“I am Solace, and I accuse you of treason. Your punishment?” I paused and the air crackling in anticipation as everyone waited with bated breath. “Death.”
Then, my army attacked.
Chapter 27
Ellowyn
Irapped my knuckles softly but firmly against the door to Alois’ office. There was a singular Mage guard standing at attention in the hallway, but his gaze was studiously trained on the empty corridor. I was nervous coming here today, unsure if he’d even let me near his office. I’d donned eight different outfits with the help of my new maid, a dumpy older woman named Kenna, before settling on a practical and modest black dress. I’d hoped that outfitting myself in the color my husband so clearly preferred would endear me to him; now I just felt like a girl trying to play games that were much too complex for me.
At least you made it to the outside of his office.
It was farther than I thought I’d be allowed.
I practiced my speech over in my mind:I demand my shackles be removed so I can learn control. I demand my shackles be removed so I can learn control.
The longer I stood waiting without an answer from inside the office, the more my palms sweat, and I danced slightly from foot to foot.
Mother would have my head.
At the thought, I froze, stilling all motion and elevating my chin with a slightly haughty expression. If I was going to play the part, I needed to adopt the characteristics fully. I leaned incrementally toward the door, straining to hear any sound in the room beyond.
It was silent—unnervingly so.
Air Wards.
Just as I was contemplating knocking a second time, the door flew open to reveal my husband. It was the first time we’d laid eyes on each other in this proximity and not in a public setting since the night he took my virginity, months ago. Alois was still handsome, but exhaustion laced his features. Grey hair sprouted in earnest at his temples and in the coarse hairs of his growing beard. The lines in his forehead were deeper, the bags beneath his constantly darting eyes were dark and heavy, like he hadn’t slept in weeks.
Good. I hope he regrets everything he’s done to me.
“Good morning, wife,” he said, his voice scratchy and tired. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”
I froze, the power of his voice washing over me.
We stood still and unspeaking for a few tense minutes before Alois’ shoulders sagged, all pretense fading from his expression. He backed away from the doorway and gestured for me to step inside.
“Zaire,” Alois snapped, and the Mage incrementally inclined his head, his gaze never leaving the hallway. “Please make sure we are not disturbed. My wife and I need to . . . have a conversation. If Rohak appears, direct him toward Lex.”
“Yes, sir,” Zaire intoned briskly before Alois shut the door, encasing us in silence.
Definitely Air Wards—powerful ones, too.
“Nothing we say in here will be heard outside. Zaire is a rather adept Air Mage and has replenished the barriers surrounding this space,” Alois said, confirming my suspicions.
“I know,” I responded, and Alois’ eyebrows raised as he strode to one of the wingback chairs nearest the unlit fireplace. Winter was fading to spring, but it was still chilly, and I was surprised Alois didn’t have a fire roaring.
Though, come to think of it, the air in his office was already a pleasant temperature; some use of Fire Magic, I was sure.
“And how is that?”
“You forget my parents were True Bonded Air Mages, Alois. I grew up around displays of power such as this,” I retorted before sinking gracefully into the chair opposite.
Mother would be so proud of me.
Alois hummed thoughtfully before pouring himself a short glass of whiskey from the nearby bar cart.
“Whiskey?” He raised the glass in my direction. “It’s from Hestin.”
I’d never drunk before, much less whiskey, and sighed, relaxing back into the chair.
