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“It’s their duty to protect us, just as it’s ours to protect their kingdom from collapsing,” the king reasoned, glancing at the door where the guards stood, watching the hall. They hadn’t moved an inch, although their shoulders had gone rigid as they’d listened in.
“His Majesty is right, as always,” Finian said, dipping his head in reverence. “I’m proud to serve you and yours, and I shall protect you with my life, as my family has done for centuries as members of the royal guards. It’s with great pride that I shall do my duty when we march to defeat the emissary.”
Nava’s throat tightened as her lips parted in shock. She studied all three counselors with renewed curiosity. At first, she had assumed they were merely fae who held influential positions alongside the king. She’d never seen a non-Dark fae wear a guard’s armor.
And Finian wasn’t a Dark One, even though his eyes glowed, making them appear like molten pools of gold. But his shoulders were wide, like those of a warrior.
“Finian, Elina, and Kaden have been the king’s counselors for as long as he’s held the throne. They served as royal guards when my grandfather was alive,” Arkimedes’s voice filtered into her mind.
“Well, they certainly don’t look as old as your father,” she grumbled in answer. While the king’s features were breathtakingly similar to Arkimedes, his skin was cracking like dry mud. The other three fae looked young, much like Leela or even Fael.
Had the three of them helped King Oberon take the queen to the forest to burn her alive? Had they advised him to do so?
An additional guard entered from the hall, his breaths coming out in rapid puffs as he dodged the sentries guarding the door. He wore the polished copper armor most did and a long blue cape like the guards out front. He saluted rather stiffly before he spoke. “Pardon my interruption, but I come with an important message for Prince Orion.”
He bowed, and his bright brown eyes traced every fae around the rectangular table, pausing for a moment on the king before settling on Arkimedes, who signaled him to approach. The guard tucked his chin into his chest and strode toward her mate, expertly ignoring everyone’s disapproving gaze.
“Sir, a man is demanding an audience with you.” The guard straightened and interlaced his fingers.
“Since when can random citizens request an audience with my son?” The king slammed his open palm against the table, making the poor guard nearly jump out of his skin. He opened his mouth as if to explain, then shut it as the king’s frown deepened and his aura shrouded his sick appearance further. “You’re already wasting our time. Speak now, for I also desire to hear what this is about.”
“We tried to turn him away, but he kept talking about an emissary of the gods and insisted he had important information, for he believes the Zorren will attack soon. We thought it prudent to come and inform you before we got rid of him.”
Arkimedes’s eyes cut across to Nava. “Was his name Devon Black?”
“Yes, sir. I believe that sounds right.” The guard stared at the floor, as if Arkimedes might hurt him if he dared to make eye contact. “He is quite ill, so we didn’t want to bring him here.”
“Take me to him.” Arkimedes stood so fast, his chair fell to the ground.
“I’m not done agreeing with your plan. Surely finding the way to save your people is more important than seeing to the Crow,” the king said.
“Devon is my family, and he is here saying he has information we need. I’m going.”
“I don’t trust the Crow, Orion. Eris told me that when the Corvus imprisoned him on that market, they didn’t hurt him. It seems rather convenient that he wasn't with you when the time came for them to attack.”
He was attempting to plant a seed of doubt. Two months ago, Nava would have fallen for it, but not now, not after everything that had happened at the safe house. Devon had been trying to save that child because he’d identified with it. The king didn’t know that she’d saved Devon from the Corvus.
“And as I’ve stated before, I don’t trust you. We can iron out the details once we know what Devon knows about the Zorren. Until then, I’m done with this conversation.”
Nava rose to follow her mate, her back protesting from sitting for too long. In truth, she couldn’t get away from the king fast enough.
“Did you find anything else in her room, Orion?” The king’s face twisted with a strange sort of desperation. “Did she say anything about me—about him?”
Was he still jealous? Did he want to know about the emissary’s gift to the queen because of their plan to defeat him or because of their love triangle?
He looked sick, but deep inside, Nava wondered. Had the king loved the queen? Had her betrayal driven him mad?
Could anyone have two soulmates? Perhaps Briar had two. It would explain why King Oberon was dying, when other fae older than him were still healthy. Perhaps his hate for her and love for himself kept him alive. It didn’t matter. In the end, Ark’s mother had died a horrible death, and he was still here.
38
NAVA
Devon had to be all right. It had only been a couple of days, and while his condition had advanced, he’d had a few more healing potions left the morning they’d been split up.
Nava took a deep breath, wiping a small bead of sweat from her temple. With Arkimedes’s legs so much longer than hers, she had to use a spike of her power to keep up with him.
She glanced at the guard who was trailing after them with a serious expression. His vigilant eyes snapped to every open door they passed, as if he expected an ambush. “Are we worried that someone will attack us here in the castle?”
