Page 66 of A Witch and Her Dragon
The knight steps forward and offers me his hand. “Sir Ashvale, I was sent by His Majesty to relieve you of your post. I’m Sir Callahan.”
After a brief moment of hesitation, I meet him halfway, shoving my hand into his and giving it a firm shake. “Thank you for coming.”
My gaze flicks back the way I came, to where thedining hall is, to where Alina is. I thought I’d get a chance to say goodbye, but perhaps it’s better this way. It’s better if I go quietly.
I focus on Sir Callahan again, shoving my feelings down as deep as I can. “I’ll get you up to speed. We’ve much to discuss.”
Chapter 29
Alina
“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?” Lyra says, sitting forward at the dining table and leveling a look at Tristan. “Fire is definitely the strongest element. There’s no comparison.”
“You’re wrong.” Tristan braces one arm on the table. “Water far outpowers fire. It can even carve away stone. Can your flames do that?”
Lyra narrows her crimson eyes, gearing up for another rebuttal.
I glance at Maeve, who lost interest in their discussion ten minutes ago and is now flipping through a small book of poetry. Beside her, Poppy has pulled out one of her schoolbooks and is sipping a cup of tea while reading through a chapter. I swear, she reads her textbooks like they’re romance novels.
It’s taken all my willpower not to glance over at Raelan during dinner. After what he said to me in thehall, I can barely stand the thought of looking at him, of seeing his dark eyes and shadowed jaw and remembering what his hands feel like, all while knowing I can’t ever have them again.
Thinking of it sends another ember of embarrassment and anger burning through me. How could he do that to me, especially after I told him I’d never been with anyone else? I can’t help but to feel like he led me on, knowing all along he had no intention of taking what we had seriously.
Finally, I can’t resist lifting my gaze and glancing toward the doorway, where Raelan typically stands while I eat.
Except, Raelan isn’t the one standing there.
Someone else has taken his place, a man I barely recognize save for crossing paths with him at the castle. He’s staring right back at me, and when I meet his eyes, he gives me a barely perceptible nod. Cordial. Professional. Cold.
Just like all the guards at home.
But where is Raelan?
My stomach pinches painfully.
I push to my feet, but Maeve is the only one to notice, given Poppy is lost in her book and Lyra and Tristan are still arguing over elemental magic.
“What’s wrong?” she asks.
“I... don’t know,” I mumble, not tearing my eyes from the new knight. “I’ll be back.”
Striding across the dining hall, I walk right up to the knight, who bows his head when I stop before him.
“Who’re you?” I ask. “And where’s Sir Ashvale?”
“I’m Sir Callahan, Your Highness. I’ve replaced Ashvale as your personal guard.”
A tendril of cold snakes through me, gripping my heart and squeezing. “What?”
Sir Callahan’s forehead furrows, a curious tilt to his head. “Were you unaware of the change, Your Highness? Sir Ashvale requested immediate replacement. His Majesty sent me as soon as he received word.”
Raelan did this? He wrote to Grandfather asking to be replaced?
The cold in my heart turns to heat. My fingers curl into fists, and I feel ice spreading across my knuckles as my anger seeps out. “Where is he?”
“Your Highness, I—”
“Answer me. Where is Sir Ashvale?”
