more jovial than usual as he apparently revels in this opportunity to tease me.
I spin around the moment someone shoulder checks me and prepare to glare at them, when Cirrin’s botanical scent catches in my senses.
“Don’t let ‘em get to you.” Cirrin wraps his arm around my shoulders. “You do know they wouldn’t tease you so much if you could at least pretend to have less interest.”
I elbow him in the ribs as Malin tosses Varic a black towel out of my periphery.
Fray quirks his brow. “What did the Emperor want? We expected to find you at breakfast, but you were already gone by the time we got there.”
“He gave me an assignment for when we arrive in Annovia. I’ll give a full report once your Leader is clothed.”
The brightness in Varic’s irises steals my breath when he runs his hands over his hair again, forcing water droplets to fall from the curled ends to his shoulders, where they run in rivulets down his chest as even more fall from his forearms, muscles flexing with the motion.
“Why were you still bathing?” I swallow to smooth the rasp in my tone. “I would have assumed you would have been the first to finish, so you could return to me quickest.” Heat flares beneath my cheeks from my choice of wording as his smirk only deepens.
“Oh, he followed you to learn where the Emperor was taking you,” Fray says, as Varic sends him a look. “By the time he came back, we were already finished.”
It was him.
He was the one hiding in the trees when something sent me the message that I was safe.
I part my lips to ask a question when Varic lifts a thin black cord to tie around his neck.
The material seems to be made of something delicate and woven.
A sense of envy rolls through me, combined with the need to know who this sentimental object belonged to, because the reverent way he is placing it around his neck indicates its importance to him.
I pull in a deep breath and stare at the gold endcaps shaped like two talons.