Page 67 of Degradation

“I will send out the invitations immediately,” he said.

Eadric waited until Philip closed the door behind him and pulled me back into his arms.

“I don’t like that we need you to attend these meetings,” he said. “Brandle was trying to keep you from them.”

“Why?” I asked, hugging Eadric in return.

“I think Brandle’s disappearance proves how dangerous they are,” Liam said.

I eased out of Eadric’s arms and faced Liam. His soft brown gaze swept over my face as I placed my hands on my hips.

“Staying in my home was dangerous. Running through the Dark Forest was dangerous. Scaling the cliff was dangerous. Yet, I’ve survived it all.” He took my hands and brought them to his lips.

“Which is why we want to protect you. You’ve suffered enough.”

I exhaled heavily. “Life is filled with dangers, Liam, and I am not interested in being sheltered from them. Let me live beside you, not in your shadow or locked away in some room for my safety. That’s not living.”

He kissed my forehead. “I would like to see Brandle deny you when you state it like that.”

A laugh escaped me. “He and Edmund can be equally stubborn when it comes to my safety.”

“Garron too,” Eadric said.

Someone lightly knocked on the door.

“Enter,” Liam called.

The moment the door opened, I felt the woman’s judgment. Philip hadn’t felt anything notable when I’d kissed Eadric and Liam; however, the maid entering had strong thoughts about my impropriety for allowing Liam to stand so close to me.

Liam didn’t stop me from stepping away from him and remained quiet as I walked to the woman and took the tray from her.

“Not everything is what it seems,” I said. “I’ve done far more to be deemed improper than to embrace a man.”

Goading another to force them to reveal their deeper thoughts was something I considered Eloise’s specialty. However, I wasn’t without skills of my own, and they proved themselves when the maid’s expression reflected her shock.

Her chaotic thoughts imagined what indecencies I’d allowed Liam—only Liam, though. Her affront almost hid her yearning. She knew who these men were and wished she’d been able to catch the youngest’s gaze since status didn’t seem to bother him.

She thought me a maid.

Humor lit within me as I recalled how the men in the glade had first reacted to me as well.

Then her thoughts turned to catching Eadric’s eye since Liam was obviously taken.

The whole while, she still looked properly aghast.

“What is your name?” I asked her.

“Margret,” she said.

“A beautiful name. It was my mother's.” I looked at Eadric and lifted the tray toward him. He immediately fetched it from me. Margret’s thoughts churned. She questioned why a prince of the kingdom—even a dethroned one—would answer to my beckoning.

“She was a very open and understanding woman. I hope you’re the same.”

“Miss?” she said, clearly confused.

“I am not a simple maid. Nor am I simply a caster.”

She began to fear she offended me.

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