Page 45 of Haunted

“Then you can rest assured. Her wellbeing is my utmost concern.”

“Good.” His eyesight snaps into focus on my face. “I’m glad we had this little talk.” The commander claps me hard on the shoulder before he turns and takes a few steps. “I would hate to have to kill you.”

“I’ve heard that before. Idle threats.”

The commander smirks and then strides away.

I glare after him. Neifion, he knows.

What do you plan on doing?

He doesn’t want her hurt.

Does that mean he wants her free from the Master? Neifion asks.

I’m willing to gamble it does.

Are you willing to gamble your life?

I’ve already decided this, I say. My life has already been claimed by her.

I’ve claimed your life, Caedryn. We are one.

You know I must do this. I’m the only one who can save her.

It’s either that or kill her, Neifion says.

Not unless I can’t free her.

We agree on that in the very least.

See you tonight. I head toward court, prepared for anything.

34

The empress behaves toward me just as she had when I first came to court. I’m pleased. I didn’t expect her to allude to our relationship in front of her minions. No. She would never do that. But having her treat me as she used to instills my trust in her. I begin to doubt the commander’s words. If she were really onto my schemes, why pull me along for so long? Why make me place my trust in her?

Why seduce me?

The commander is wrong. This is all a game to her. Everything is. The Dark Master loves games, and she is his pawn.

His gameboard is this world, Neifion says. It’s his kingdom, controlled by his sweeping hand. The metaphor matters not. What matters is that the empress does as he commands.

After the midday meal, the empress approaches me in the lower hallway on the way to the training arena. Her guard trails after her, as usual. I stop, solemnly and respectfully, to allow her passage. She does not slow her step, but when she passes, her fingertips brush my hand. She does not pause or smile.

I stiffen. I don’t turn to look at her as she moves away. This is new. Never. Never would she dare to make a public show of intimacy.

She is toying with you, Neifion says.

Why would she touch me? Is it too much to hope that while the empress is his vessel, she also has wistful desires?

Dark Emrys. That’s all Neifion says. It’s a sharp reminder. She’s unfeeling.

She can’t feel love the way I can.

All the more reason to free her, I say. It is not impossible to restore light. Once she is free of her master, she can be free of her darkness.

I sense Neifion’s doubt, but he doesn’t argue with me.

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