Page 83 of MidKnight
Isla’s lip stiffened. That was her only tell.
I leaned toward her. “Isla?”
“Yes, that would be lovely,” Isla’s wide grin was back in place.
But I didn’t buy it. Isla was worried about her daughter. She should be. Unless their magical accomplice was able to wipe out an entire navy, Isla and Raj were probably in for horrific losses against Sedara. If Isla was killed, Queen Diamoni wouldn’t think twice about punishing her daughter. Taking away the throne would be the least of those punishments.
“Are you certain you want to leave things this way?” I asked.
A long silence stretched out as Isla studied me.
“Whatever do you mean?” she finally asked lightly.
I opened my mouth to speak but a huge bolt of lightning zagged across the sky, drawing our gazes up. It was low enough that I could smell the charge in the air. Thunder followed shortly after.
Isla pulled her hand back. “We’d better hurry.”
“In such a storm? Surely, you can stay the night? For your own safety, of course.”
I could have Quinn’s people search your things, I thought as I smiled brightly and continued, “My duchesses would love to have the chance to visit—”
“It’s not a long flight. If we hurry, we can stay ahead of the storm.”
The storm was coming from the west. From Rasle. But Isla was clearly determined to leave.
“Isla, I look forward to working with you for many years to come. And I promise, I’ll work with Declan and his schedule, to help you in the most expedient manner possible.”
Isla’s eyes gleamed as another flash of lightning charged across the sky. I could see the jagged bolt reflected in her eyes. And for a second, I felt I got a glimpse inside. Not at the composed queen, but a glimpse at the raw, angry energy that fueled her. Isla was volatile. On edge. She thought she’d win. But she wasn’t quite certain. That made her desperate.
The realization sent a chill down my spine. I shivered.
“You really shouldn’t step out without a cloak, Bloss,” Isla’s maid handed her a pair of riding gloves and she pulled them on. “The cold can kill you.”
I felt the threat all the way down to my bones. My hackles rose and before I could think through the consequences my mouth spit out, “Not if you do so first, Isla.”
Her lips quirked, “What a sense of humor.”
Behind me I heard a noise.
Donaloo shuffled down the steps of the palace, Shiter cuddled in his arms.
“Your Majesty!” he called. “Your Majesty, wait!”
“Yes?” I turned, wondering what the befuddled wizard could possibly want.
Donaloo held up the bunny. “Queen Isla, a parting gift.”
“You can’t give her Shiter!” I said. The loon wizard was trying to give away a person!
Shiter shited. I thought that meant he agreed with me.
Donaloo shook his head. “This is not a rabbit. This is a heart in search of a match. I believe your daughter’s heart could use a protector?”
Isla took a step back, “My daughter is married, sir!”
I just stared at Donaloo in shock. Where had his ridiculous rhyming gone?
Donaloo straightened, fixing his one good eye on Isla. The lightning crackled again, and the wind whipped up. For a moment, I didn’t see the fool wizard. I saw a man who radiated power, a dark glow surrounding him. “Do you want to refuse my gift, Isla?” his voice boomed across the courtyard and one of Isla’s bears let out a whine.
