Page 12 of The Sorrow of Shadows

“I came to offer my service to you as a lady-in-waiting. Pardon my brazenness, but you seem like you could use a friend.” I decide to be direct. Breyla seems like one who would appreciate that approach.

“I have a friend—Elijah. Why would I need another?” she quips.

“Is that what he is?” I ask bluntly.

“What else would he be?” The corner of her mouth quirks. Had I read that situation wrong?

“Perhaps more than a friend?” I suggest and raise a brow. She easily has half a foot on me and stares down at me with an intrigued look on her face. Until she bursts into laughter, her whole body shaking.

“Is that what you think? Eli and I?” She can barely get her words out.

I shrug my shoulders, readily accepting my embarrassment. “It’s just how it looked. My apologies for misreading the situation.”

“No need to apologize. That’s comical. Almost as comical as you thinking I’d believe you are here on your own volition to ‘be my friend’.” She uses her fingers as air quotes for the last part.Shit.

“It is true! It was not my idea originally, but?—”

“Please spare me your sugar-coated lies. You spoke plainly moments ago; let’s not change that now. I know it was yourfather’s idea.” She is the bluntest royal I’ve ever met. I feel a growing spark of admiration for her.

“Very well. It was my father’s wish for me to become one of your ladies. I won’t pretend to understand his motivations, but I don’t wish to disappoint him. He is...unpleasant to those who do not meet his standards,” I say carefully.

“Now that I believe, but you aren’t telling me everything. Allow me to be blunt. Ophelia, do you trust your father’s intentions?”

“Not in the least,” I reply without hesitation.

She accepts that answer, “And do you trust mine?”

“I want to. But to be frank, I don’t know you well enough to answer that question.” It was the truth. If she’s surprised by my response, she doesn’t show it.

“I like your intuition, Ophelia. You will need to trust it to survive,” she continues. “Though I’m still not sure I trust you. So, you have two options. First, you can leave here and tell your father about this conversation. Or secondly you can tell him that you believe I intend to reach for the throne and remove my mother from power. Option two is a lie, but if you deliver that message, I will know you are loyal to me. I will have no one close to me that I cannot trust. I’ve already dismissed all my maids, and I will not hesitate to dismiss you as well. Choose your allegiances carefully, Ophelia.”

She doesn’t have to say anything further for me to know I’ve been dismissed. I have a difficult decision to make. I politely excuse myself as I contemplate what to do now. As I close her door, I glance left and see Lord Aurelius exiting the chambers directly next to Breyla’s. I find it odd that he’s not staying with Queen Genevieve, or at least next to her chambers instead. I acknowledge him with a slight nod and curtsey.

The walk across the castle is long as I contemplate the decision I must make. On the one hand, if I choose to deceive Father and he finds out, he will make my life miserable—and painful.On the other hand, he’s done nothing to earn my loyalty, and I think Breyla might protect me if I earn her trust.

“How did your meeting with the princess go?” is the first thing Father asks as soon as I have the door closed. He’s in a mood; I can practically feel the electric current of his lightning filling the room.

“Very well, Father,” I start, and he gives me a sinister smile. “There is something you need to know about the princess.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

BREYLA

Sweat pours down my back and forehead as I block another attack from Elijah’s blunted sword.

“C’mon, General. I know you’re better than that,” Eli taunts and smirks at me. His golden locks are tied up in a knot on top of his head. I can see sweat forming on him, but not nearly as much as me since he’s wearing substantially less clothing. I train in my leathers, but he only wears trousers and boots. His bare chest gleams in the sunlight, highlighting all the lines of the eight-pack lining his abdomen. Ryder and Zion stand outside the practice ring; both are also bare-chested and gleaming in the late summer sun. Eli catches me staring. “My eyes are up here, General.”

“I’m just distracted. Did you get more abs since my last visit?” I ask, trying to flame his ego. I know how my friend works, and I just hope he doesn’t realize what I’m up to.

“Why, I thought you’d never notice. Too bad I know what you’re doing, and it won’t work. No amount of flattery will distract me from kicking your ass,” he says, winking at me.

Dammit.It was worth a shot. I take a deep breath before feinting right and going to his left instead. With a quick twirl, he blocks my sword and flips the blade from my hands. It sails several yards, landing out of my reach.

I suddenly feel eyes on me, and I don’t have to look to know it’s the future king watching from the shadows. He thinks himself inconspicuous, but I am acutely aware of every time he watches me. I turn my attention back to Elijah. I’m disarmed and running out of options. In a move that’s as much for my comfort as it is a distraction to the males present, I remove the leather vest holding my tunic in place. I slip off the tunic as well, leaving me only in the wrap binding my breasts down. While the move is scandalous, I can’t be bothered to care. I was the general of the royal army. It was something I did frequently amongst my soldiers, albeit not appropriate behavior for aprincess.This was one of the many reasons why I hated that title and the expectations with which it came.

“Now that’s not playing fair, B. If you wanted to get naked with me, you didn’t need to get me into the training yard to do so,” Elijah complains. How he manages to whine and flirt simultaneously is a skill only he seems to have.

“Stop flirting, and let’s finish this,” I quip back. He charges me, sword raised, but he doesn’t see my next move coming. I rush at him, and at the last second, I drop down and slide under his outstretched sword arm. I spring to my feet and jump on his back, wrapping my forearm around his neck and squeezing just hard enough. He’s forced to drop his sword to try and remove me from his back.Perfect.

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