Page 130 of Embers in the Snow

“Did Corvan order this?” I ask quietly.

Kinnivar glances over his shoulder, but he doesn’t directly meet my gaze. “Yes. HisHighnessis rather indisposed right now, and the situation outside is still volatile. He wants us to keep a close eye on you until the threat’s been completely eliminated. With these sorts of things, you never really know what might happen.”

I don’t like Kinnivar’s tone; he’s brusque and arrogant, as if I’m more of an inconvenience than anything else.

I’m going to have to speak to Corvan about this. These soldiers are being heavy-handed. I don’t like being treated like a prisoner in the place that’s supposed to be my home.

It’s so different to how Corvan is when he’s with me.

The guards set a brisk pace as we walk down empty stone corridors, passing tall arched windows that reveal the night sky. The sun has completely disappeared now, and the sky is an inky shade of blue, illuminated by the cold full moon. I catch glimpses of the internal courtyard. There’s a stillness about the place that sets me on edge.

Where are the men?

Where’s Corvan?

An occasional scream splits the air. In the distance, I hear faint, chilling howl.

Is that a lycan?

If lycan are roaming the forest, even Corvan might face a challenge.

The memory of my close encounter with those terrifying beasts turns me cold. I can’t forget their awful snarls; their sickeningly strong stench, the way their claws shattered the sturdy wooden door of my carriage as if it were made of glass.

We go down a curving flight of stairs. The gas lamps flicker in their wall sconces as the winter wind swirls outside, howling faintly.

I don’t remember this part of the castle.

“Is this a different way?” I ask, my voice sounding hollow as it echoes off the stone walls.”

“Tyron Castle is vast. There are many ways to reach a destination.” Kinnivar’s tone is clipped. “Let’s go, Lady Solisar.”

I look up at the guards. They’re wearing plain black leather armor without any insignia. Each of them is massive—at least a head taller and twice as wide as me.

They don’t even spare me a glance as we enter a windowless part of the castle, lined with plain-looking wooden doors. The ceiling drops. The air is stuffy in here. We descend another flight of stairs, and all of a sudden we’re in a basement corridor of some sort.

Kinnivar takes a gas lantern from a hook ok the wall and lights it with a match. Golden light flares, casting shadows against the walls.

This doesn’t feel right.

“Captain Kinnivar,” I say sternly. “I think I’d rather return to the guest quarters. I’ll take my dinner in the rooms with the boys.”

The guards tense. Kinnivar turns and holds up a hand.

We stop.

It’s rather dark in here. There’s only his lamp, and the corridor has become low and narrow. There are no doors; no windows. There’s only me and these four big, armed men.

Somethingdefinitelyisn’t right. Corvan would never have approved of this.

I berate myself for being so trusting. In the heat of the moment, with danger swirling outside and Kinnivar being a familiar face—one that I thought was loyal to Corvan—I dropped my guard.

I shouldn’t have gone with them so easily.

“Take me back at once,” I snap. “This is highly inappropriate.”

The guards are as still as statues. Kinnivar looms over me, suddenly menacing. Since when did his eyes look so flat and cold?

Like he’s dead inside.

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