Page 33 of A Crown Without Mercy

Riordan then looked at Nicolai as they continued up the stairs. “You’ve been around his daughter a few times. Have you picked up on anything suspicious?”

“No,” Nicolai answered.

“She will be here tonight, yes?”

“She accepted my invite, reluctantly,” Nicolai replied.

Riordan patted his shoulder. “Don’t let her leave without my permission. I believe we are chasing a dragon so to speak.”

Riordan, Nicolai, and Kieran walked through the courtyard and into the bathhouse, and undressed.

Riordan tossed his shirt onto the stone bench and looked down at Kieran’s feet. “You have blood on your boot.”

Kieran pulled it off and tossed it at Riordan. “Since you noticed, you can clean it.”

Riordan tossed it to the side and removed his trousers. “I should put it up your ass.”

“The only thing going up my ass is the tongue of a whore,” Kieran joked, causing Riordan and Nicolai to laugh aloud as they sunk their bodies into the heat of the pool and leaned back.

Riordan cupped the water in his palms and let it run down his face. “It always feels good to wash the stench of the Lycans off.”

“What does The Guild of Entente have to say about all of this?” Nicolai asked.

“If it is true, they want the Ascelin as much as we do,” Riordan answered.

Kieran motioned for his cup to be filled. “Is there anyone on the Guild that would betray us?”

“I have eyes and ears in every corner. Our enemies do not pose the biggest threat of treachery. It is those vying for power,” Riordan replied.

“They have been loyal for centuries. Why would you question them?” Nicolai asked.

Kieran shrugged his shoulders. “I’m being cautious, is all.”

“Cynical is more like it.” Riordan chuckled.

A handful of young ladies wearing sheer, silk gowns walked into the bathhouse and stood at the edge of the pool. Their gowns fell into soft, folded piles at their feet, and they seductively walked down the steps and swam over to the brothers.

Riordan reached around, took one of them by the back of her neck, pulled her head to the side and sunk his canines into her flesh.

For as much as the carriage wheels fell in and out of the ruts in the road and rolled over rocks, it was a relatively smooth ride, seeing how the springs beneath the padded, velvet seat absorbed most of the bumps.

Sylvana looked down at her nails, and after picking at a rough edge, she held up her hands with outstretched fingers studying their appearance.At least they’re clean,she thought.

She placed them back into her lap and stared into the darkness of the forest, contemplating the entire situation with Nicolai. All the while listening to the chorus of sounds coming from the nocturnal creatures, which became muted only when the noise from the horses’ hooves and the rumbling of the carriage approached.

I’ve been down this road many times, but never like this. Everything looks so different.Just as the thought crossed her mind, she grabbed onto the side of the carriage with one hand and placed her other on the seat when the lunging of the carriage startled her.

“My apologies, milady. The heavy rains a few nights ago created some deep ruts.”

“No need to apologize. It’s fine.”

“It’s a full moon tonight,” Klyn added when he heard wolves howling in the distance.

“Yes. It’s beautiful. I’ve been down this road many times, but I’ve never been able to sit back and enjoy it.”

“You’ve never ridden in a carriage?”

“No, sir.”

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