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Something is wrong.
"We have company," Asmo announces to the room, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. Squaring his shoulders, he continues, “The queen will be joining us this evening.”
The queen? Is that who he sensed?I thought she helped place that boundary.Why would she set it off?
A ripple of gasps sweeps through the room, each gargoyle turning to face Asmo with bewildered faces. Behind him, a flash of red hair peeks through the door and the sound of stone grinding erupts as the gargoyles bow. After a moment, I do too, staring up through my lashes to see the queen stand next to Asmo, her hand resting on his shoulder.
The mere sight of them shouldn't claw at my gut. Griffin has assured me twice now that they’re only friends, not that I should care if it weren’t true. However, there’s something about them standing together that burrows deep inside of me, turning my blood into sweltering iron.
Why? Why am I reacting this way? He was on the brink of kissing me until we were interrupted. But maybe that’s just it… It’s not their familiarity with one another that unsettles me. It’s the stolen moment that had been ripped away, leaving me here to brood and steep in my jealousy.
“Oh, please don’t…” The queen lets out a deep breath, closing her eyes as if the respect she’s been given is an irritation. “All rise,” she says, her voice flat.
Heeding her command, we all stand, and the room resumes its idle chatter. My eyes connect with Griffin’s in a silent plea to tell me what the hell is going on, and he shoots a glance at the queen and Asmo before scurrying across the room. When he reaches me, he grips my shoulders, leads me away from Xren and positions me so my back is toward everyone.
We stand side by side, facing the wall as he whispers, “Something has happened.”
“Obviously,” I say through gritted teeth, resisting the urge to smack him with the back of my hand. “What?”
“We were supposed to attend a family gathering tonight, but seeing as I was kidnapped when it was planned, I didn’t know. And Asmo was—Well, you know.”
I wave my hand in a circle, telling him to get to the point.
He huffs but skips to the important part, anyway. “She came looking for us. Her familiar set off the wall. I guess one of the villages along the sea border was attacked, and she worried that Grim’s Keep had been too.”
“Attacked?” I turn to face him.
He grips my shoulders and spins me back toward the wall. “Keep your voice down. We don’t want to cause a panic.”
“Who?” I’m not sure why I insist on asking. I know who. I was supposed to be the distraction for it… But that was weeks ago. Why would the ships that broke off on the way to have my wedding blessed wait until now to do something? Were they instructed to, in order to ensure me and mybetrothedreturned before they opened fire? Did something come up, or is this separate, altogether?
“It was the elves. Apparently, they’ve officially declared war.”
My heart ceases beating in my chest, the blood draining from my face. “Are you sure?”
“As sure as I can be. I mean, the queen said as much. I guess dinner turned into an urgent court meeting. They convene in the morning which means—”
I finish the thought for him, “That Asmo has to be there.”
“Not just him,” Griffin says, looking me up and down from the corner of his eye. “All lords andladiesof the court will need to be present. Just as both my father and my mother attend, you will need to accompany my uncle and officially establish yourself as Lady of Grim’s Keep.”
I steal a glance over my shoulder, finding Asmo’s eyes pinned on us from across the room. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he could hear us. “Does he want me to go?”
“What do you meandoes he want you to go?You’re the lady, are you not?”
“I mean, he calls me that, but I’m not sure it’s an official thing,” I admit, feeling my cheeks flush when I look again and Asmo is still staring. Only this time, he looks ready to murder someone. I just hope that someone isn’t me… Surely, he wouldn’t randomly start to hate me for my ears, right?
He might change his mind about trusting me, maybe… But what deserved a look like that? Unless it’s not aimed at me, but at Griffin for spilling the news.
“Do you want to be the Lady of Grim’s or not?” Griffin turns toward me, crossing his arms over his broad chest. I glance up at him, unsure of how to answer.
“I mean, I do, but I’m not expecting anything. If he wants me to go, I’ll go. If not, then I understand.”
Griffin relaxes his shoulders, but as he opens his mouth to speak, he double takes on something behind me. “Whatever you do, I said nothing.”
“I’ll take your secret to the grave,” I say, spotting Asmo on a warpath across the throne room.
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