Page 39 of Facade

The hall door swung open, and Aiden’s face fell as he looked between us.

“Never mind. I see she’s with you and… What are you wearing?” he asked sharply as he regarded me.

“I let her borrow some clothes,” Thaddeus said innocently. “A Queen must travel comfortably. You never know what will happen on the road to Castle Lawryn,” he noted, a gleam in his eye.

“I want to be comfortable. The carriage is rough enough, but then there’s Lyra.” My words were blunt. Whatever game Aiden played with his mood swings, I wouldn’t partake. Thaddeus’ warning flashed through my mind, too, right along the warning from Micha.

A smile tugged at the corner of Aiden’s mouth as his gaze coursed over my body again. Heat flooded my face as I realized the leggings hugged my backside and the tunic dipped lower than anything I’d ever worn.

I swallowed dryly. “The least I can get is comfort in what I wear. Dresses and bodices aren’t very practical for the—"

“It’s fine. You can put the green dress back on before we arrive at Castle Lawryn,” he muttered distractedly as he dragged his gaze to Thaddeus.

Butterflies danced in the pit of my stomach as his gaze kept flicking back to me.

“Thank you for providing her… more options. Your hospitality knows no bounds,” he said with a tight smile at the other male, the latter dipping his chin.

I lurched forward, giving Thaddeus a quick hug as a thank you, even though that was most certainly not customary or proper for a Queen to do. I couldn’t help myself. He—a stranger—had shared intimate things with me and been so giving, while knowing I wasn’t who I pretended to be.

His warning stayed on my mind. Similar to the warning Micah had given me. But when I looked at Aiden—despite his mood swings—they had to be wrong about him. I could see the battle in his eyes when he talked about the Gargoyles. And what about the male who attacked me? Would he have bothered to take that punishment so far if he were a cold-hearted soldier?

“It was kind of him to give me some of his mate’s clothing,” I remarked. Aiden stopped and turned.

He looked perplexed, trying to find words. “Yes… It was.”

“Is something wrong?”

He chewed on his lip.

“Is this about last night? Look, I was drunk. I shouldn’t have—”

“No,” he said quickly. “No, this has nothing to do with last night. I mean—I shouldn’t have allowed any of us to relax to that degree, but you…” He loosed a sigh. “Don’t apologize for anything. I’m sorry if I’ve been off. I’m accustomed to staying silent and alert to our surroundings. Dimitri seems to be chattier than I am. Perhaps he’s better company.” He turned and kept walking.

“Why would you care if I’m talking to Dimitri?” I demanded, chasing after him.

“I don’t.”

“Didn’t seem that way at breakfast.”

He abruptly stopped, pivoting toward me.

“Dimitri has a job. I wouldn’t want him or any of my guards to become distracted, is all.” He dismissed me, turning his back once more. My mouth flattened into a line as I bit on my retort and stomped after him.

Everyone was gathered at the carriage and already mounted. Malachai sat tall on his painted gray stallion, staring at us with an intensity that rattled me. I couldn’t tell if he hated me or what. Maybe he just hated humans—many beings did. No matter how comfortable I felt pretending to be someone different, I had to remember the truth of the situation.

Lyra was already in the carriage, singing a little ditty in a pitchy voice. Alaric climbed the carriage and clamped his hands over his ears. Brax glanced at the carriage and grinned. Not mockingly, but in admiration. Huh. Leave it to Lyra to rope in a male.

Before I got in, I cast my gaze beyond the fence where Dimitri had taken down that skur.

“Aiden?” He stopped and came closer to me.

“Yes, Evanee?” Hearing my name on his lips sent my mind in the wrong direction.

The way he said my name didn’t curl through my thoughts like the stranger’s voice had, but it still elicited feelings I didn’t want to have.

“Where are the bodies? From last night?” Ignoring it all seemed better.

“They’re gone. Burned to ash with the rising sun.”