Page 8 of Once the Skies Fade

“Well, what does she say?” I asked.

My friend dropped the paper onto his desk. “It’s an apology for not coming to the palace as requested.”

“Seems odd to apologize over a year later. Does it say where she’s heading?”

Connor shook his head. “She says she’strying to make things right—whatever that means—and asks Lieke to trust her.”

After several breaths of silence, I cleared my throat to get his attention.

“When is Brennan’s burial?” I asked quietly, and Connor blinked rapidly as if confused by the sudden change in topic.

“They arrive in a couple days. Why?”

“I would like to pursue this information from Marstens. If you’ll allow it, of course.”

Connor slowly pushed away from the desk and stood. He didn’t speak or look at me as he went to look out the window. He would soon be shoving his hands in his pockets like he always did when he was uncomfortable.

Sure enough, he did just that.

“It’s been a couple weeks since she passed through?”

“So he claims. Regardless, I’d like to verify and see if we can determine which kingdom she may have fled to. I already lost the trail on that Marin woman. I need to at least check this out.”

Connor pivoted slowly on his heel. His face wore a blank expression. “But you’ve been to Holsham already.”

“Several times,” I conceded. “But this is the best lead we’ve had in over a year. I can’t ignore it.”

“Not even for a few days?”

Standing from my chair, I met Connor’s hard gaze. A pang of guilt nipped at me for abandoning my friend at such a time, but I ignored it and said, “I’ll be back in time.”

Chapter 5

Matthias

Settling onto a barstool at the only pub in Holsham—The Houndstooth—I lifted a finger, signaling to the pub owner. This was decidedly one of my favorite pubs in our entire country, due in no small part to the pretty female who owned it. Hailee’s green eyes lit up with a playful wickedness as she came to stand in front of me, lifting a glass and bottle of whiskey from beneath the bar.

“Two visits in as many months, general? What did I do to deserve such a treat?” she asked, pursing her lips. But the mischievous gleam in her eyes indicated she knew exactly what she’d done the last time.

My gaze lifted lazily to the ceiling—to where her bedroom sat on the second floor—before circling back around to find her leaning across the bar. It was impossible to avoid staring at her breasts, which seemed ready to spill out of her dress at any moment. An accident I would welcome.

I smirked as the memories returned—her hands fisting her blankets, her brown hair cascading down her back, and her moans filling my ears. My body responded immediately to the images playing in my head, and I had to shift in my seat to relieve some of the pressure.

“Unfortunately, I’m not here for you—or me, for that matter,” I said.

“So, all business this time?” she asked, dropping her chin. Some of her hair fell from behind her shoulder, and I caught a lock of it in my hand. Rolling it between my thumb and forefinger, I pulled the corners of my mouth down and released a long exhale.

“I am in a bit of a rush.”

Hailee peered up from beneath thick lashes. “Some things don’t take too long, you know.”

Her tongue slid out to wet her bottom lip seductively before she bit down on it, flooding my mind with memories of all that mouth of hers could do.

Fuck.

I shifted again on the stool and shook my head, as much at her as at my own growing need for release. Connor might forgive my tardiness for business reasons, but this wasn’t likely on his list of acceptable excuses.

Finally, I said, “Maybe another time.”

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