Riordan laughed and lifted my hand for another kiss on my knuckles. “I will not lie and tell you that I desire to return to the council meetings. Are you really going to try and tell me that, in spite of the aggravation, you do not feel like a positive force in that chamber?”
I opened my mouth to argue, but I hesitated because he was right. Despite the annoyance of the last few days as we focused on rehashing Rian’s attack, I loved being able to make people’s lives better. And if Riordan was saying what I thought he was, then he might give me full power to do it in that council chamber.
“I did not think so,” he smirked, and I rolled my eyes. But his point reminded me of what Castor said about how my mate chose me to complement his weaknesses rather than his strengths.
“There is one final thing I need to relay,” I told him, rising to walk to my desk where I retrieved the missive Dio had received and gave it to my mate. Riordan read it, and his brows condensed with growing concern.
“So they are now deliberately interfering with trade,” he observed after a moment.
“Yes, that is exactly whatI—”
I cut myself off, shaking my head. Stamos could shove his condescension up his own ass.
“Yes, I think that is certainly a possibility. There are some on the council who do not believe the Fuath—”
“You can just say Stamos,” Riordan assured me.
“Stamos,” I growled, “does not believe Fuath possess the necessary faculties to stage such a deliberate attack. However,” I added, wincing because I knew how Riordan would react to what I told him next. “Castor approached me after the meeting—”
“Was he unkind to you? Ares did not say anything,” Riordan interrupted me worriedly.
“He was not unkind. He just shared some concerns.”
“Concerns?” he repeated. His brow furrowed again but this time in confusion.
“You know Castor is renowned for his spy network, but he says the network in Erétria is… reporting back to him less and less. And what is reported is worrisome.”
Riordan had an immaculate poker face, an ability that was unlike anything I’d ever seen. He could hear an insult and not flinch. He could be told the worst news and not even blink in surprise at it.
Which was how I knew he knew something that I did not when that flat affect slid into place over his authentic expression. I was no longer talking to my mate but to the King of the Vale.
“Youknowsomething,” I breathed, unable to decide how to feel about the fact that such seemingly important information was being withheld from me.
“Amira, I knew Castor and co-conspirators may come sniffing for information. I did not want to give them any indication we are aware of their schemes,” Riordan tried to explain himself. “I love you, my darling, but you are still learning to control yourexpressions.”
I bit my tongue before I could retort because I knew he was right. I could be offended all I wanted, but this was bigger than me. The security of the Kingdom of the Vale was at stake, Riordan’s position as the king was at stake, so my bruised ego would simply need to take a back seat. Besides, it made so much more sense that Castor targeted me as the weakest link in Riordan’s inner circle. I saw all his pretty words about how I was much more competent at politics than Riordan for the divisive poison they were. And I tried not to let it sting too much.
“Fine. I’ll tell you what he told me and you can decide what to do with the information,” I suggested.
“Amira—”
“I understand. I really do,” I reassured him seriously. “It would be unreasonable to expect to be told anything that could put the kingdom at risk.”
Riordan was apologetic, but I ignored it.
“He just said that there have been a lot of deaths in the City-State and none of them are being reported. He was unsure if it is related to the Fuath but was not willing to discount it. He said I should not trust anyone.”
Riordan merely nodded, his poker face still in place so there was nothing to glean from his reaction.
“He could be the one behind the misreporting, and he wanted to see if I knew about it. That is why he brought this to me and not to you. He was hoping I would reveal something about what you know,” I guessed, but Riordan gave away nothing as I made several more connections. “Is this why you haven’t been concerned that your father has not returned? He is your ears and eyes in Erétria!”
“Amira,” he said softly, but with warning in his voice. “It is safer if you do not know the specifics.”
There was some part of me that still objected to being left in the dark, but I was determined to prioritize his kingdom over my own ego. He was the only person I had ever trustedimplicitly, so I would trust this decision.
“You can make it up to me,” I told him.
“Oh?” he asked, an eyebrow rising with intrigue as he trailed those gorgeous golden eyes over me.
