Page 75 of Shadow Mark

Maybe it wasn’t a soap opera but a crime drama. That made more sense.

Dinner arrived on a cart. It resembled a stir-fry with bite-sized pieces of meat and vegetables in a savory sauce, served over noodles. She poked at her plate, half-heartedly watching the bizarre show unfold. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t familiar. She wanted a cozy show about solving murders in quaint English villages or wildly inaccurate historical dramas. She’d been looking forward to the new season of that show based on Regency romance novels, and now she’d never get to watch. It made her sad and frustrated all at once. Homesick was probably the right way to describe the feeling that lodged itself in her chest.

What did it matter anyway? Netflix probably canceled all her favorite shows.

Lenore pushed her plate away. She was feeling glum because she hadn’t seen Baris in nearly a week. Her messages were intercepted by his aide, Des. Showing up at his rooms was impossible as the royal guards wouldn’t admit her. Baris was forever in meetings or the classic indisposed.

Wheedling an answer out of Kenth was impossible. Straight-up guilt also failed, not that Lenore put much effort into guilt-tripping Kenth. The woman had glare like daggers and probably real daggers hidden all over.

Honestly, Lenore was surprised no one packed up her bags and moved her to new rooms while she was working in the clinic that day.

The reason why wasn’t a mystery. Lenore defied Lady Raelle, an influential councilor and grandmother to the person in charge of access to Baris, and now she faced the consequences of her wrath. Honestly, Lenore was surprised Lady Raelle hadn’t found a way to kick her out of the palace.

Yet. Lady Raelle seemed the stubborn sort.

Maybe it was worth attempting another chat with Kenth just to make sure her security clearance wasn’t quietly revoked.

The only silver lining was maybe the media would lose interest in her if she and Baris weren’t spotted having dinner or walking in the parks. Fine, that was wishful thinking. More likely, the story would shift away from scandalous human mistress to human lover on the outs.

A tapping came from the balcony.

Lenore froze. Once she decided to spend the evening vegging out in front of a show, Kenth’s babysitting shift ended. Other than the guards normally stationed in this part of the palace, she was alone.

The tapping sounded again.

So, what was it? Earlier, she closed the drapes for privacy. As much as she loved the view of the open water and Kenth assured her that no camera drones could make it onto the palace grounds, those same drones had exceptionally good lenses. She’d be keeping the drapes closed, thank you very much. No one needed to see her in pajamas, shoveling food in her face.

Lenore pulled the drapes open a crack.

The karu with a white-feathered breast tapped the glass with his beak, then stared at Lenore. Snow coated his head and body, giving him a very annoyed look.

“You’re a troublemaker,” she said, sliding the balcony door open. The karu hopped inside, fluttering his feathers and scattering snow.

He chirped, totally unconcerned, and immediately honed in on Lenore’s abandoned dinner plate.

“Please, make yourself at home,” she said as the karu helped himself to a partially eaten roll. He swallowed it whole before moving on to a piece of leftover meat. “You don’t have to eat leftovers. I can get you a fresh plate.”

The karu ignored her, tearing into a piece of meat as he held it down with one talon.

“Yeah, well, I won’t tell Lady Raelle if you don’t,” she said.

She settled back down on the sofa, now watching the karu and ignoring the program on the screen. Despite the four eyes, the resemblance to a raven was undeniable: inky dark feathers with an iridescent sheen, a large beak, and intelligence burning in its gaze.

“Why are you here?” she asked. “I know you’re not hungry or cold. The aviary has everything you need.”

The karu gave no answer.

She reached for a slice of fruit on the small plate off to the side. The karu reached over and nipped at her fingers. She jerked her hand back in alarm. “Fine. You don’t share.”

The karu tilted his head and Lenore had the distinct impression that she misunderstood all their encounters.

The door chimed.

“Aren’t I popular tonight?” Lenore pushed herself to her feet. “That’d better not be the palace guard to arrest me for keeping you captive. You came to me. Right? Let’s keep our story straight.”

The karu chirped, then bit a noodle in half like it was a worm.

“You have not responded to my messages,” Baris said, pushing his way into her room when she answered the door. He wore a thunderous expression, all doom and royal fury. “I am here for your answer.”

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