Chap 29
Evander quickly tucked in his shirt as he opened the door.
The king's gaze immediately swept past him.
Finding Penny dressed in one of Evander's oversized shirts and sitting on the edge of the bed.
Relief hit him so hard that she felt it through the bond.
Like a man discovering a loved one had survived a shipwreck.
"There you are."
He crossed the room before either of them could say a word.
His arms wrapped around her.
For one perfect heartbeat, everything felt normal.
Then came the sound.
Sizzle.
The king jerked back.
Penny gasped.
Black blisters crawled across his hands and wrists where he had touched her.
The smell of burned flesh filled the room.
"I don't understand."
His voice had gone quiet.
"I can still feel you. The old magic hasn't rejected our bond."
His gaze lifted to Penny.
The pain behind the words struck her harder than the sight of the burns.
"But I can't touch you."
Evander finally pulled a chair closer to the bed.
The legs scraped softly across the stone floor.
"Sit down, Father."
Evander dropped next to Penny on the bed and rubbed a hand over his face.
"We've been trying to figure out the prophecy."
The king let out a long breath.
"Good."
Penny noticed that he looked tired.
The king sat down as Evander continued.
"I figure the three generations are Me, Roku, and Sebastian."
Patting Penny's leg, Penny mentioned you used the old magic to marry her."
The king looked at his son, then at Penny. "She told you?"
Evander shrugged, "Yeah, I guess that kiss the Merman helped with the pain, but also helped her understand us."
"I was wondering what he was doing," the king said as he smiled at Penny.
"So you can understand me now?"
Penny nodded
The king leaned forward, placing his hand on the bed as close to her as he could without the magic burning him.
"Do you have anything you want to ask me?"
His voice softened.
"I'll tell you anything."
Penny felt exposed at being asked directly.
"What's your name?"
Silence.
The king blinked.
A soft laugh.
Almost disbelieving.
"I married you."
His smile was crooked.
"And I never told you my name."
Penny immediately felt guilty.
The king shook his head as he felt it form her.
"No."
His smile grew warmer.
"That one's my fault."
For the first time since entering the room, genuine amusement touched his face.
Then he bowed his head slightly toward her.
"My name is Silvanus."
Penny placed her hand on his and smiled.
"Nice to meet you, Silvanus."
His eyes dropped immediately to their joined hands.
No smoke. No burns. No pain.
Penny could touch him whenever she wished.
The realization seemed to strike him all over again.
Slowly, he reached toward her.
Smoke curled from his fingertips before he even made contact.
He jerked back with a hiss.
Silence filled the room.
Evander reached over and placed his hand on Penny's.
Penny could feel the little satisfaction that rippled through Evander to do something his dad couldn't
"Father, can I ask a question?"
The king gave a brief nod, still staring at the black blisters.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Silvanus looked up.
"When I asked permission to marry Penny."
Silence stretched between them.
Finally, the king sighed.
"Because she didn't know."
His gaze drifted to Penny.
"If she chose you, I was never going to tell her."
Penny blinked.
Evander went still.
"I would have gone along with your plan."
The King's voice remained calm.
"I would have taken Kaida far away."
Silvanus shrugged.
"And disposed of her body."
Neither Penny nor Evander questioned that part.
The king looked back at his son.
"You always looked happy together."
The admission seemed difficult.
"I wanted her to be happy."
The room fell silent.
Then Penny suddenly sat up.
"Look!"
Silvanus followed her gaze to his hand.
The burns were gone.
The skin was smooth again.
Perfect.
Hope flashed across his face.
Slowly, he lifted his hand.
His fingertips brushed her cheek.
Warm skin met cool skin.
Then he whispered,
"Come back to my rooms."
Pain exploded through the bond.
Sizzle.
Silvanus jerked his hand away.
Smoke curled from his fingertips.
The burns returned instantly.
The smile vanished.
A knock from the door echoed across the space.
All three of them froze.
Wade walked in and groaned.
"Next time you give me instructions to report to the king, don't hide him in your rooms."
Wade walked and plopped down on the bed, pushing Penny over a bit to make room for his broader size.
"Is there any snacks in here?" Wade asked as everyone stared at him.
Evander shook his head. "No, but what is the news?"
"The queen escaped. The rumors are that some of her servants broke her out to raise up an army to go against the blood queen."
Wade hopped back up and wandered the room, looking under piles of maps. "Are you sure you have nothing in here?"
"The queen escaped?"
The king's attention snapped to Wade.
Then to Evander.
Then, finally, to Penny.
The look lingered.
As though he wanted to say something.
As though he wanted to stay.
Instead, he stood.
"I trust you."
The words were directed at Evander.
But Penny felt them through the bond.
Then he turned and left.
Wade waited until the door shut.
Then leaned against the table.
"Well, that was rude. I didn't even get a thank you for getting the news."
"Thank you," Penny said.
Wade made his way across the floor in two huge strides and lay on the bed next to Penny,
Not caring at all that his landing had made her bounce and Evander glare.
"Oh, and I found Nyx if you were worried," Wade said as he fluffed Evander's pillow and shoved it under his head.
Penny looked very worried at the mention, "What happened?"
"She was bound, gagged, and shoved into my room."
Penny froze.
Wade turned on his side, tucking the pillow between his arm and his head.
"I suspect she was drugged."
Wade yawned, "I guess no one told the bad guys that the room wasn't a closet anymore and it was mine."
Penny got up from the bed. "I need to go check on her."
"She's asleep."
"Wade."
"Very asleep."Wade waved his hand. "I left her in my bed sleeping off whatever it was."
Penny pushed him. "You can't sleep in here."
"Why not? The king let me sleep with you in his bed while he lay next to us."
Wade said, turning his back to her, like her pushes were just annoying flutters of feathers.
Evander went still.
Completely still.
"What?"
The crown prince looked between Penny and Wade.
Penny shook her head,
"No, he is making it sound horrible; we just all fell asleep talking."
"Well, you fell asleep."
Wade grinned.
"The rest of us had a very interesting morning."
Penny groaned, and Evander laughed.
Penny shook her head.
"No, he is making it sound horrible; we just all fell asleep talking."
"Well, you fell asleep."
Wade grinned.
"The rest of us had a very interesting morning."
Penny groaned, and Evander laughed.
"It is fine. He can sleep here. You are safe. We are all safe. The queen is not here."
He took her hands into his and kissed them.
"I am sure you are tired too. Sleep, and I can go find out more."
"I'll wake you if I find anything important."
Penny settled back against the pillows.
For the first time all night, she let herself relax.
The room was warm.
The bed was soft.
Her eyes began to close.
Evander was right.
With the queen gone, the danger had finally passed.
Penny's eyes drifted shut.
She heard him slip out the door.
Then Wade's arms slipped around her and pulled her into his chest.
"If you snore, I am going to elbow you."
Wade whispered softly into her ear.
"They killed Nyx, and I think the murderer is still here."