Page 88 of A Court Bright and Broken

“Still, he needs to be informed,” I said. “If he hasn’t heard already. He might not have. As you know, he likes to sleep in the night after a ball. I’m sure the servants and guards are afraid to wake him—for any reason.”

“I know how they feel,” Pharis muttered. “Maybe I’ll let Mareth do it. She can bring along a grizzly bear or a crocodile for protection—or at least for more pleasant company.”

“He’ll be glad you’ve told him,” I assured my brother. “I’d do it but he’ll probably want to send someone with lie-detecting glamour to Altum to find out if Lord Elardis knew of a plot—and want you to go along.”

“You mean he’ll be on the warpath and want to send one of his two favorite weapons.” Pharis sneered.

The hurt in his tone was a reminder that despite last night, we were in this together, two of the three pillars that struggled to persevere under our father’s heavy hand.

Lowering my head and making my tone penitent, I placed a hand on my brother’s shoulder.

“Perhaps you were right all along, and Lord Elardis sent someone to eliminate us so he could have a shot at the throne. It’s possible she intended to do it and changed her mind—or she was just thwarted in her plans. Either way, we need answers.”

“I should have listened to you,” I acquiesced. “You may have prevented me from being poisoned last night.”

The corner of Pharis’ mouth quirked up. “Apology accepted. Well, I’m off to wake the king with bad news. Wish me luck.”

He departed, and I went back into my suite, ordering the guards to keep me informed of any new developments.

Later, Iwouldgo to the dungeon and question the old woman who’d been imprisoned there. It wasn’t likely to lead to anything, but I’d leave no stone unturned in solving this mystery.

Right now though, I had to make sure Raewyn didn’t wander out into the hallway and right into a hornet’s nest. I also needed time to think and come up with some sort of plan to keep her safe.

She was an innocent human in the wrong place at the wrong time.

And those poor souls usually wound up dead.

Chapter 23

Things Have Changed

Raewyn

I woke with a startle to the sound of a door opening.

The cottage had onlyonedoor—which meant there was an intruder inside. I bolted upright, ready to spring from my bed and protect my family.

And then I realized I wasn’tinmy bed. Not in the cottage.

WherewasI? My legs were stretched out beneath the most luxurious bedding I’d ever seen or felt.

All around me hung lush folds of teal-colored fabric. Bed curtains. Something I’d read about but never actually seen in real life. They were partially open to an elegantly appointed room so large and bright you could hold a party inside.

The ball.

Memories of last night—both good and bad—rushed back into my mind like a river after a rainfall.

“It’s all right. Only me.”

Stellon’s voice. Comforting and, by now, familiar. I was in his bedroom.

Through the gap in the curtains, he came into view, approaching the bed. His face was grim, though he wasn’t unfriendly.

“Do you feel better?” he asked.

“Better?”

He sat on the edge of the plush mattress. “Yes. After a night’s sleep. I trust it was restful.”

---