Page 66 of Fated for his Flame

Silas’ surprise was evident. His entire outline inflated as he took in a breath.

“What’s the meaning of this?” he demanded, not moving anywhere. “Explain yourself.”

“Stand aside,” the guard said more forcefully as he tried to step past. “We are not here for you.”

There was a growl of defiance from Silas that froze the guard in his tracks.

“Easy,” he said.

“Do you know who I am?” Silas challenged, not relaxing in the slightest.

“I’m well aware of who you are, Silas, and you damn well know it,” the guard said, some of his formality slipping. “Just as you know I’m here because I have orders to be here. Not because I want to or anything.”

“And what are those orders?” Silas demanded.

“To escort her to the sovereign. Immediately. No delays.”

By then, the other two guards had arrived. I watched, my eyes darting from the four of them to Silas. There was no overt hostility, but they were spread out in a line. Silas was good, I knew that, but against the four guards, he didn’t stand a chance.

“Don’t do this,” the lead guard said quietly. “I’m to bring her directly to the sovereign, Silas. Not toss her in jail or anything sinister.”

“And if she’s seen arriving at the palace in your custody?” he hissed. “That will be all over the Isles in hours.”

“I’m not leaving without her,” the guard said sternly.

Silas glanced back at me, his eyes burning with questions. I just shrugged at him. What else could I do? There’s no way anyone could have seen where I’d went and been back. Whatever was going on, it was about something else.

The question of the hour was what?

“I’m going with you,” Silas announced. “I will carry her.”

The guards looked uneasy, all of them darting glances at the leader. Waiting for him to respond.

“Those aren’t my orders,” he said.

“Do we have a problem?” Silas asked.

The guards and I could all hear the challenge in his voice. Their stance changed immediately. They uncoiled like panthers, going from formal guards into trained warriors, ready to attack.

“I don’t know,” the lead guard said. “Do we?”

Silas looked at him hard. “I’m giving you my word as heir to my house I will carry her to the palace and a meeting with the sovereign without issue. I don’t know what’s going on, but we will give you no hassle.”

“Your word?”

I watched as he stuck out one meaty hand. “On my honor.”

The guard eyed the hand for a long moment. Then he shook it. “Very well.”

Everyone relaxed, letting out breaths they had been holding. Except for me. I couldn’t. The sovereign wanted to see me?

“It’s probably about you slapping Isaak or some such,” Silas said as we walked to the shore, so he could shift and carry me to the palace.

“Maybe,” I said, hoping he was right. “I wasn’t aware I’d committed any crime with that?”

“You haven’t,” he said, stepping away to safely shift. “But Caine and his house will use any excuse to make a fuss. They like to hear themselves whine.”

I smiled despite the situation. It was an apt description of the rival house.

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