When the feeling passed, she straightened to see Myrddin watching her from several feet away, dusting his robes and grimacing. “What will happen to him?”
The warlock finished brushing himself off, glared up at her, then nodded toward what appeared to be a break in the trees. “That is the least of your worries at the moment, Your Majesty. I assure you, he is safe.”
She pushed off the trunk and poked around, bumping into bushes and brambles before making her way out of the trees and finally onto wheel-and-hoof-flattened earth.
To her left was her keep flanked by its towers; he’d teleported them to the edge of her chateau grounds. She never thought she’d be so happy tosee it. The gate to the bailey was open, and no guard presence was visible from where they stood.
“Were you expecting visitors?” Myrddin asked.
She wasn’t. Her mother’s friends should’ve arrived hours ago; they wouldn’t be caught traveling in the dead of night unless absolutely necessary. Lilac started down the path, Myrddin shuffling close behind.
She slowed, suddenly considering how odd it might seem that she’d arrived without her carriage. Without Hywell, or Giles…As the fog continued to clear from her mind, she realized this was the least of her concerns. Lilac turned to Myrddin. “What about Garin? Truly. I worry for him.”
Myrddin’s hand went to the back of his neck. “Well, they won’t do anything without me there to protect them, that’s certain. He won’t wake as long as the hawthorn is in his body.” He watched the open gate, picking a leaf out of his beard. “That doesn’t look promising. Tell you what I do know—if I let you walk through those gates alone, Garin will kill me. He’ll find a way.”
Days ago, she would’ve been hesitant to arrive with a warlock in tow. “Don’t do anything strange,” she said, and beckoned him forth. From what she could see as they neared, the main keep was still well-lit, even at this late hour. Her mother had been expecting Helena and Gertrude, hadn’t she?
But why were the gates open and unattended?
She took off at a run across the field and through the path. Dread tore through her as she half-hopedto be met with a blade in her face once she reached the gate. At least it would meansomeonewas watching the place.
But none came.
A lavish, two-horse drawn carriage was parked in front of the stable, one she recognized as Lady Gertrude’s. Helena must have ridden with her.
But there was another unmarked carriage she didn’t recognize parked just before the front doors to the keep, as if its occupants had abruptly abandoned it.
She circled the carriage and marched up the steps, into the shallow archway. Just as she reached for the nearest rung, both doors swung inward.
Two astonished green eyes stared back at her, framed in loose red waves and ablaze with profound irritation. There was a guard on either side, andLilac could sense more voices and hurried movement beyond—but nothing else mattered. The world stood still as she gazed into a most displeased round face that brightened at the sight of her.
“See?Thereshe is,” Piper said, yanking her arms out of the guards’ grip and motioning at Lilac. “Good evening, Your Majesty.”
Both guards looked so shocked to see Lilac and Myrddin—who’d fallen behind—that they only remembered to bow once Piper dipped into a shallow curtsey.
Speechless, Lilac returned the gesture, meeting her guards’ eyes with frost and attempting to mask her shock. How well she managed to hide it, she couldn’t say.
“Well?” Lilac snapped. “Don’t just stand there. God forbid I might access my own keep.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” They retreated, tugging Piper with them, until they were well inside the foyer.
“Why are my gates open and unattended?”
“We were preoccupied,” one guard stammered. “As you know, our numbers are momentarily limited; your father sent some of us to supervise the sightings inLa GuercheandFougères.” He eyed Piper, careful not to say too much. “There was an unexpected arrival we rushed to attend to.Shewas caught wandering your tower as the keep was being secured.” He jostled Piper, whose hands had balled into fists.
“Stop that,” Lilac sneered, squinting at the smear of blood and blossoming patch of blue-green at the corner of his mouth. “What happened there?”
The guard wiped his face. “She put up a bit of a fight.”
“I’m sure she did. I’ll have you know, I sent the guard to those bordering towns,” Lilac retorted curtly. “And she fought you because I’ve beenexpectingher. This is…” She’d want to use an alias. “Philomena, was it?”
Piper’s face twitched in disdain. “Phoebe Allard, Your Majesty.”
Shewouldcome prepared.
“Phoebe Allard, yes, my apologies. Gentlemen, meet my new lady-in-waiting.”
They muttered curses under their breath, glaring daggers at each other and bowing deeply. The other guard grunted. “We didn’t know you chose one, Your Majesty. Henri never said?—”
