Page 171 of Bloodguard

She shakes her head. “I just want you to know.” She swallows. “I want you to know that I will always support you and protect you any way I can.” She looks so serious I find myself holding my breath, but then something over my shoulder catches her eye, and her expression brightens. “Caelen has arrived. I must go.”

The look on her face makes my heart ache. She loves him.

After giving my hand a squeeze, she practically skips away, but then she rushes back to me. “I, uh, borrowed a couple of things from your room last night. Hope you don’t mind.”

I know we are being watched by those around us, so I school my features to prevent my confusion from showing. Soro ordered that no one be allowed entrance to my wing except my maids. It would be impossible for her to borrow anything.

Before I can even take a breath to respond, she says, “Brynne and Lita are really nice. I met them in the city yesterday, and we had a long talk.” And with that, she spins and pushes her way through the sea of jewels and silk and satin toward a box two down from mine, where her love awaits.

Chin high, expression neutral, I make my way across the landing to where Soro and Ugeen are deep in conversation by the arched corridor entrance. Ugeen is dressed all in pink, because he didn’t look enough like a knob already. The color bleaches his already pasty skin, and since today is extra special, his head is polished to a high shine.

Ugeen steps away from Soro and the servant and shakes his head as I approach. “What a poor excuse for a queen,” he says. He’s speaking loudly, belittling me so others will, too—no doubt part of a plan to weaken me in the eyes of my people to allow Soro more power.

Soro sends two guards in the direction of where the ladies disappeared, their quick steps echoing along the high walls and ceilings of the immense corridor.

Ugeen leans into Soro and smiles. “You’ll do better your next go around, my king.”

He’s still angry at me for slapping him.

I learned my lesson, though. No more slapping Ugeen.

“Pfft,” he says, wrinkling his nose as if I smell bad. “Disgusting.”

I respond with a regal wave to his face and a right hook to his jaw.

See? Lesson learned. I didn’t slap him once.

Ugeen falls on his ass, as per usual, smacking the hands of the guards who try to help him up. He lunges at me but is cut short when the guards assigned to me swarm him with their swords out.

“Uh, uh, uh,” I say. “Mustn’t attack the queen. Her royal guards don’t like it.”

Ugeen no longer has anything to say.

But Soro will have plenty. I groan when he bypasses Ugeen and marches to my side.

Soro is all dolled up in dark-blue breeches and shirt with a matching robe for our special day. And don’t get me started on the sheer volume of gems woven into his hair.

“Would it kill you to behave like a decent bride?” Soro asks.

“Hard to be decent when I’m engaged to an overly bedazzled prick.” I don’t finish speaking before Soro raises his hand to strike me, and I instinctively cover my face. I immediately regret it and lower my hands, not wanting to appear weak or cowed by this man. I’m the queen, dammit.

With a growl, Soro reins in his anger and drops his arm, hand clenched. “If I find out you had anything to do with Aisling’s disappearance…” he warns, voice shaking in a way that suggests… My, does he actually have a heart in there?

Too damn bad.

I lift my chin and regard him as if his mere presence makes me ill. It’s not hard. “You said it was Tut. That they fought when he tried to free the—”

His seething scowl cuts me off. “I don’t think it was him. Tut was ruthless, but Aisling was, too.” Coming from him, it almost sounds like a compliment.

I raise my eyebrows. “Aisling was an opportunist, just like Ugeen.” I give the man a glare. “What makes you think she didn’t side with Tut and make the catacombs appear as if they fought?” My, that doesn’t sound so bad, so I keep going. I sidle closer, as if he didn’t almost strike me—as if I want to help him rather than feed his paranoia. “What if Ugeen is in on it with her? Hasn’t he already proven he’s willing to lie about such things to suit his interests?”

Soro’s features sharpen to obsidian blades. I tilt my head as if confused. It’s better than appearing like I’ve knowingly gone too far, which I fear I have.

He stares at me for a beat, then hooks my arm and drags me forward. “Come on. You’re late enough.”

The bright sun stings my eyes as we step out into the stands. Soro releases me, not bothering to help me on the stone steps I want to push him down. So help me, if I ever get the chance, I’ll fling him from the royal box.

The overhang, swathed in white, affords some relief from the sun’s bright rays. White silk is draped over every seat, starting in the Middling section, and white petals are strewn along the rows where bet takers run up and down. Bouquets spilling with white-flowered vines are placed at each row. This is a spectacle indeed.

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