Page 110 of The Sorrow of Shadows

I lock eyes with Jade across the table and blurt out, “Ha! I told you so. Pay up!”

Jade slaps a coin purse into my open palm and huffs.

“Wait, did you two have a bet going on if we were together or not?” Breyla asks.

“Maybe we did, maybe we already suspected and had a bet on who would be the first to admit it.”

“Why didn’t you let me in on this bet?” Elijah asks, offended.

“As if you didn’t already pry that secret out of Breyla,” Jade replies, shaking her head at him.

He smiles wickedly. “True. She lost a bet to me and had to give the memory over.”

“Gross,” Jade shudders.

Elijah raises his ale to his lips before muttering, “It was really hot. Our Aurelius here is hung like—” His description of Aurelius's male parts is muffled by his drink being dumped on his face thanks to Breyla’s shadows tipping the mug.

He wipes the ale off, and I catch Breyla staring daggers athim, her cheeks flaming. Aurelius is trying to hide a smile, pure male ego sparkling in his dark eyes.

“Temper, Princess,” he tsks and pulls her closer to him, laying a kiss on her cheek.

“He deserved it,” she mutters, relaxing into his hold. “Why do you always have to dampen my anger?”

“I don’t, but you’re incredibly easy to get worked up, and that won’t help us right now. You can be mad at me later,” he says with a suggestive wink.

She groans and throws her head back. “Anyway...what are our next steps?”

“I’ll see what I can find out about my father’s intentions and whereabouts over the last several months,” I offer, chewing my bottom lip. Elijah's eyes are locked on it, a heated look in his eyes, and I find myself wishing to be alone with him. “Good, but if it comes down to your safety or answers, you will choose your safety, Ophelia. Am I understood?” Breyla’s face is deadly serious.

I nod in understanding.

“Elijah, were you able to learn anything else about the servant we found in the river?”

“While you were gone, I was finally able to track down who she was. Her name was Delilah Howard. She had spent most of her time in the kitchen but had been recently reassigned to serve Lord Seamus Delencourt.” My leg bounces nervously under the table at how that sounds.

Breyla chokes on the ale she was drinking, the droplets spraying out of her mouth. “I can’t be the only one that thinks that’s more than a little suspicious.” She turns to me and asks, “Do you know anything about this?” Her tone isn’t accusatory, but my eyes widen at being put on the spot.

“No, I swear I’ve never heard of her before. My father rarely shares details with me about anything,” I say quickly, nearly tripping over my words.

“Calm down, Ophelia,” Breyla says softly, trying to assuage my nerves. “No one is accusing you of anything. I was just curious if you had seen her around your father before. You will always be safe with me, regardless of your father’s actions.”

My shoulders slump and I let out a sigh of relief. “No, I hadn’t ever seen her around my father, but I can see if there’s anything in his records that mentions her.”

“Thank you,” Breyla says, turning her attention back to me. “Is there anything else?”

“The last bit is just servant’s gossip, but you know how that is. It usually holds some truth. Word is her family was recently gifted a large sum of money from an unknown benefactor.”

Breyla nods, taking a sip of her drink. “I think it’s past time we paid her family a visit.”

“Consider it done, General.”

Breyla turns to Jade next. “We’re still missing something from Nolan’s death. Can you see what you can find out from the castle guards? Discreetly, of course. Try not to need your coercion, but if you must use it, you have my full support.”

“I can handle that. They’ll probably trust me more than the rest of you, anyway.” She’s not wrong.

“I will continue looking into Ayden’s movements, just in case we’re missing something. My mother plans to announce her engagement to Lord Seamus at a dinner in three days’ time. We must have something more to go off by then.”

It’s quiet by the time we return to the castle from Luella’s. Elijah is walking me back to my chambers when his restraint finally snaps. Right before we arrive, he grabs me by the hip and presses me back against the door before I can open it.

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