Page 40 of The Light Falls
Minutes later, we’re standing awkwardly at my bedroom door trying to figure out what to say to each other when Galen comes around the corner. red-faced and swearing. “Queen Meri.” He looks from me to Rivan. “Rivan.”
I raise one eyebrow. “Is everything okay?”
“We’ve been looking for you. Kaius is furious we didn’t escort you back from training. I promise. We tried, but we couldn’t find you.” The words rush out of his mouth. “He ordered me to stay here and wait for you. But I know he’s going to want to know you’re back.” Conflicted, he stares at me, waiting for me to tell him what he should do.
Rivan holds up a hand. “I’ll escort her. Do you know where he was going?”
“The training room to find Madoc,” he says with a sigh of relief.
“I’m sorry I worried you. All of you. I should have told someone where I was going,” I say, patting his arm. I did think about it, but promptly forgot again. “Stay here. We’ll find Kaius.”
Rivan and I head toward the training room. We’re only a few hallways away when I hear Lord Faris’ loud voice. I wince and glance at Rivan. “Go. I’ll be fine.”
He stubbornly shakes his head.
“It will be worse if you stay.”
We turn the corner and see Lord Faris standing in the middle of the hall talking to Lord Camon. Farther down, I see Kaius’ tall build. “There’s Kaius. I’ll hurry and catch up. Go.”
With a growl, he pivots on his heel and storms off.
Just as I get close to the two lords, Faris calls out to me. “Queen Merindah. I need a moment of your time. It’s important.”
Lord Camon immediately excuses himself and heads down the hallway.
Not wanting to ruin my good mood, I pause and smile at the little weasel. “Lord Faris. I’m so sorry, but I’m in a bit of a hurry. Please reach out to Lady Tanith. She’s managing my calendar and will schedule you an appointment. Thanks so much.”
“But…” he stutters.
With a little wave in his direction, I hurry away. The hallway is now empty.Damn.Picking up my feet, I rush to the end and stop.Right or left?I hear Kaius’ angry voice to my right. When I turn the corner, I see Lord Camon shove Kaius up against the wall. Unsure what to do, I quickly step behind a pillar.
“What are you doing in this form? There are wanted posters with this face on them everywhere. Do you want to get caught?” Camon asks Kaius furiously. “If you go down, Brina does too. You know that, right? I’ll bury you before I let your actions take her away from me.”
Kaius snarls at him. “I’m working a new angle. Don’t worry.”
“I don’t believe this. You’re putting everything in jeopardy. Do you even think before you do things?” Camon’s voice echoes loudly in the marble hall. “It’s like you never learn.”
“I don’t answer to you,” Kaius sneers.
“No, you report to Fisk,” Camon says, wiping his hand over his face. “Have you completed the new assignment?”
Kaius shoots him an arrogant look.
Camon abruptly straightens, anger riding hard on his face. “Are you at least going to see Brina?” Arms crossed, he stands there waiting for Kaius to respond, but when he doesn’t, Camon stalks away. “Fuck you, Kaius.”
When he’s gone, Kaius picks up his phone. “We’ve got a problem.”
Tiptoeing back around the corner, I slowly walk back to my bedroom. Kian is now standing with Galen at my door. “I missed him. Would you mind letting him know I’m back?”
Galen dips his chin and opens the door. “Don’t worry. We’ll take care of it.”
The second the door clicks shut, I pull my phone out of my pocket.
Meri: Do you trust Kaius?
A couple minutes pass. While I wait for him to reply, I write down everything I heard.
Cormal: Yes. Why?
