“Nor as often. I will have to make a batch sometime soon and send them down,” I offered.
Tilly, the baker, looked at me over her shoulder, “Or you could just make them here.”
I let out a long sigh. “I could, but I also cannot.”
“Because?” Maurice baited, then more quietly he added, “I told you not to worry about us.”
“You know why, Maurice.” I paused. “But for what it is worth, I miss all of you too.”
“Stay safe,” Jakob said with a smile as he stirred something on the stove. I hadn’t even realized he had been listening. Then again, the kitchen staff was always listening.
I gave him a smile. “You all, too!”
Owen and I took the secret passage back up to Krew’s wing, as we had since the bonding, just in case we should run into anyone unexpectedly.
“We could maybe try to get up early and you could spend some time with them before breakfast,” Owen offered quietly.
I again heaved a sigh. “I’d love to, but I don’t wish to risk it. I miss them, but it’s not worth it. I want them safe.”
Owen was quiet for a set of stairs while I wrapped my coat tighter, the narrow hallways always feeling so blasted cold.
“I feel as if you have become even more isolated since the bonding,” Owen offered.
I shrugged. “That’s likely true, but at least I understandwhyI am more isolated.”
Owen gave his head a shake. “Having magic was never supposed to make you even more isolated, part of the reason Krew did it was to give you the confidence that you are safe.”
“Am I though?” I paused. “I know you want me to trust it, I get it Owen. But you also need to accept that it might be years until I do. Or never. It might be never.”
Owen stopped and turned toward me. “Okay. I get it. I just want to fix it and I don’t know how.”
I gave him a shrug. “You can’t. You just can’t.”
* * *
That afternoonKrew asked me to sit in on a meeting with Keir, Renna, and Owen. Krew was still meeting with The Six regularly, but I was trying to stay away for now. It was one thing keeping my magic down while playing a harmless game of cards with my friends, it would be a whole other thing to keep my magic calm while scheming to take down the king. In a group of people who didn’t all know I had magic.
Renna was the last to arrive. As soon as she came in the door, for what was likely presented as a date with Krew, Owen put up the sound barrier at the door.
Renna plopped down in the seat at the oval table next to me, and immediately blurted out, “Tell her or I will.”
I turned toward her. “Tell me what?”
Krew closed his eyes. “Dammit, Renna. It’s not like we were keeping it from her intentionally.What do you think we are all here for?”
Renna narrowed her eyes at him. “I almost had to lie yesterday, and I will not do it again. Yes, she’s struggling under the weight of all that magic, but she should know. She should’ve known all of it when we first told her about this.”
I calmed my magic and switched my attention to Krew. “Tell me what? About the ring?”
Krew gave a nod. “Yes. The plan to get father’s ring is happening tonight, Jorah.”
Keir let out a sigh. “Annnd it’s Nara.”
My forehead creased. “What’s Nara?”
Keir’s eyes were on mine as he said, “She is the king’s new mistress.”
It was a good thing I was already sitting down, or I was sure I would have fallen over. “You mean to tell me quiet and kind Nara is the king’s new mistress?” Then horror dawned on me as the blood fled from my face. “Willingly or unwillingly?”
