Page 110 of A Court Bright and Broken

“Care to say that in a way that removes all doubt?” he challenged.

Shifting to mental conversation, I repeated myself.Lady Wyn is not in my room. I haven’t seen her since the night of the ball, and I have no idea where she is.

“Now what is all this about?” I asked.

Pharis slid his gaze to the bedroom door again, glaring at it as if it had personally offended him.

“You’ve been spending an unusual amount of time holed away in here,” he said. “The only thing that made any sense to me was thatshewas in here with you. That she still had you under her spell.”

“Well she’s not, and I’m not under any sort of spell. Satisfied?”

He must not have been because he scrutinized my face for a long moment then started moving toward the bedroom. I stepped into his path.

“It’searly, and I plan to go back to bed,” I said. “The social will run late tonight. You might want to rest up as well.”

Pharis didn’t look pleased about it, but he stopped and didn’t force himself past me to the bedroom door as I’d worried he might.

“Wyn might not be in there,” he said. “But something strangeisgoing on with you.”

“You’re right. I’m being forced into marriage with a stranger. Can you blame me for wanting to enjoy my last moments of freedom to myself? I’d recommend you do the same. Both our lives will be irrevocably changed by the time this Assemblage ends.”

My brother stared at me a few moments longer before speaking.

“I won’t be at the social tonight,” he said. “I’m planning to depart for Altum shortly.”

“Shouldn’t you wait for the envoy to return? It’ll be any day now,” I said.

“I can’t trust an envoy,” Pharis muttered. “Lord Elardis could have all sorts of advisors with glamours we know nothing about. And I’m pretty sure I know whathersis. He could have sent Lady Wyn to use her particularwileson you—on all of us.”

“You’ll miss the remainder of the Assemblage,” I said.

Pharis smirked. “Pity.” He turned to leave, speaking over his shoulder as he made his way to the sitting room door.

“The envoy could very well return brainwashed. If Wyn could do it to you at the ball, she could do it to him—or any of our guards who might come across her. I’m going to get to the bottom of this myself. If Lady Wyniswithin his palace or his territory—or ever has been—I’ll find her.”

It was a surprise to witness so much determination from Pharis. I’d never seen him latch onto a purpose like this. Lady Wyn had gotten under his skin as well, if only to irritate him.

But while my fascination with her had faded almost entirely, Pharis seemed to be on the verge of obsession.

“Well, ride safely then. I’ll see you when you return,” I said and locked the door behind him.

When I returned to the bedroom, Raewyn was up and dressed, to my great dismay. I noticed she was getting around much better on the injured ankle now.

Soon it would heal completely, and the Assemblage would be over as well. Our time together was coming to an end.

The thought dropped on me like a heavy cloak, weighing down my shoulders.

“I’ll be out late tonight,” I informed her.

“Oh? What’s the occasion this time?” she teased. “An ax-throwing competition between the ladies vying for your attention? A timed tapestry-weaving contest?”

“It’s just a social for the guests and locals who are still unbonded. Drinks and light fare and conversation. It’s mandatory, even for me.”

“You Elves areseriousabout your mating rituals, aren’t you?”

“Itisone of the main purposes of the Assemblage,” I told her. “Anyway, it will probably run late. You may be asleep by the time I return.”

“In that case, I’ll go ahead and bid you a good dayanda good night—and wish you, ‘happy wife hunting.’”

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