Page 42 of A Crown of Lies

Mercia exchanged a glance with Aryn. “I don’t know. We won’t be here long.”

“How sad,” said the elven woman with a feigned pout. “Well, if you change your mind. We’ll be back here in two weeks. Come and find me if you want an adventure, love.”

“What’s wrong?” Mercia asked him as they climbed into the carriage a few moments later. “What happened?”

He stared at her, trying to form an answer, but he didn’t even know where to start. His mind was a tempest of guilt and desperate need. Aryn had thought he’d calmed down by the time he made it to her, but when he saw Mercia with that other elf…

Hold yourself together. You’re in control of your body, not the other way around, he chastised himself.At least wait until you make it back to the Deepfrost clan house to fuck her.

“Gods below, I can’t take it anymore!” he declared and grabbed her, pulling her lips to his.

She let out a muffled cry of surprise as he fell on her, kissing her furiously.

They were both panting when they parted, and stared at each other with wild, wide eyes.

“How long is the ride back to the clan house?” Mercia asked breathlessly.

Aryn let out a growl and pounded on the partition that opened to the carriage driver. “Drive until I tell you to stop,” he said and slammed the partition closed, locking it.

Mercia frowned. “Won’t the tab get expensive?”

“Ruith’s paying. Trust me, he can afford it,” Aryn growled, and sank his fingers into her hair. He bit her lip and pulled her into his lap, knowing he never would’ve made it all the way back to the clan house without losing his mind.

Fourteen

Underthecoverofdarkness, Rowan made his way to a small, disused shrine tucked into the back of the castle’s old courtyard. The hinges on the old metal doors groaned and slid open on an empty stone room. Ivy snaked along the walls, sprouting little white flowers. Rubble coated the floor to either side of a raised walkway in the center. A statue stood on a small platform at the front of the small building. A candle in one hand, and a pouch in the other, a heavy stone cloak shrouded the Thief’s face in darkness.

Rowan’s footsteps echoed heavily over the dusty brick as he approached the statue, only to pause at his feet. Once, there had been another stained-glass window at the back of the small shrine, but time had worn the frame away and the pieces lay scattered and broken in a rainbow at the Thief’s feet. More vines had crawled in through the broken window.

The king had wanted to repair it and get the shrine back into working order, but that would have to wait. There were other concerns now.

Carefully, he struck a match and lit the white candle in the Thief’s left hand. Rowan turned his head, peering through the broken window. Two stories up on the castle wall, another light flickered to life.

After that, he just had to wait for them to answer his call.

A cloaked man entered the shrine not ten minutes later. “I was beginning to think you weren’t coming,” said Ewan, tossing back his hood.

“I was delayed,” Rowan replied.

“By the elf in your bed, no doubt.” Ewan snorted and shook his head. “Did he see you leave?”

Rowan folded his arms. “Do you take me for a fool?”

“I take you for a man in love. That equates to being a fool.” He sighed and moved to lean against the stone wall, waiting.

“Ewan,” Rowan started, but he wasn’t sure how to continue. How could he explain to Ambra’s father how complicated things were?

The older man held up a hand. “Save it, lad. I don’t fault you for movin’ on. It’s good to see. She’d want you to be happy.”

Rowan’s throat was tight as he nodded.

“You’re going to have to tell Tessa, you know,” Ewan said. “She’s still got her heart set on you.”

“I think we both know I’d be no good for her, Ewan. She’s far too gentle a soul to withstand me.”

“Why do you think I haven’t pushed you two together harder? I’ve seen your little sex dungeon.”

Rowan cringed. “Don’t call it that.”

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