Page 69 of A Dance of Shadows

“Oh, yes, very,” Neven says, not at all convincingly. “Watch for the signs of the gods! I’m sure they won’t lead you astray.”

He hurries past us without another word. My gaze catches on Raul’s. His mouth twists with a hint of a grimace as if to say he doesn’t know what to make of the young prince’s behavior, but he doesn’t like it.

Lorenzo mentioned that Neven had made an odd comment about being pulled in different directions. We’ve all been keeping a careful watch over him—as well as we can without drawing his ire—but none of us have seen any indication of what he might have meant.

I’ll need to talk to him about what to expect in Goric before much longer. Gods willing, I’ll be able to get through to him more than his foster brothers have.

A carriage is already waiting outside. Before my guards clamber onto their seats on the outside, the woman aims a wary look at Raul.

“If you need anything, just shout, Your Imperial Highness,” she says to me.

Does she think he’s going to maul me—one way or another—while we’re riding into the city?

At least it doesn’t appear my husband gave the guards the impression that I’d welcome any version of those intentions.

Raul ignores her remark and nods to the driver. “Amdray Square.”

We clamber into the carriage to find a basket waiting on the floor. The prince opens it up with a smack of his lips. “Good, they remembered. I told the staff we couldn’t be expected to seek out legendary artifacts without some kind of breakfast.”

He passes me a cheese-and-berry-stuffed pastry on a napkin. Here in the relative privacy of the carriage, his fingers stroke over mine before he withdraws them. The tingle that ripples over my skin nearly displaces my anxiety about this quest.

I wish I could lean forward and kiss him, but we can hardly risk that clear a display of affection by the open windows.

Instead, I slide my foot forward so it rests against his—a distant touch with the layers of leather between us, but a clear gesture all the same. Raul aims a fond smile my way, although his gaze still looks darker than usual.

Why wouldn’t it be, given what lies ahead?

The thought of Linus’s hints at the violence he has planned for the pledging ceremony unsettles my stomach. What will my sadistic husband do to the people of Lavira?

Can it be worse than the horrors he’s already carried out?

If he has anything to say about it, I’d imagine it will.

“It should be interesting to see how the city folk respond to the pledging ceremony,” I say carefully. “I expect my husband will make it quite the spectacle.”

On my lap, I form a couple of emphatic gestures.Bring medics.

Raul’s jaw clenches at my warning. He nods to show he’s understood.

His gaze focuses to my belly. “Are you sure you’re up for a treasure hunt as well in your condition?”

He makes his tone almost sneering for the benefit of the guards outside, but he catches my gaze with genuine concern.

“I feel quite well, actually,” I say. “The ladies of the Accasian court always said the middle period of a pregnancy is the most joyful time.”

If Linus had charged me with this quest when I was at the point of waddling, then we might have had words.

Raul simply hums, but the shadows of the carriage shift. A gentle pressure wraps around my hand as if to give it a reassuring squeeze.

We’re in this mess together as always, however messy it might become.

I reach out to set my napkin in the basket and let the paper I wrote on flutter from my sleeve. Raul picks it up and flicks his gaze over it.

I keep my voice measured. “His Imperial Majesty will be so pleased to have such a powerful relic in his possession.” At the same time, I twist my fingers by my side in the signal forNo.“I’m sure there’s nothing else in the realms quite like it.”You find? Make?

Raul knows me well enough to follow my meaning. “Certainly not with such impressive magical effects,” he says, lifting an eyebrow at me in question.

“I’m glad I can take on this quest for him,” I say, meaning that I can handle that part of the scheme.

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