Page 28 of Haunted

“I’ll take care of this,” I say. Logically, it would be imprudent for the empress to harm Nesta. She’s a valued healer, but realistically, the empress has killed for less.

“It’s fine,” Nesta says.

“It’s not.” I shake my head. “I didn’t realize.”

“I told you.” Her voice is weak.

I take a step, ready to head after my quarry, but I turn. “Nesta, thank you for today.”

She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Anytime.”

23

A guard blocks my entrance to the empress’s chamber. “She doesn’t want to be disturbed.”

“Trust me, she does,” I say.

His nostrils flare. “You don’t want to go in there. She’s vexed.”

I have a mind to show him just how vexed I can become if he doesn’t let me through, but I decide not to waste my time. “Move.”

With a smirk, the guard reluctantly steps aside.

I push her chamber door open, enter, and then shut it. It’s best if the guards don’t hear my conversation with the empress, who’s on the balcony with her back to me. I take the moment to mutter an incantation in my mind, mixing it with the darkness in my heart-center, and send the compound out to bar sound from leaving. The energy washes over the room, alerting the empress. As she turns, a peculiar electricity makes my hair stand on end.

Her hand is outstretched, and flickers of energy, like lightning, dance in her palm. Her other hand, the hand she ripped up with the thorns, is pressed to her stomach.

I ignore her apparent agitation. I ignore the energy surging in her palm, snapping toward the ceiling, and the obvious danger to my life. I stride toward her and pull out my handkerchief. The empress’s eyes are trained on my expression, but I’m set on pretending she’s not furious. I take her bloody hand, without permission, and bind her wounds.

“Lord Chancellor Ambassador Caedryn at your service,” I say without looking into her eyes. My tone is mocking but dulcet. I’m abrupt with my movements, and as I tie the handkerchief, she gasps and draws her hand back. After a second, I register that she allowed me to see her pain.

The empress closes her other hand, and her little lightning display chokes out. “I’m a joke to you?”

Her honest quip spoken in anger halts me. “A joke, no. Not in the least.” The empress is never a joke.

“You really should have a healer look at that,” I say. “Probably not Nesta, since it looks as though you’re going to take her head.”

The empress doesn’t say anything, doesn’t move a muscle. We’re standing a foot apart, and I’m dying to get a stronger read on her. I hate that she doesn’t have an ounce of light in her wretched hide that I can discern, that I can use to understand her twisted mind. I’m also aware that the empress could use my goading to make Nesta miserable, if the empress doesn’t in fact kill her, but I take the chance. Her Highness needs to know that I’m not afraid of her.

Her face becomes lax, and she partially turns away. This is part of her game, and I’m ready to play it. “Caedryn, don’t be ridiculous. I value Nesta’s skill. She’s my most trusted healer. I wouldn’t harm a hair on her head.”

“Can I have your word on that, Your Highness?”

She swings around and grabs my bicep, exactly how Nesta was holding it. “I swear it.”

I dare seal my gaze to hers. The empress is unflinching. Her mouth is parted, arrested from when her last syllable fell. The crimson stain on her lips asserts her audaciousness.

“Your presence has been missed,” I say.

“I didn’t expect your arrival.”

Our conversation is clipped, our bodies motionless and expressionless. “Where have your pursuits taken you?” I ask.

“My business is my own.”

“Your stronghold is without a governor.”

I’m part mesmerized as her mouth moves in perfect form. “Well, you’re back. You can hold everyone accountable in my absence.”

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