Chapter 23
TAUREN
“Are we certain it was Maeve that she saw?” Thobas croaks across the table. “Could it have been another demon? There are many others who live outside your court.”
“Dahlia said she was with Elheart’s soldier and that she looked just like Claren and I. Who else could it have been?”
My advisers nod in agreement, their hopeful murmurs filling the meeting room.
After escorting Dahlia to our tower, I’d come straight here, stopping only to alert the guards to wake my castle advisers.
Ten minutes later, the half-dozen hurriedly-dressed demons funnelled in, followed by Kennix, his dark hair still mussed from sleep.
He stands by my side, rubbing a hand over his stubble. “It’s strange, though. If Maeve can now leave the palace, why hasn’t she come home herself?”
“Elheart would have her under constant supervision. Dahlia said there was a guard with her,” I reply.
“Yes but why risk it at all?” Kennix says. “Surely there are other servants he could’ve sent to care for his bride at the inn. It doesn’t make sense for him to take such a risk when he knows how desperate we are.”
I furrow my brow. He’s right. It doesn’t make sense. Then again, if Lord Elheart was a rational man, he’d have accepted my initial offer of Dahlia for Maeve and my sister would’ve come home days ago.
“It doesn’t matter,” I address the table. “All that matters now is that Maeve was spotted outside the palace, therefore there must be a way inside. We’ll send soldiers to scout the wall and the forest surrounding it. There must be an opening somewhere.”
“There’s no harm in looking.” Thobas nods, scribbling onto his parchment. “We have seven squads that can be dispatched at moonrise.”
“Do it.” I turn back to Kennix. “You’ll go with them.”
“Of course.” He dips his head. He’s hiding it well, but I’ve known him for too many years to not see the hope in his eyes.
Before we lost her, Maeve was loved by all of us here, but Kennix always had more than just a soft spot for her.
I didn’t approve of his desire to court her then, and I still don’t feel great about letting anyone other than family near my little sister – but if anyone will bring her home safely, it’s him.
“Are we entering the castle if an opening is found?” he asks eagerly.
I shake my head. “Report back here first. We don’t want to rush this and spook Elheart into sealing it again. We’ll scout the location, make a plan and—
A draft hits the back of my neck.
I turn. My jaw clenches at the sight before me.
Dahlia stands in the now-open doorway of the meeting room. Her hair is knotted from sleep, and there are dark circles under her eyes. But it’s not that my gaze hardens on. It’s the black, near-translucent night gown swinging around her thighs.
Are you fucking kidding me?
“There you are.” She skips over to me.
My advisers avert their gazes. Smart.
Two guards barge in after her, their faces glistening with sweat. When they see me, they pale. “Please forgive us, sire! We tried to chase her, but she was too fast!”
“I was barely jogging,” she laughs. “I think you two just liked watching me run.” She tosses them a wink, and my blood boils.
“Is this true?” I march towards them, but Dahlia’s hand on my chest stops me.
“Relax. I was only teasing. Your boys tried their best, I was just too fast for them.” But the second wink she passes them does little to relax me.
“Leave us,” I bark at the guards. As they shuffle out, I grasp Dahlia’s wrist and drag her into a private alcove. “What are you wearing?” I growl the second she’s hidden against the wall.
“Oh, this?” She glances down. “I didn’t have time to change. When you didn’t come back to your bedchamber I was worried you’d left the castle to search for your sister. I had to find you first.”
My voice softens at the thought of her lying in my bed worrying about me. “I am fine, little monster.” I brush the side of her cheek. “You don’t need to worry about me.”
“I’m not worried about you,” she laughs. “I came to tell you that I should be the one to go and get your sister.”
My anger returns. “What?”
“It’s perfect if you think about it. I’ll tell Elheart that I ran away before the wedding and found my way to his palace.
Then when he takes me in, which he’s bound to do since I’m his fiancé after all, I’ll find Maeve and help her get out.
I doubt I’ll even need to look for her. She was my handmaid before so she’ll probably be waiting for me in my bedchamber, and then she can show me how she got through the wall and we’ll leave together. It’s simple!”
Even her perfect grin can’t stop the red that I’m seeing. “Absolutely not.”
“What? Why?” Her smile falls. “I can help you!”
“You are not going anywhere near that foul pig of a man.”
“You’re being stupid.”
“I am being sensible,” I snarl. “Elheart already took Maeve from me. I am not risking him taking you too. If he finds out you are my wife—”
“He won’t. Like I said, I’ll tell him I ran away before the wedding,” she repeats.
“And I doubt I’ll be at risk. Clearly he doesn’t care for me much considering he never accepted your deal, so there probably won’t be many guards outside my bedchamber and even if there is,” her smirk returns, “I’ve already proven I can outrun them. ”
My hands hold the sides of her arms, being careful not to press against the bruises there. “You should not be running anywhere, Dahlia. You are still injured.”
“Then imagine how fast I’ll be once I’m healed,” she pushes. “Please, Tauren, let me help. I know I can do it.” Hope glitters in her eyes.
I’m happy to crush it.
“My men will scout the salt barrier. Then once they’ve identified an opening, they will report back to me.
” Her lips tighten to a scowl. “You will stay here with me and perhaps, once they have good news to bring me, I will consider sharing it with you.” I brush her cheek again, but she jerks her chin away.
“Dahlia.” Cupping her cheek, I force her to look at me. “You are already due a punishment for running away from me. Do not earn yourself another by disturbing my meeting more than you already have.”
Her dark eyes pierce into me. “You’ve already made me fuck you.”
“You’re misremembering.” I smirk through the sting. “It was you who begged me to fuck you. And how pretty that begging was…”
She shoves my hand away, growling.
“Two punishments.” I trap her against the wall with my arms either side of her head. I don’t miss the way her nipples pebble. “Push me away like that again and it’ll be three.”
She glares, but doesn’t push me away.
“There’s my good girl.” Grinning, I kiss the top of her head while her lip curls. “Now it’s back to bed for you, sweetheart.” My hand slides around her waist before she can object, guiding her out of the meeting room.
I grab my cloak before we leave, covering her bare shoulders. If one more pair of eyes gets to enjoy my wife’s half-naked body, they’ll be gouged out before they can blink.