Page 198 of Dare

Aire returned from patrolling the vicinity. Despite this courtyard being restricted to Royals, one could not be too careful. My arrival with Flare had caused a stir, whispers among this court flowing like wine, which would only increase in Winter.

Briar and Poet had arranged a celebratory gathering, replete with candlelight and sumptuous fare. But first, essential matters needed discussing. After several days of rest, it was time. Yet another reason for this location, away from witnesses.

A curvaceous figure entered the courtyard, her red hair arranged atop her head. Everyone rose, curtsied, and bowed. Queen Avalea glided our way with a convivial smile, her body swathed in a violet gown.

Reaching out, she grasped Flare’s hands. “You make a welcome addition to this band.”

Flare bobbed her head, then used her leaflet and quill to write, Thank you, Your Majesty.

Before taking her seat, the queen scrutinized me and whispered, “Spend your life deserving her. That’s an order.”

The inclination of my head satisfied Avalea, who settled beside the princess and jester. Then a final shadow entered the courtyard, the hooded female causing Aire to frown in trepidation, as he sometimes did in her presence.

Ever the gentleman, he pulled out a chair for Aspen. She faltered, the skin of her neck flushing under the mantle before she lifted her chin and sidled past him, which made the knight sigh as he reclaimed his seat.

“Behold, the comic relief has arrived,” Aspen declared while perching on Cadence’s chair arm. “In case anyone missed the town crier’s announcement, I’ve inherited Poet’s vocation, minus the orgies and kink fests. I’ll be training with him as the next jester celebrity, with a talent for livening up treasonous roundtables.”

Poet’s nefarious grin belonged in an erotic novel. “Careful, sweeting. I’m a hard act to follow.”

“How hard?” Cadence wondered, then shrugged innocently when Briar pruned her lips. “What? I’m just saying.”

“Well, don’t,” the princess scolded, albeit good-naturedly. “You have enough consorts to keep you entertained.”

“A lady can never have enough,” Cadence boasted. “Credit my Spring origins, but I’m enjoying not having to choose. Multiple love affairs are fun. Anyway, I was only teasing.”

“I mean, your husband also left himself open for that one,” Posy chuckled.

“I never leave myself open for anything,” Poet remarked. “For I’m always intentional.”

Ugh. Seasons forbid.

In any event, the stowaway wasn’t serious. Her lies had increased in frequency over the years, especially when the fraudulence discomforted Aire, who valued honesty as if it were scripture. At seventeen, not only had Aspen grown as tall and voluptuous as Her Majesty, but the female’s tongue had gotten even snarkier.

Safety aside, another unspoken quandary dismayed the knight. His brows crimped as he watched Aspen, hunting for something he couldn’t locate.

The conference proceeded. To start, we still lacked intelligence about Rhys’s plans and conspirators. Considering how much time had gone by, and accounting for the skills of every member present, this should not have been the case. Yet even Queen Giselle hadn’t uncovered anything, despite having the misfortune of sharing the man’s bed.

Poet consulted a chalice of merlot, which he circled lazily. “That motherfucker can’t be working alone.”

“With the right manipulation, he needs only to light a match,” Briar contributed, her expression daunted. “Reaper’s Fest proved that.”

“One of the Seasons’ elites?” Cadence wondered while twirling a lock of dark green hair around her finger. “It’s not like he hasn’t gone there before.”

“That’s too simple.” Eliot set down his lute, propped his elbows atop his knees, and counted off his fingers. “He already went after the crafters of Autumn, the scholars of Winter, and the performers of Spring.”

“Then he got greedy and broadened his reach,” Posy said while balancing Vale’s limbs on her thighs. “The general public came afterward.”

“Commoners and courtiers,” Vale summarized. “What better group to incite for a riot?”

“Okay, so who’s left?” Aspen wondered.

“This is where you jump in, handsome,” Cadence prompted Aire. “Aren’t the elements sending you any of those creepy signals?”

The knight had been contemplating something in the atmosphere. “My abilities are not without their limits.”

Flare cocked her head toward the flames, then her wide eyes swerved my way. Our thoughts converged, drawing the same conclusion.

We spoke in unison. “Defenders.”

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