"Those would be?" A smirk pulled up Eldrick’s lips. In the darkest moments of our trip, he seemed to appreciate when I'd get saucy and teasing.
I returned the smile because it felt good to even imagine we'd get her back. "Number one, how did she fall for someone like that?"
Eldrick studied a statue of a bird in flight which sat on the mantel. "A handsome, wealthy Prince?"
"A living terror."
Eldrick chuckled and peered over his shoulder at me. "Love has a way of taking us by surprise, don’t you think?"
My tongue froze. I knew nothing of love, and I didn't know how to respond to the implications of his words. Luckily, I was saved by the door opening again and Prince Lennox stepping in. I blinked several times like I could clear my vision as he shut the door behind him. He appeared somewhat like the Prince Lennox I remembered. He had the man's tall, lean frame and the same clear blue eyes. But he also looked different, with far sharper lines on his face and a grittiness he'd never possessed before. I'd expected to meet the golden prince from the gala, not this man who looked nearly as intimidating as Prince Sai.
Eldrick also traced his eyes over him before bowing deeply. "Your Highness."
I curtsied as the Prince gestured to the couches and we all found seats.
Eldrick stared at Lennox as if he was trying to match the man before him with the prince he thought he knew. Lennox's eyes shifted to a lighter color and his magic tangled into the air. Eldrick's posture loosened. He must have recognized his magic trace and knew it was actually him. "It's a relief, Your Highness, to see you alive and well."
"Thank you," Lennox said. "How is Lira?"
Eldrick frowned. "She used her magic to help us escape so we could bring the journal to Prince Sai. I hope that is what you wished for me to do with it as well, Your Highness."
"Yes, thank you for your service, Sir Eldrick. Margo." He tacked on, bobbing his head in my direction. I returned the gesture as the conversation lulled into an aching beat of silence.
Eldrick cleared his throat. "Are you of the belief that the Prasanna are our allies then, Your Highness?"
Lennox's eyes flickered, and his features glimmered, as though he reached for his magic. "Yes, I am. They do not wish for a war, and neither do I."
Eldrick moved forward, closer to Lennox. "Understood, Your Highness. I fear your father is not of the same mind, however."
"I'm aware." Lennox smoothed his hands over his silver vest, his fingers bumping along the buttons on it. "Am I taking this, Sir Eldrick, as your allegiance to me?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
I'd never heard Eldrick so serious or seen him so fixed on another being before. But he'd lost everything when the King had caught us conspiring with Lira. He was guilty of treason now, though I knew he was as loyal to the Seelie as a fae could be.
Lennox nodded. "Then I must be honest with you, and I'll leave your choice beyond this in your hands. If you do not feel I’m someone you can follow,"—he paused, his jaw tensing—"I'll secure you safe passage to anywhere you wish to go."
Eldrick frowned at him but didn't speak.
Lennox took a deep breath and met Eldrick's gaze. "I'm in a romantic relationship with Prince Shaan of the Prasanna."
Eldrick tensed beside me, and for a moment no one spoke. The fountain’s trickling whispered around the room. Eldrick wouldn't disapprove of Lennox for that, would he? God damn it, was I falling in… whatever feeling this was… with a bigot? God, there was a time I wouldn't have cared what my sexual partners were like morally. My lips pinched. Damn Lira, damn me helping her, and damn my new God damned conscious.
"Do you believe," Eldrick asked, "that your relationship is affecting your view of the war or your decisions for the future of the Seelie?"
Lennox rested his elbow on his chair and propped his chin on his fist. He didn't answer immediately but seemed to consider the question. "There is no way my relationship with the Prince would not affect those things. However, I can swear on my honor,"—Lennox clapped a hand over his chest—"that I believed in this course of action before Prince Shaan and I were involved, and the Seelie have always held my priority. I will do everything I can to secure their well-being, however I do not believe a war with other fae courts is the path for that."
Eldrick nodded slowly, stood, then knelt in front of Lennox. "I believe you, Your Highness, and I pledge my service to you." Eldrick's shoulders hunched. "As little as that may be worth to you now."
Something lit in Lennox's eyes. If I had to guess what it was, I'd say hope. "You don't know how very much it's worth, Sir Eldrick. I understand the sacrifices you've made for the Seelie, and I will not forget it."
"Your Highness." Eldrick ducked his head again, and I wanted to kneel beside him, put an arm around him. Our entire journey he'd not mentioned one regret, but I could see it laced through him in that moment.
"Please rise," Lennox said. They both stood, and Lennox clapped his hand. "I'll have someone find rooms for you. It might be under a guard for now, I'm afraid. The Prasanna are wary of our court. I'll need an advisor as I have meetings with the Prasanna court this upcoming week. Would you accept the position, Sir Eldrick?"
"It would be an honor."
"Good. Let me find you rooms and give you time to rest, then I'll catch you up on everything happening here. In the meantime, I'll meet with Prince Sai"—there was a sour turn to Lennox's words and Eldrick's eyes dashed to the door as if he regretted, once again, handing the journal over to the man—"and become apprised of the contents of Margo's book." He nodded to me again.