Lannahi barely recognized the last voice. Ashared rarely shouted and even more rarely got angry.
Lizaar must have been surprised too because she instantly fell silent.
You were supposed to get information out of her…
Lannahi clenched her fists.
Her father wasn’t the only one with a viper on their doorstep.
Chapter 28
Lannahi left the room and headed for the exit, where she asked the hostess to fetch the Guide in charge of the Trail to Goldfrost. There were other fae nearby waiting for their Trails to open so she didn’t allow herself a moment’s reflection. She couldn’t risk an emotional outburst. Not in such a place.
Though she didn’t want to attract unwanted attention, she wasn’t quite sure how long her composure would last in Ashared’s presence so she was grateful to Fate that Lizaar and her cousins arrived at the same time as their Guide. Lannahi hid behind a mask of cool politeness.
Like her previous experiences, the walk down the Trail passed in darkness and silence, but impatience made the path seem twice as long, and the joy of seeing Esau and Akammu waiting on the other side with two pairs of sleighs quickly dimmed. When the Guide closed the Trail behind her, Lannahi moved toward her guards without looking at the fae following her.
“Akammu, turn the sleigh back,” she said, forcing herself to sound indifferent. “Lizaar and Ashared will return to the palace on foot.”
The sounds of footsteps behind her suddenly stopped. The enchanters threw an alarmed look at her and the landshapers accompanying her.
“Lannahi—” Ashared began.
“Let’s fly, Esau,” she said.
She got into the sleigh and a moment later Esau did the same.
“Courtyard or roof?” he only asked.
Her chambers were closer to the roof.
“Roof.”
Because it was dark, Esau and Akammu drove the sleigh low over the lighted streets and then along the steps leading to the palace hill.
“The queen has returned,” Esau informed the guards standing watch by the palace walls, then ordered the sleigh to rise higher into the air.
The roof was dimly lit, but it was enough for the enchanters. They landed.
“Did someone issue a Challenge?” Esau asked softly.
He was one of the most patient people she knew, so he must have been wracked with anxiety to ask her now.
“No,” she said, not meeting his eyes. “I need to rest. Do not let anyone into my chambers.”
Esau hesitated, but after a moment he got out of the sleigh and with Akammu escorted her to her chamber without another word.
Hidden from the others, Lannahi finally permitted herself to cry. Since her chamber was filled with memories of Ashared, the tears flowed easily. The thought that his every word, gesture, and kiss had been calculated from the start hurt like a knife wound and the shame of having believed his infatuation so easily burned her. For years she’d been warned not to get attached to men too quickly, and what had she done? She’d given herself to the first one who showed any romantic interest in her. And all this after what Nihhal had done…
That night she dreamed of wolves. They chased her until she stepped onto a frozen lake. The ice was thin and began to crack after a few steps. She looked at the brown wolf, hoping he would call off the chase, but he stood on the shore unmoved.
When she fell into the water, nobody helped her.
***
Your mongrels have encroached on my territory. If you don’t want me to tear their heads off, come to me. I guarantee your safety within the settlement, but if you are accompanied by more than three guards, I will perceive this as a threat and you will forfeit all chances of negotiation.
Amaruk
