“No,’’ Piper said through her teeth, making a sound of disgust. “From the magic folk? Can we do that?”
Lilac’s mind immediately went to Garin, and Adelaide’s family. Then she instantly regretted asking. “I’m not sure. But what did they feed you, then? Did they have bottled blood on hand? People?” she optioned, frowning at the last part.
“No. They fed me warm bread with meat in the middle. A rich, simmering broth of bird and berries.” Piper licked her lips. “They waited patiently as I ate, then sent me on my way. They told me a pair of carriages filled with rye and livestock were just ahead, headed to the castle for a celebration. They advised me to follow far behind. Just in case they diverted, they told me which paths to take especially if I encountered a fork in the road.”
TheGuàiwere mystical creatures. The dishes Piper described didn’t sound familiar, but perhaps it was bewitched food for vampires. Lilac considered asking about the sensation that followed, what exactlyhappened after a vampire’s body rejected mortal food shortly after consuming it. But Piper was eyeing the ceiling, her hardened gaze softening as she traced the floral carvings outlining the chandelier above them, just as she used to upon her bed when Lilac would sit at the desk with her tutors.
“Garin sometimes eats,” Lilac said matter-of-factly, unsure of how to approach the topic with much tact. “I think he enjoys it for the taste. But it doesn’t seem to nourish him. It makes him ill afterward. He vomits.”
Piper either chose to ignore this or didn’t hear, her mind probably faraway.
Lilac rubbed her eyes, turning back to the hearth. Tonight was not the night for more questions or shocking revelations, or else her head might explode. She supposed even the weight of her and Piper’s conversation was better than being kept up, distraught by thoughts of Garin. Even as the night progressed, none of what she’d felt being separated from him after he’d sent her away plagued her now, but she still feared its gradual return.
Lilac didn’t want to think about it; didn’t want to remember the bloodstained mess of The Fool's Folly, or the days preceding it. Didn’t want to think about Fire Ale, or the Dragondew Mead, or how it had clouded every sense of hers. She didn’t want to dwell on Garin’s possessive grasp on her, or his mouth on her throat. How he’d claimed her, through and through, as Casmir had warned. Devoured her.
Her head spun, body throbbing at the thought of him, feeling the waves of wanton distrust building again. Of sadness and regret for the days to come, but Garin had said it himself—this was her duty. He’d gone so far as to entrance her to leave him, strip her of her memory of stabbing Albrecht.
Lilac sank further into her sheets, refusing to let fury wash over her relief of Piper’s return. She wouldn’t do this, wouldn’t let it ruin the fact that her friend was back. All that mattered was that Garin was safe at the inn again, under the watchful eyes of their friends—hopefully more carefully this time. What mattered was that Piper was alive and back home. That Bastion hadn’t found her first and sent her back to the mine, or worse.
“It was kind of theGuàito point you in the right direction,” Lilac finally said, eager to escape her ruminations. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Who are they? Where do they come from? When I asked, they only told me they were headed home.”
“They’re a sort of magic folk from the East. Powerful acquaintances of mine.”
She felt Piper shift behind her. When Lilac peeked, she was propped against her pillow, shoulders pivoted to Lilac, eyes wide with curiosity.
Lilac shrank back. “What?”
“Will you marry him, Your Majesty?” Piper blurted.
“I must.” Lilac looked at her firmly. She really did not wish to talk about it, but it was inevitable, and Piper’s concern was fair. “It is the only thing that will stave off France.”
“Garin.” Piper’s forehead creased. “I meant, Garin.”
The question was unexpected. A surge of disgust tore through her. “No.”
She expected a noise or sense of relief from Piper, but there was none. The vampire looked down through her lashes. “Oh.”
What was that look?Disappointment?“You heard Artus. I have no choice. France’s threat is real.”
“You haven’t even been propositioned,” Piper pointed out.
“My hand will go to Maximillian,whenhe proposes to me. By way of the emissary.”
“Yet it was foolish of you to mention it in front of everyone when you haven’t even met with him. Did you truly overhear it in a tavern?”
“Something like that.” Done with their conversation, Lilac laid back and closed her eyes. She reopened them again when Piper said nothing.
The vampire was chewing on her nail, staring into the distance.
“Foolish, I may be,” said Lilac, more than happy to continue if her friend insisted. “But I must do what is necessary to secure our kingdom. I haven’t heard of any offer or consideration on Garin’s end. He’s been too preoccupied with ensuring I wed a powerful ally to reinforce our defenses.”
“He is an idiot, but it makes sense that he’d be hesitant.”
Lilac’s stomach soured hearing Piper might actually agree with him. “Garin insists that publicly aligning myself with Daemons will malign any effort I take in encouraging my towns to support a war. On the other hand, he suspects Daemons will not expend their efforts for me. Understandably.”
“Not because of that.” Piper slid out of bed and made her way to the vanity chair, rummaging in the bundle of kirtle she’d changed out of. She held up a book.
