Chapter 40 #4
“Liar,” she spat. “And before you say it… I get that you now feel I’m the key to your future happiness not through revenge but through love…
but Neve saw me here. I think maybe I’m both?
And if I am, then that means she saw me as your tool of vengeance after Sylas died, meaning whoever is responsible is still alive, and your little visit to Ereborne confirmed that.
Just let me find out who it was. I swore I would not kill them.
I’m not stupid, Kael. I know what happens if I kill them, and I don’t want that.
I don’t want to lose you, so I won’t. Okay?
But you need to know. You have been searching for whoever did it for so long… you deserve to know.”
“Very well, but I expressly forbid you from carrying out my vengeance. I do not want it. I want you. That is all. If you deliver my vengeance, I might lose you.” I wrapped my arms around her to pull her closer to me. “I cannot accept that. I will not. I will not lose you, Saphi.”
She framed my face with her palms, her gaze sincere but laced with that ferocity I loved about her.
“That won’t happen. I won’t let it, and I won’t let this agreement with that bastard hang over us for the rest of our days.
We face it together. We find a way out of it…
together. Elduin won’t take you from me.
Nothing can take you from me. I won’t allow it.
And if he tries… then I will raise an army to fight him—or borrow the one stationed here. ”
I had been so swept up in her viciously possessive words that it took a moment for that last part to sink in.
“Wait. There is an army here?” I stilled as my mind raced to consider the implications and reasons there would be an army here. “You mean soldiers. A contingent of the Summer Court forces. As Falkyr has to protect it.”
“If by that you mean several thousand men in a massive encampment of tents, then sure.”
“No, I do not mean that.” I frowned at her. “The steward is amassing an army and has stationed them at the royal city? For what purpose?”
“Something about protecting it, I think. I don’t really know. Is it really so unusual?” Her fine silver eyebrows drifted from furrowed to knotted together.
“It is. No king stations their army at their castle, unless they are expecting an attack, or preparing for one. Soldiers are stationed at borders, with only a contingent of the finest among them housed at the castle. Those stationed at Falkyr are perhaps a mere ten percent of my total forces.” The corners of my lips turned downwards as I thought of the reasons Sylvan might have for bringing a large army to the palace and did not like any of them.
“Was this army present before your arrival?”
She shook her head.
“No. It just showed up one day, and then a little while later it doubled in size, and men are still arriving even now.” She did not miss how the concern building inside me worsened with that revelation. “You think it has something to do with the Shadow Court.”
“I worry it might at least. I want to know what the purpose of this army is, but I find I have been ordered to remain out of sight, despite how wonderfully adept at glamours I am, and therefore must task my spy with a mission.” I kept my expression grave and serious, even as her eyes lit up as she realised she was the spy I spoke of and that I was involving her—trusting her to uncover the truth behind the army amassing at the palace.
“Be cautious though, my love. Be careful.”
She nodded. “I will. I promise. I’ll keep my eyes and ears open and find out what Sylvan is doing with such a large number of soldiers.”
She pushed off me, and I leashed the growl that blazed up my throat, letting her move away from me. It was growing late, and she had been gone from the palace for a long time. As much as I needed her and wanted her to stay here with me where she was safe, she had to return.
I got to my feet and fastened my trousers as she fixed her dress, muttering about grass stains. I grinned as I plucked a strand of grass from her rumpled hair.
“Ugh,” she muttered as she palmed the tangled mess and then combed her fingers through it, trying to fix it. Her beautiful blue eyes lifted to meet mine, and I did not like that touch of sorrow in them.
“Remember I shall expect daily reports,” I said, wanting to lift her mood as I found my tunic and pulled it on, “otherwise I shall grow restless and I can become terribly reckless when I am bored.”
She sidled up to me, pressing her palms to the strip of bare chest between the two sides of my tunic, tilting her head back and bewitching me with that little smile she gave me. “We wouldn’t want that. I can think of plenty of ways to keep you entertained.”
“Hmm…” I wrapped my arms around her shoulders. “As can I. I shall have to think about them while we are apart.”
I dipped my head and kissed her, softly, slowly, savouring it and taking my fill of her mouth to get me through the hours we would be apart.
When I eased back, she sighed.
“I should take you back to the dragon,” I said. “You left your boots there. But before we go… is there anything else my little spy has to report to her master?”
I had meant my request half in jest, and half because I knew I really would be bored and mulling over the things she had learned would provide some entertainment.
So I did not like the way her face fell and her gaze grew distant.
Or how she hesitated.
And that tremulous beat of her heart.
I growled.
“What else happened to you?”