Page 97 of Stolen
To question everything.
To let that old familiar ache of insecurity creep in, whispering that I don’t belong here.
That I’m just a woman swept up in a fantasy.
That this place, this power, this man—it was all meant for someone else.
But I won’t.
I refuse to let jealousy or fear get the better of me.
Not when Alaric isn’t here to speak for himself.
Not when I know in my heart that what we have is real.
That I am not some placeholder in his bed or a pawn in a political game.
I am his viyella.
And until he tells me otherwise, I’m going to act like it.
Which means taking care of the people under this roof, no matter how difficult—or highborn—they are.
And if Dauphiné is causing this much tension in the kitchen alone?
Then maybe it’s time we met face to face.
Because I can’t protect the Eyrie from behind a curtain.
And no one—no one—is going to walk all over the people I’ve come to care for.
Not even a beautiful—I have to assume she is beautiful, I mean, most everyone here is—bitter noblewoman with delusions of grandeur and a past with the man I love.
I exhale slowly, offering Harold a quick pat on the shoulder.
His grumbling has reached full teakettle status, and his face is red enough to match it.
“I’ll handle it,” I murmur.
His eyes widen. Harold clutches his apron and pats his face with it.
“Oh! Thank you. But are you sure, Lady Jules? She’s been barking orders like she thinks she’s Queen of the Realms. Tried to fire Nyna three times just this morning. I don’t want you to go through any trouble for me.”
“It’s no trouble. And let her try that with me. I’ll show her what it means to be a Jersey Girl,” I grumble.
I don’t even mean to sound so sharp. But I’m tired. I miss Alaric.
I haven’t heard his voice in days, only felt his presence through the zareth.
I don’t need some highborn drama queen making life hell for the people trying to hold this place together.
“Lady Jules, are you sure?” Nyna asks in a small, frightened voice.
“Yep. I’m sure,” I mutter, tugging off my apron. “I think it’s way past time, I have a little chat with our noble houseguest.”
Because I might not be a queen or a general or a born Lady.
But according to Alaric and everyone else here,Iam the Lady of the Eyrie.
