Page 116 of Crownless King

She curled her lips, wrinkling her nose.

“Not much, just that he’s incredibly spiteful. He once had an argument with my father about who killed a boar during the hunt. My father won the argument, but High Lord Bussard hasn’t spoken to him since.” She gave me a long look. “Are you all right?”

I caught myself pacing the floor and stopped, releasing a breath. “Sorry, I’m just…”

“Worried?” She nodded in understanding. “Come.” She tugged at my hand. “I’ll take you to a spot where you can watch him safely.”

The moment Voron had gone out of my sight, the invisible string that connected my heart to his stretched too thinly, spiking my anxiety.

“You bonded couples can be insufferable. I’ve learned that with Libelle,” Dove lamented, dragging me through a door into a different tower of the palace, then up a narrow winding staircase. “Normally, I’d fly,” she chatted. “But it’s best to stay inside for now.”

“When do you think it will be over?”

“The battle? Soon enough. King Voron has fended off many attacks on the palace already, defending his crown. He’ll deal with this one, too.”

I latched onto her words with hope, wishing to believe them with all my heart.

“High Lord Bussard thought he was clever to assassinate the king before the attack,” she said to me over her shoulder, ascending the stairs. “One thing he hadn’t accounted for was you being here to bring your sweetheart back to life. And look at you, little human. You are the queen now.” She gave me a quick curtsy on the top landing and teased, “Your Majesty.”

“Stop it.” I shook my head with a smile. “I’m not.”

“But that’s what the king said—you are his queen. I thought I would never forgive him for what he did to you. He found and publicly executed the man who tried to assassinate you in the palace of High Lord Pelargos, but it didn’t help the way I felt. I tried to leave Elaros, but my father wouldn’t let me, even though I told him I would never marry the king. Not that the king wished to marry, anyway. He turned away every single bride presented to him.”

“What happened to Lady Lark?”

“Oh, she was the first one to leave, after her father fell out of favor with the king. Losing all hope of ever becoming the queen, she married that stuck-up Lord Bruant. Which makes them a perfect pair, if you ask me. They can just sit in their palace now and argue for hours about what’s the most elegant way to fold a napkin.”

I snorted a laugh, shaking my head.

“Clearly, the king waited foryou,” Dove chatted, dragging me along. “He wanted no one else. When he fell to his knees at your feet, in front of the entire court… Oh.” She fanned herself. “I forgave him for everything at once in that moment.”

I wished my feelings were as clear on that, too. But it wasn’t so easy. My love for Voron helped me forgive him. I might feel mad and rage at him in anger, but I did forgive any wrong he’d done to me.

I loved him. I forgave him. But I wasn’t sure I could fully trust him again. Trust was more fragile than even the heart. Repairing it would take time. I had yet to figure out how to trust Voron with my most precious secret—our son.

Dove studied my face for a second. “What’s the matter? Is something wrong, Sparrow?”

I couldn’t discuss this with her. Not yet.

I shook my head. “Nothing is wrong. Tell me,” I asked, scrambling to change the topic. “How did that lord do? The one you had tied to your bed? Remember the night you helped me escape?”

A dreamy smile lit up her face.

“Oh, Lord Colomb. Why? If you think he suspected anything, you don’t need to worry. He waited patiently for me to return and never asked any questions. He’s such a sweetheart.”

“Oh, I’m not worried. I’m just—”

“Ooh. Are you curious?” She shot me an excited glance.

“Curious about what?” I couldn’t quite focus, trying to keep up with her brisk pace up yet another staircase.

“Bedroom games are fun,” she gushed. “There are so many exciting toys. You know what, I’ll send you some new ones I have. They’re waiting to be used.”

What was she talking about?

But I had no chance to clarify.

Dove grabbed my arm, drawing me behind a tall pillar on the side of a high window in the tower. “All right. We’re here. Can you move the vines a little?”

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