Page 89 of Queen of War and Ruin

“That is also the reason,” he continues, “you’re to be confined to your quarters. And, when we do travel to the palace, you’ll be accompanied by a guard. At all times.”

“Excuse me?”

Blayne looks at me like he always did. Like he knows more than I could ever dream of knowing.

“Oh, Lilias,” he sighs. “Do I really have to repeat myself?”

Gods help me, I really am going to punch him again. My fingers curl into fists. I step toward the massive desk.

There’s a low cough behind me. I turn, startled, and see the old woman standing in the doorway. She’s watching me closely.

Blayne clears his throat.

“Doloros will call you down,” Blayne says, “when the guard King Malrik has assigned to you arrives to escort us to the palace. Until that point, you will remain in your quarters.”

I look at the woman, Doloros, and then at Blayne. My fingernails dig into my palms as my fists clench.

If I do punch Blayne, what then? Would he still take me to the palace? Would I still have a chance to reach Alia? To find Zarek?

No. If I punch him now, Blayne will probably lock me up in that room under the roof and tell everyone at the damn victory ball that I’ve fallen ill, or some other smooth little lie. And who would argue with him? Who would even care?

I swallow hard as I stare at the carpet under my feet. It’s an interesting pattern, reds and golds, roses and thorns. I wonder if Blayne chose it or if it came with this house.

“That is all,” Blayne announces. “You are dismissed.”

He waves his hand in the air, like he’s swatting a fly.

And I leave.

Chapter 46

Lilias

HISTORY

It’s evening when Doloros returns. I’ve spent another mind-numbing day watching shadows creep across the little courtyard and trying to trace the threads of my memories back to the place where I messed up so badly that Zarek is trapped in the palace and I’m stuck here. With Blayne. Gods help me.

Doloros bows a little as she opens the door. I was expecting another meal on a tray, but she’s empty-handed.

“Master Blayne will see you now,” Doloros says.

She waves her hand at the empty hallway like I wouldn’t be able to figure out where I’m supposed to go. I thank her, then follow her down the narrow staircase. Sounds drift through the air from the open windows, bits of conversation, the rumble of a carriage. I smell roasting meat and spices, and my stomach grumbles.

Doloros leads me past the room with the bookcases and into another long, narrow room with a window open to the courtyard. There’s a polished dining table here that must have been made to fit this room exactly. And, sitting at the other end of its long, glossy surface, is Blayne. Rage rises in the back of my throat the moment I see him.

He does not acknowledge me when I enter the room. Instead, he nods at Doloros, then takes a sip from his wine glass. There’s a place setting in front of me, and a full glass of wine. But he hasn’t invited me to sit, so I remain standing.

Blayne puts his glass down, then dabs at his mouth with a silk napkin. Finally, he turns to me.

“Lilias,” he says, like he’s just now noticed me. “You may sit.”

I pull the chair back and sit. He looks like he’s trying not to smile. Gods, he must be delighted at how well I’m obeying him right now. It makes me want to scream.

He takes another sip of wine. I don’t move.

There must be something I can do here, something Blayne has that I could use to help Zarek. Or Elrick, and what’s left of the Kingdom of Marion.

Think, damn it, I tell myself. What does Blayne have that I could use?