Loche hummed, and Lessia could tell he wasn’t convinced by the familiar squint of his eyes—that too-seeing gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than she liked.
“While we’re sharing, my magic is slightly more special than what these two bores have.” Kerym grinned as he crossed his arms over the table. “My twin and I are the only ones I know of.”
“The Siphon Twins,” Loche muttered. “Your magic sounds like the worst.”
“Oh! You’ve heard of us. I wasn’t sure if humans…”
Kerym quieted when Lessia gave him a pointed look, her eyes moving to the soldier who nervously shifted his weight from foot to foot where he stood behind Loche.
“Shall I go on, regent?” Loche’s guard’s voice was slightly muffled behind the mask.
As Loche nodded, Lessia moved on her chair, and a shock rippled through her.
Looking down, she realized the movement had lined up her leg with Merrick’s, and while they both were dressed in similar leathers, the heat radiating from him seemed to pass right through the fabric—right into her core.
She released a slow breath as she lifted her eyes, trying to subdue the energy pulsating through her and refusing to let them seek out the ones they wanted, especially when she could sense their burning stare on her face.
Instead, she stared so hard at the guard that his shape blurred, and it was all she could do to try to listen to his muted voice—or any of the other muffled sounds, as the world appeared to have become dangerously hazy.
“Our spy confirmed that the rebels are attacking in two fortnights from today. They plan to begin in the middle of the night—taking everyone by surprise. The ships will come first, and as people gather together on each isle to fight back, those on land will bring them to their knees. They…” The guard hesitated for a moment.
“Go on,” Loche demanded.
“They will come to Asker last. They plan on filling their ranks with the people from the islands—those who bow to them—so they have the numbers when they storm the castle. Their leader w-wants the sea to be painted red from the blood of those that refused them so that you will know what’s coming your way.”
Lessia could feel the blood draining from her face, and even as Merrick’s hand landed on her thigh, it felt as if someone had opened a window in the room—as if they were dining on a cliff in the freezing wind.
“Do we have a better view of who the rebels on land are?” Nothing in Loche’s posture or face betrayed any interior turmoil, but when his eyes brushed hers… she recognized what flickered there—what he tried so hard to push down.
Helplessness.
Worry.
Guilt.
Dread.
A realization dawned on her.
The reason there were no soldiers in the castle wasn’t because she and the Fae males were there.
It wasn’t because he needed to keep her return concealed, hide that he’d let the traitor live.
It was because Loche didn’t think he’d win this.
And he would not take his men with him.
The crack within her rib cage should have echoed through the room, and she was surprised when the guard didn’t even pause as he responded to Loche’s question.
“We don’t. We know of a few, but even with those, we are not certain whether their whole family is in on it or not. We still have orders not to mention anything about rebels on land?”
Loche gave a sharp nod. “We will not say anything. We can’t have the people of Ellow turning on each other even before war has broken out. But we need to spread the word of the attack outside of the council. I’m certain they’ll use the people on their islands as protection if not. It’s time for the ships to pick up those too young, sick, or old for war. Tell them to bring them to Asker, and we’ll figure out how to transport them to the cave. After that, the ships must spread out and provide the isles with weapons and whatever else they can spare.”
“And here on Asker?” The soldier straightened as Loche’s eyes narrowed. “The same plan? But regent…”
“There will be no more discussion.” Loche slammed his hand on the table. “You are dismissed.”
His hand shook as he swiped a glass off the table and downed its contents, barely swallowing before he refilled it with the bottle the guard had brought up.
