Page 88 of Knightfall
Abbas hadn’t said a word to anyone. Quinn’s people had followed him around, and only seen him go on a nature walk through the palace orchards, where he’d been accosted by a rabbit, nearly tripping over it.
“Wyle says that elven chains need a ring to activate them. And a magical spell. Not impossible. But Abbas is the djinn who only received speed as his power. I doubt he inherited enough power himself to activate it. He could have a witch or mage in his entourage who could, though,” Declan said.
He has a glowing ring in his rooms,Quinn said.But he hasn’t put it on. That could be a power source. No one in his entourage has done any active spell work though.
“Would his brothers be able to activate it?” I asked.
“Probably,” Declan sighed. “If they’d come.”
I kicked my legs up on the side of my chair and played with my hair. “Conspiracy theory. Most husband groups are not like mine, cobbled together. Most are families of brothers. Or groups of male friends who seek a wife. Would you, in a normal situation—not ours—have let your brother go to meet your future wife without you?”
“No,” Declan shook his head vehemently.
No sarding way.
“Well, then, further conspiracy. What if his brothers are here somehow?”
“The spell at the gates removes all disguise spells,” Declan gave me a look that said I was an idiot.
I glared at him. “I said it was a conspiracy theory.”
“The brothers have been ill since their mother passed away four months ago.”
I sighed. “Fine.”
It’s not a terrible theory, Dove. The rest of them are shape shifters. It’s just … highly unlikely.
“I just … something in my gut just feels wrong. Abbas shouldn’t be here alone. He should have rescheduled. He didn’t. Why not? Why did his brothers let him come? Unless they’re desperate for this alliance? Unless there’s something here they really want or need. Something they can’t wait for…”
I trailed off. Evaness was a prosperous and country. We had fertile fields.
If Abbas was desperate enough to come here without his brothers, why the hell was he insulting me? I yanked a hank of hair, frustrated. I was going in circles. I was getting nowhere.
“Dammit!” I cursed, just as my door swung open.
“Dammit!” Connor’s voice reverberated off my walls. He stomped in carrying an armload of white daisies. “Stop sarding trying to buy my forgiveness with pranks! You think sending every cute serving girl under the age of six with a flower is going to convince me you’re not a liar? That we aren’t spelled?”
I watched Connor dump the daisies all over my bed. “I didn’t—”
Next to me, Declan and Quinn burst into laughter.
Connor and I turned to face them.
I put my hands on my hips. “I’m guessing you two have something to do with this?”
Declan shook his head between guffaws. “Nope. Not me. But I think Quinn’s getting desperate.”
Quinn nodded. And then he started moving his hips suggestively, pumping the air.
I smacked my hand over my forehead. But I couldn’t stop my smile. “I’m sorry, Connor.”
He stared at all of us a moment, before he turned and stomped out.
I rounded on Quinn. “You pissed him off.”
No, Dove. He was holding in a laugh that entire time.
“Oh.” I stared out the open door with longing.
