Chapter 27
S?ren
The Kryllian delegation arrived in Bhorglid’s capital city right on time.
Revna stood, shoulders straight, her red and gold gown the perfect combination of casual Nilurae celebration attire and queenly garb, the matching crown on her head pinned to her intricately braided hair to keep it from slipping off. She was stunning, but more than beauty, she radiated power.
It made me want to fuck her again.
I shook the thought from my mind. Now was not the time to lose focus—not when the Queen of Kryllian appeared across the small courtyard, her arm intertwined with Mira’s for a moment before the teleporter departed again to bring the rest of the delegation.
I’d barely seen Mira over the last two weeks. My report given in person was the last time we’d truly spoken about more than just my work in Bhorglid. Where did she stand on all of this? When I broke my ties with the queen, when I found Sonja, would Mira come with me? Or would she stay?
I didn’t know the answer. Not for the first time, I hated having to keep Mira in the dark on all of this.
I put on my practiced scholar smile. The one I wore at events with nobles, on the few occasions I was allowed to blend in instead of be shown off in the mask.
The expression was entirely cordial and entirely fake.
As the queen approached, I stepped forward and bowed.
“Your Highness. It’s lovely to see you again. ”
“Rise,” she commanded. Her gaze was a sharp assessment. When she studied me like this, I always felt like she was looking for something beneath the surface. What it was, I couldn’t be sure.
My own eyes, on the other hand, went straight to the sword at her hip. Aloisa’s sword. I held in my grimace at the memory of my dream: the queen running her sword through Aloisa’s middle with no regard. Blood spilling on the snow as the woman—goddess—fell limp.
The queen noticed and raised a brow. Before she could reprimand me, Revna stepped forward.
“Welcome to our home. The spring festival begins today, and we’d love for you to join us there once you’ve settled.
There is no better opportunity to take in the sights of the city.
Our people are excited for the war to come to an official end. ”
Revna began walking back toward the castle doors, shepherding the queen and the two other nobles who had arrived with her. “Allow me to show you to your quarters, Your Highness.”
But the queen laughed, high-pitched and falsetto. “Kind of you to offer, but I’d prefer S?ren show me the way. After all, he’s due a report of your progress to me.”
To Revna’s credit, she hid her distaste for the change of plan well.
I was confident only I saw the way the set of her shoulders tightened slightly—her otherwise demure disposition remained unchanged.
“Of course. S?ren, Her Highness will be staying on the second floor, the room at the end of the hall on the east side.”
“Of course. If you’ll follow me.” I started for the castle without checking to make sure the queen was following.
We wound up the spiral staircase, and I began a stream of casual conversation in an attempt to avoid whatever interrogation was coming.
If she wanted me alone, it wasn’t going to be good.
“Queen Revna has put together a most excellent event down in the city. I hope you and the others are planning to join in the festivities.”
She sounded bemused. “Certainly, if we have the time. There are negotiations that must be completed first, of course.”
I couldn’t decide if her words were promising or ominous.
I opened the door to her room and she stepped inside. I followed closely behind, already knowing there was no way to get out of this—even when I desperately wished I was at the festival dancing with Revna. The sooner I dealt with the queen, the sooner this would all be over.
And maybe this was my chance to discover what the queen truly wanted with us. The prophecy echoed in my mind.
“Report,” she snapped, and I straightened automatically.
It’s just an act, I reminded myself. You know where Sonja is. The moment these negotiations are over, you can go search for her. And then you’ll be off Anja’s leash.
The thoughts steadied me. “My report is much the same as last we spoke. The Queen of Bhorglid has mastered her abilities. She will no longer be a liability in the case of a treaty between our nations.”
“What can she do with these newfound abilities?” Anja asked, examining the room as she spoke. She ran a hand over the bed linens, peered into the washroom, and took in the view from the window.
“She has the ability to sense heartbeats,” I said. “She can control the blood in people, make them move if she wishes. If someone has a cut, she can slow the bleeding—but not stanch it entirely. That would require a healer.”
“Anything else?”
She was digging for information. Did she know of the Tapestry’s existence? Certainly, unless she’d somehow accessed the prophecy a different way. Did she want to know whether we had discovered how to access it or how to weave the souls of the deceased?
I resisted the urge to slam my fist into the wall.
The queen held her cards so close to her chest, manipulating us all like pieces on a chessboard.
But unlike when Revna’s father had attempted to do the same with her, the queen kept her endgame a secret.
Begrudgingly, my strategic side respected it.
I would have done the same thing, were I in her position.
If she wanted us to be able to access the Tapestry, she was out of luck. We hadn’t been able to do it anyway. So I told her what was technically the truth. “Nothing I’ve noticed. Her Lurae is blood. I doubt it can do much else.”
“Hmm.” The queen smiled, and it had a sharp edge. “Interesting.”
“If that’s all,” I said, moving for the door, “then I really must insist you join us at the festival.”
“Oh, there is one more thing.”
I paused, hand over the knob.
“I have an errand I need you to take care of for me. Before the negotiations can proceed.”
Her shoes clicked against the floor with every step she took toward me. I remained frozen, a sudden sense of dread filling me. She reached my side, and her whispered words sent an unearthly chill through me.
“Find a shovel. You buried something here a few short weeks ago. I find myself in need of it now.”