Page 40 of The Sorrow of Shadows

“Not much,” Breyla grits. Her tone is clipped and guarded. “I’m following up on a potential lead tomorrow.”

Aurelius's eyes scan Breyla, analyzing her. He lifts an eyebrow at her. “Who might this lead be?”

“That’s classified, Lord Aurelius.” Even I can sense the bullshit in her words. She just doesn’t want to tell him, but I have no idea why. It’s difficult to read the situation with Breyla and Aurelius. He seems to care about her, but she fights him tooth and nail at every turn. At the same time, he knows exactly what to say to get under her skin.

His eyes narrow to slits, and I swear the fork in his hand bends. His next words are low and bitter. “Lying does not become you, Princess.”

“And being a nosey insufferable prick doesn’t become you, Lord Aurelius,” Breyla snaps back.

“Enough,” Queen Genevieve barks as the temperature in the room drops to a teeth-chattering level. I can see my own breath and hear the hiss coming from Breyla. The queen has frozen both Breyla and Aurelius's hands in place. She has teeth, a fact commonly overlooked until someone pushes her too far. Outwardly she was everything expected of a queen—patient, kind, gentle, and compassionate. She was also decisive, stern when necessary, and fiercely protective. She seemed willing to do what was necessary for the good of her people.

Breyla’s face softens. “Yes, Mother.”

Aurelius's expression doesn’t shift, but he nods to the queen, implying his compliance.

The queen seems satisfied enough with their reaction that she releases the ice binding them, and the room returns to a normal level. Both Aurelius and Breyla rub the stiffness out of their hands, the color slowly returning from blue to their natural tones. Jade and Julian share a look and snicker, while Elijah’s back silently shakes with restrained laughter. I get the feeling I’m either missing something, or perhaps this isn’t the first time the queen has had to deploy this tactic with Breyla.

“Now, General, please share with us what details you can. These developments are intriguing.” Breyla’s whole demeanorshifts when her mother addresses her this way. There seems to be an added tension between them.

“There is a member of the court with...questionable actions as of late. I can’t confirm or deny any connection to Nolan’s death, but it is enough for me to look into. I also have my suspicions that the servant we found in the river could be related to it all.” A pit forms in my stomach as I realize exactly who she’s referring to. I can’t exactly blame her for her suspicions, but I fear what this will mean for Layne and me if she is correct. History has shown us that people are anything but kind to families of traitors, no matter how innocent they may be.

I could recall an instance nearly eight hundred years ago. A heartbroken male named Myer had attempted to assassinate the entire ruling family. It was shortly after the Fae had disappeared from our lands, taking the male’s mate, a Fae female named Elythia, with them. While we could, and often did, form mate bonds, it was rumored that the bonds with the Fae were far stronger and granted special connections or powers. To lose a mate was thought to be impossible to survive.

Myer and Elythia had two small children, and she was carrying their third when she disappeared. Myer blamed the royal family for the Fae leaving and the loss of his mate. Myer wouldn’t live long enough to find out what it was like to live without his other half, and we have no idea whether he could have survived without her. He was successful in murdering King Grayson and Queen Amantia before the guards were able to subdue him. The three royal heirs survived, leaving Prince Ronan to ascend the throne at the age of fourteen.

Myer was executed the following morning, along with all members of his family—both parents, his siblings, and their families, and both his young children. Olivia and Finn were only two years old. In an instant, Myer’s entire line was wiped from existence. None of them knew what he planned, but it didn’t matter.The crown didn’t tolerate traitors or their families. It was a dark time in our history that most preferred to ignore.

Surely Breyla knew by now that I was loyal to her, but unease still rolled through me. I couldn’t bear the thought of Layne and I becoming the next history lesson.

“I am dispatching one of my most trusted soldiers to follow them, track who they are speaking with, and see if their actions prove traitorous or warrant an arrest. For now, we are just observing. I hope to have more clear information soon.” Breyla’s voice brought me out of my own head. I had almost forgotten we were in the middle of conversation.

Queen Genevieve looks as unsettled as I feel. “Very well, I pray to the gods you are wrong, and we are not fighting an enemy from within our own court. I trust your judgment, though. You will alert me as soon as you have any more information.” The queen pauses, before asking, “Why send your own and not the spymaster?”

Breyla wrinkles her nose and says softly, “I have my reasons, Mother. Most of them being Lord Craylor is vile and I do not trust him.”

“Your father trusted him.”

“Yes. And now Father is dead, so I doubt he has much to complain about now, anyway.” It is stated matter-of-factly, as if this is of little importance to her.

The queen’s face hardens, her eyes brimming with tears she refuses to let fall. “Indeed,” is all she manages, and the conversation ends.

The rest of the meal is uneventful and passes in silence. I find that as ravenous as I was to start, my stomach has gone sour.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

BREYLA

“Ride swiftly, my friend,” I say, grasping Julian’s forearm and pulling him in for a quick embrace before his departure.

“Of course, General. I’m your fastest rider; that’s why you’re sending me.” He squeezes me tightly. He’s cocky, but he’s right. He is the fastest rider, but he’s also my stealthiest soldier. Part of what makes him invaluable as my second in command. I inhale his leather and fresh rain scent and hold him for just a minute more before releasing him. His amber eyes sparkle in the late morning sun, the green especially bright today.

“Keep your distance. I don’t want anyone knowing what we’re up to.” We can’t afford for anyone to learn who we were trailing or why. He was more than capable, but I couldn’t help how my stomach twisted into knots. So much was riding on figuring out who was responsible for Nolan’s murder. I have a feeling they will also lead me to what really happened with my father.

He rolls his eyes. “This isn’t my first mission,B. No one will know I’m there.” He leans in to hug his twin next, then Elijah. Gracefully, Julian hoists himself onto the back of his midnight black mustang horse, Nox, and swings his right leg over in one fluid motion.

I pat Nox’s hindquarter, and Julian spurs him onto a trot, leaving us staring after him. When he reaches the castle gates, he briefly looks back and nods at us before disappearing through the castle’s outer walls. I remind myself he knows what he’s doing and what his mission is. Lord Seamus only left yesterday and isn’t a fast rider. Julian will ride hard today to make up ground on him but will stay out of major towns or places where he could be easily recognized. He is simply there to observe and report back on with whom Lord Seamus is meeting.

Jade, Elijah, and I turn back to the castle and make our way inside. My mother is standing in an open window several floors up, watching Julian leave. Her face is unreadable. My gaze catches her sky blue eyes, and I notice they’re rimmed in red, but she’s not currently crying. The red tinge causes the blue of her irises to pop and shine brighter. She holds my gaze for a moment, her expression unchanging, then turns from the window and disappears into the castle.

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