Page 30 of A Baron of Bonds
Or, possibly, she guessed the whole of it.
No fewer than twelve of her guards were surrounding us, longswords drawn as if we were a threat to their city and queen.
“I see you have deceived the crown yet again.”
Captain Yarah picked up the broken amethyst band from the mosaic floor and brought it to the dais for the Queen’s inspection.
“I did not deceive you, Your Highness. You made assumptions about amethyst dampening all power from Felgren, and, understandably, I did not correct you.”
Her dark eyes narrowed and she stepped off the dais toward us.
Karus moved in front of me swiftly, letting go of my hand before I could tighten my grip. “I have returned to Hyrithia, Queen Rina, to defend the Baron of Felgren and his actions regarding my health and whereabouts these last seven years. No trial or council of the leaders of Arcaynen will be needed once you have heard what I have come to say.”
“Ash’Arah, my dear, I have no doubt this man has besotted you with his words of flattery and his well-crafted lies, and I?—”
“Karus.” She stepped forward, pushing her way through the drawn swords to reach the Queen as if their sharp edges were a mere nuisance. “My name is Karus and you will address me assuch. I have much to tell you and you have much to learn, so I advise we speak privately, Your Majesty.”
The slightest hint of amusement filtered through the guards and pride tore through my chest watching my love demand the respect she deserved.
The Queen lifted her chin, just a few feet away from the young woman she thought to be dead only weeks ago. I admired her strength as well.
“I cannot allow?—”
“ASH!”
A door to the left of the throne room flew open and the Prince stumbled forward. His tunic hung off one shoulder in careless dishevelment, his call slurred, and one of his eyes sporting a blossoming bruise.
Geyrand entered the hall behind him, and I nodded to the man I had grown to like, even if every ounce of me was annoyed he’d ever known Karus at all.
Karus turned and her face lit in a direct beam of pure sunlight as she gasped, “Philius!”
“Leave! All of you! At once!” the Queen demanded and guards sheathed their swords, hustling out of the room one by one. Captain Yarah remained by the Queen.
Karus ran to the Prince and fell to her knees just as he collapsed to the floor in sobs so desolate it hurt to hear them.
“You were d-dead,” he sobbed into her hair and she squeezed him, shushing his cries with whispers I could not hear.
Queen Rina’s gaze met mine. She stepped forward, ignoring her drunken son and his reunion with the woman he loved as a sister. “The Council of Arcaynen will unite in two days’ time, Baron Revich, regardless of what she has to say.”
I nodded, shoving my empty hands into my pockets to tighten in a fist. “I’ll be there to attend it.” I smirked as irritation narrowed her eyes. “You have nothing to fear from me, YourHighness. I only seek peace and to strengthen the ties between Felgren and the great cities of Arcaynen. I have been open and honest with you, and Karus will corroborate the history of the last seven years. I will wait for you to speak to her alone, but then,”—I stepped closer, our eyes meeting with the same determined spirit borne to us through circumstance—“I will not let her out of my sight.”
“If she is any of the same girl I raised, she would never allow it. You really think you can possess her, Revich?”
I snickered and grinned, knowing Karus had no problem feeling a possession ofme. “Don’t worry. The feeling’s mutual.”
Chapter 20
Karus
“Sing to meof the sweet, blue sea.
Sing to me of Hyrithia.
Whisper to me of the grass that’s green.
Whisper to me of Hyrithia.
In the fields of wheat and grain,
