Page 11 of Path of the Dark
“Nor I, you,” Elias replied with a smile. “I hear you’ve joined the Order of Light and Darkness. Is it to your liking?”
Elias was aware then of another gaze boring into him. Shifting his attention left, over Ninia’s shoulder, he saw that the king had broken off his conversation with his wife and was watching him.
Nathan’s face was hard; his eyes gleamed with naked suspicion.
Elias heaved an inward sigh. No—he didn’t wish to die tonight. As close as Ninia now stood, he wouldn’t reach for his knife.
Unaware of the direction of his thoughts, Ninia shrugged. “Aye … I’m enjoying the training, although princesses weren’t meant for early starts.” Her hazel eyes narrowed slightly then. “I take it your father wasn’t happy to hear that I escaped.”
“He was livid.”
“And he blamed you?”
“Naturally.” Elias reached up and scratched his chin. “He’d have preferred that you threw me to the shadow creatures rather than let me go home empty-handed.” The truth of those words soured Elias’s mouth. They were a bitter reminder of why he was here. “However, after some reflection he has now turned his mind to peace.”
Ninia huffed. “That’s a relief to hear.”
Elias’s mouth curved. “It was … decent of you … to let us go.”
For the first time since approaching him, the young woman smiled, although Elias glimpsed the wariness in her eyes. Like the others Ninia didn’t trust him—and she was right not to. “Like I said back in the Dim Hold … you were following orders. I didn’t want to punish you for it.”
Ninia’s words made a chill feather across Elias’s skin. His fingers tightened around the stem of his goblet.
That, princess, is your biggest mistake.
