Page 26 of Feathers and Thorns

“Nice to meet you,” Enara said in a hesitant tone.

Baz stepped back and laced his fingers in hers. She welcomed his warmth, knowing the gesture was meant to inform the newcomer of their relationship and not intended to stake a claim on her.

Everett’s eyes twinkled with humor as he gazed down at their hands. He let out a soft chuckle before saying, “You don’t have to worry about me, my friend. I’d rather have you in my bed than your beautiful partner.” He gave Baz a playful smile, and Baz let out a laugh in response.

“Sounds like you’ve got some competition.” Baz wiggled his eyebrows at Enara.

She nudged him playfully before looking to Everett. “Hey, you can have him.”

“Or I would invite the both of you, if you were feeling so inclined.” Everett winked.

Soren and Jai watched the interaction, enjoying the look on Baz’s face.

“All right, all right,” Jai said, trying to return to the task at hand. “Now that we’re all more acquainted, can we get a move on?”

“Always in a rush,” Everett replied, putting his arm around Jai’s shoulders. “Come; I’ll bring you in through the servants’ quarters. One of the family rooms was recently vacated when the king found out their daughters stole one of Princess Adaryn’s crowns.”

“Those poor girls probably didn’t know any better. I feel sorry for them,” Enara said, shaking her head.

“Don’t be,” Everett said. “Princess Adaryn gifted it to the girls in secret. Unfortunately, her father found out and fired their parents, but Princess Adaryn insured they had a sack of gold before their departure. I am told they bought a sizable farm in Stelonbriar.”

Jai’s heart warmed at this. Same old Adaryn, always putting others before herself.

Everett led them down a short flight of stairs to a wooden door at the base of the castle. The hinges whined as he pushed it open, and then he led them down the narrow torch-lit corridor.

“I apologize in advance that it won’t be a particularly comfortable sleep. The servants never rest—there is always something that needs done or doing.”

“Anything will be better than that shack in Murkwall,” Soren said.

“Agreed,” Enara replied.

“I didn’t think it was that bad,” Baz said, shrugging.

“You don’t count, Baz,” Soren retorted. “You could sleep through an army of kestrels marching right past your tent.”

He laughed. “Okay, you got me there.”

Everett tilted his head. “What’s a kestrel?”

The trio went quiet.

“I’ll explain everything later, my friend,” Jai said, coming to their rescue.

The childhood companions shared a look, and then Everett replied, “All right, I’ll leave you be … for now. We will talk more tomorrow.” He stopped in front of one of the many doors that lined the dim hallway. “You can stay here. If anyone asks, you are here to provide extra hands for the wedding.”

“You didn’t say anything about a wedding,” Soren said, looking to Jai.

“What wedding?” he asked through gritted teeth.

Everett gave him a pitying look. “I assumed that was why you were here,” he said, sucking in a breath.

“What wedding?” Jai asked again, his eyes boring into the stable hand’s.

His friend replied in his soft tenor, as though trying to calm a caged animal, “Princess Adaryn is set to wed the Duke of Stelonbriar, by the week’s end.”

Luscinia stood in front of the waterfall, needing a moment to steady herself. She had never intended to become the leader of the rebellion, yet here she was, preparing to rally her own troops against Adriel’s new army.

The rebellion members were some three-hundred strong, and it had taken years to organize them all while avoiding Adriel’s ever-watchful eyes.

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