Page 91 of Sanctuary with Kings

Rolant's eyes narrowed to a glare, and Conall's lips twitched.

Another giggle burst free, and I stifled the sound with the back of my hand, trying to wrestle my growing grin flat again. Hywel turned his head slowly toward me, eyes heavy-lidded and an indulgent smile curling over his lips.

"Yes,blodyn bach?" he purred.

I shook my head, and his eyebrows waggled slightly, coaxing out another gurgle of laughter that I choked on.

"S'just…clever," I squeezed out, pressing my lips hard and taking my knife and fork in my grip with more focus than cutlery had ever deserved.

Telling a dragon where one of the greatest legends of western myth was hidden. Knowing he wouldn't be able to retrieve it himself. Knowing he would never let another treasure hunter get their hands on it, out of jealousy.

"I don't know what you see in her," Rolant hissed.

CHAPTER29

THE QUEST TO THE MOUNTAIN

With Rolant in the castle, there was nowhere safe to speak privately but in bed. As a group, we'd made a polite effort to entertain the Wyrm in the study, but he'd grown antagonistic again, picking at Conall, Laszlo, and me in turn until it was safer for him and Hywel both that we all retire. I dragged Conall, my hand fastened tightly around his wrist, with the others up to Laszlo's nest.

I told myself it was because we all obviously needed to discuss Rolant's news together in private, but I knew the truth. As soon as my thoughts had started to entertain the idea of Conall being part of my nightly routine of lavish attention and murmured conversation, I craved knowing if it was possible.

Conall resisted crossing the threshold, but once inside he relaxed and grew nosy, wandering over the layered carpets and picking up each object to study it in turn as we talked.

"The difficulty with Rolant is there are so many possible directions he could be plotting, it's hard to anticipate," Hywel said, sitting in an armchair by the fire and pulling off his boots.

"He's as slippery as an eel, that one," Conall agreed, pretending not to watch out of the corner of his eye as Laszlo unlaced the back of my gown.

"Then we will methodically consider each path and how to best respond, together," Laszlo said. "We have the sword to consider, of course. And Nimue. But, Hywel…"

"Evanthia's safety is my priority,cariad, I swear it," Hywel said solemnly.

My eyebrows rose, and I stared at Hywel in the reflection of the mirror I stood in front of. "Mysafety?"

"Rolant won't act for Birsha, but if the right person approached him—" Conall started.

"With the right price," Hywel muttered.

"—then it's not impossible Rolant may move againstyou," Conall finished, setting aside a small statue and crossing his arms over his chest, leaning against the high back of the other chair. He was trying to look at ease, but I had a feeling he was still wanting to run from the room. The space was intimate, yes, but not so crowded with the four of us. I couldn't help but think that there was still room for another, if that person had been in the castle and so inclined to join us. Which was unlikely.

I batted Asterion from my thoughts and chewed over Conall's words.

"Birsha wouldn't be the only party interested in you,blodyn bach. Were you never pursued before him?" Hywel asked.

I hummed and nodded. "I suppose so." By men and kings and monsters. Usually that hunt came with gifts and seduction. A few times with attempts of force, but I'd always had protectors of some form and the ability to choose, even if it was from a short list of options rather than a long one.

It wasn't so different now, but somehow those choices seemed more expansive here with these men. I could turn them all from my bed, or leave Laszlo's in this case, and they would still keep me safe. If I was unsatisfied with what was available to me, they would take me elsewhere, or cart in what I wanted.

Oh. I was starting to getspoiled.

"But what would Excalibur have to do with me?" I asked, hiding the smile that appeared on my lips.

"A wild-goose chase for us to follow," Conall said.

Laszlo nodded, pushing the shoulders of my gown down, helping me step out of the pool of fabric. I was wearing my chemise but the candlelight, combined with the sheer, gauzy fabric, turned it into a hazy halo around my body, hiding nothing. Not that there was anything left to hide from any of them. Still, I watched with a sense of feminine triumph as they all paused to admire me, Hywel's gaze warm and openly approving, Conall swallowing hard and forcing his stare away, Laszlo sharing a secret smile with me in the reflection of the mirror.

"Rolant could lead us out of the castle, leave you vulnerable here alone. Or, if you come with us, we could be walking into a trap," Hywel mused.

"We could be walking into a trap regardless. I know you think Rolant won't side with Birsha, but we have no proof of that," Laszlo said gently, glancing over his spectacles to his mate.

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