The library door opened, and we both looked toward it. Catalaya walked in, her eyes wide and bright as she saw Nik—but the light dimming when she realized I was standing beside him.
Whatever she thought, she fixed that smile in place again and rushed toward him. “Niko. I’ve only just heard you were back. Thank all the gods you’re alive.”
She put a hand on his face, and he gently removed it. “I’m fine, Caty. We’ve only just returned. The weather—”
“And you came to the library first?”
“We learned some things from the Aetheric practitioner,” I said. “We needed to check on them.” I wanted to be the one to tell her about the treasure room but knew that wasn’t for me to reveal. Damn it.
“You’re alive,” she said, not bothering to look at me. “That’s all that matters. Were you hurt? Do you need healing? If I’d only known you were in trouble, I’d have sent my soldiers.”
“I’m fine. The Aetheric practitioner hoped to use me to capture Fox. But as you can see, we’re both alive and well.”
She shifted her gaze to me, and there was fury in it. “Don’t you think you’ve done enough damage? Caused enough harm?”
“I didn’t do the damage or cause the harm.”
“Words,” she said. “Just the words of a thief.” She looked at Nik. “You know that’s what she is? A thief and a witch and a troublemaker. And you put the entire stronghold at risk by allowingher here. Leave us,” she said, her gaze narrowed and venomous on me. “We need to speak.”
I looked at Nik. Disobeying a royal was still dangerous, even if he outranked her.
“If you don’t mind,” he said.
“It’s fine.” I was fully confident he’d find me when their discussion was done.
I walked to the door, which Catalaya had left slightly ajar. Her maid was not in sight, but Galen stood just outside the door, staring at it with arms crossed and lip curled.
I closed the door most of the way, leaving only the slightest crack—and beckoned Galen closer so we could both hear what they said. He may have only begrudgingly liked me, but he actively disliked her. And his prince was in the room with her.
“Niko,” Catalaya said. “She is a menace. She should be cast out of the stronghold!”
“She saved my life, and the lives of my soldiers. Don’t blame Fox for the work of an evildoer.”
“Why not? How do you know she wasn’t working with him the entire time? Planning out a strategy to give your throne to an Aetheric power? Do you know what they say about her? That she’s an Aetheric savior. Do you know how dangerous that is to you?”
“Sheisn’tdangerous to me. And if anyone would try to hurt her, or use her to get to me, they’d earn my everlasting hatred.”
“You can’t see beyond your dick.”
“Trust me, Caty, my dick isn’t the problem here.”
She made a scream of frustration, then marched toward the door. Galen and I sprang away from it. I decided it would be best if I made my way back toward my room, but it didn’t take longto hear her quick footsteps behind me. And then her hand was on my shoulder, and she whipped me around to face her.
She looked pale and furious. “I’ll give you one last warning. Stay away from the prince.”
“If you want to discuss how the prince spends his time, take it up with him. Why would you want to be with a man who doesn’t want you?”
“Because he’s my best damned option!” The words were hard and a little bit afraid. “He’s a good man. He won’t hurt me, or use me, or steal my dowry. He won’t start a pointless war, or prevent me from seeing my family. He is my only hope for a future in which I’m happy and safe.”
I didn’t want to pity her—she had everything I’d wanted for most of my life—but I understood that her options were limited, too.
“You don’t have to be royal,” I said. “You’re young and healthy and I’m sure you could figure out a way to get coin of your own. You could learn a skill. Start a trade. Meet someone who wants you for who you are.”
She moved closer. “I love him, and he deserves better than a servant. He deserves someone with power, who can help him achieve what he’s destined to achieve.”
“You want him to be the same as every other Lys’Careth in the country. Every Lys’Careth that has ever been.”
“And you don’t want that?” Skepticism dripped from the words like wax from a candle.
