Page 22 of A Reign of Malice
Aeson wraps an arm around my waist. “If you need anything for the rest of the evening, Dasha’s available to you.”
With those final words, Aeson guides me out of the room. I want to look back at Clara, to beg her to get me out of this dinner, especially with how touchy-feely Aeson is tonight, but this is part of my role.
Feign affection. Smile brightly. Lie my ass off.
Most importantly, don’t get caught.
I need to make sacrifices to find answers, and if that means kissing a man who’s been lying to me, my lips will just have to understand.
My wolf snarls within my mind once more, but her temper only flares briefly. Even she can’t deny that if we’re going to set our mate free, we need to keep Aeson’s suspicions down.
He needs to believe that power is just as important to us as it is to him.
The hallway is quieter than usual, only the soft patter of our footsteps and the distant hum of castle life filling the space. Aeson keeps me tucked against his side, hand warm at my waist. It’s meant to be intimate, but all I feel is confined.
“We should plan a dinner for the night of the kings and queens’ arrival,” I tell him, musing over a few ideas. “Clara and Dasha should prepare their rooms now in case they arrive early. And we’ll need the finest carriages reserved to bring them from the docks to the castle, making sure to take the path through town, of course. Oh, and the kitchen should be stocked with their favorite foods. Everything should be perfect, and everyone should know that the other rulers of Lunara have made an effort to appear for our ceremony.”
If I pretend there’s a lot to do, maybe I can get out of this dinner sooner rather than later…
Aeson kisses the side of my head. “Oh, my queen. I love your eagerness to make our special day one that won’t soon be forgotten. But don’t you worry about any of that. I have this under control. All you need to focus on is being here in this castle and accepting your role as the Queen of Venaris.”
My steps falter.
There it is.
The tightening of his grip, the edge in his voice.
Control.
This time, though, I don’t hold back my discontent over his statement. There’s such a thing as “too agreeable” and that’s not who I’ve ever been. I won’t pretend otherwise, even for this.
Just before we reach the dining room, I stop him and look directly into the blue eyes that no longer feel as welcoming as they once did. “I thought I made it clear that I’m an active queen, and I intend to stay one. If this is going to be a problem for you…”
He shakes his head before I can say much more. “Not at all. I was merely trying to remove any added stress from your life. Losing your kingdom can’t be easy, even if we do have much to celebrate. If staying busy is what you need, please do so.”
I don’t miss the condescension hidden beneath his smile. He’s trying to make me sound weak. Gods, if I didn’t have to play nice… I switch the subject before I lose my temper. “Speaking of staying busy. More of my items will be brought over from the Alcaris castle over the next couple of days,” I tell him, deciding to ruffle him right back. “I won’t have enough room to store everything in the room with me, but I’d like to keep my belongings close. Do you mind if I utilize the attic or basement for things I don’t immediately need?”
His jaw tightens and eyes darken, but only briefly. If I hadn’t been watching for any signs, I might’ve missed them entirely as he leads us into the dining room, his hand burning into my lower back. “If you leave what you don’t need right now in the foyer, I’ll make sure it’s safely stored.”
I smile and nod as I take my seat to dine with him.
He didn’t say Icouldn’tdo it myself.
Checkmate, King Aeson.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
SLOANE
The castle feels colder tonight as I make my way to Clara’s room. A chill runs down my spine and my wolf perks up, but when I look around, I don’t see anything off-putting. Only the flickering of shadows thanks to the late hour and the sconces on the walls.
Squaring my shoulders, I continue, and when I enter Clara’s room, I find her perched on her bed, cross-legged, surrounded by scattered books. Her hair is mussed from hours of reading, but her eyes are piercing as they lift to meet mine.
“I found it.” Clara grins, holding up a leather-bound tome, its cover splintered with age.
The sight of the ancient book stirs something inside me—a mixture of hope and dread. I cross the room quickly, my chest tightening with every step. “Tell me.”
Clara flips through brittle pages, her fingers gentle despite her urgency. “The runes we saw? They were traditionally used for two purposes: to cleanse a place of dark energy or to strip power from an individual. The spell itself doesn’t choose. It only follows the intent of the caster.”
