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And if they all disappeared, how the hell was Rayne going to save Erya from New Rosanthe without them?
He wasn’t. There was no avoiding that truth. No matter what happened in this meeting tonight, he would have to locate Caelan and Drayce next. Possibly even Eno.
Turning toward the mirror, he made one last pass over his appearance. He slid his fingers through his hair, smoothing out the light-brown locks one last time before straightening his tie, even if it didn’t need it. He was wearing his best suit. There were only a few wrinkles in this pale-green shirt, but it was hidden beneath the dark-brown suit jacket.
Everything about his appearance screamed Erya: the cut of his suit, the somber color, even the severity of his hairstyle. Despite the coolness of the climate, the people of Caspagir preferred cool, pale colors and longer haircuts. Erya basked in warm colors of deep green and browns. Drayce and Caelan had blended decently when they left that morning, but the city would know when Rayne stepped out that he was from Erya. It was going to be interesting to see if anyone reacted.
Grabbing his silver-handled walking stick that doubled as a staff, Rayne left the hotel room with his cell phone in his pocket.
The walk to the restaurant he’d chosen was a short one, still in the neighborhood that held their hotel. It had been one of his favorites when he’d been living in Sirelis, and it was discreet enough for this secret meeting.
As he walked, he kept glancing around and over his shoulder, checking to make sure that he wasn’t being followed. When he was only a block from the restaurant, he finally spotted the first of the hidden personal guards that he’d been expecting. Each guard watched him as he passed, but no one moved to intercept him.
At the corner of the next block, the bright yellow lights of the restaurant pushed against the encroaching darkness. The building was narrow with a large front window decorated with a flowerbox overflowing with blue and white flowers. Rayne ducked inside and for a moment, he was whisked backward in time by the rich scent of spices and sauces. Nothing had changed over the years. The exposed red-brick walls were covered in watercolor scenes of the city and neighboring countryside. People were sitting at small tables covered in white cloths, and no one gave him more than a glance.
But there was Panu rushing across the room, his hand held out in front of him in eager greeting.
“Master Laurent!” Panu cried out when he was still several feet away from Rayne. The little man with the shining bald head and bristly mustache smiled at Rayne. “It has been years since I have seen you. It is so wonderful to visit.” He gripped Rayne’s hands and Rayne dutifully leaned down so Panu could buss a kiss across each of Rayne’s cheeks.
“It is wonderful to see you again, Panu. I trust that business has been good.”
Panu blew out a breath between his lips, ruffling his mustache while rocking both hands in the air. “Oh, you know how it goes. Busy enough. People still gotta eat regardless of what the kings and queens decide to do.”
“That’s good.”
“Let me get you a good table.”
“I’m actually here to meet a friend.” He paused and made sure to hold Panu’s eye. “At my usual table.”
Panu smiled broadly. “Yes, he’s already here.” He waved a hand at him, beckoning him forward, but Rayne already knew the table’s location. “When he showed up tonight and said he was meeting someone, I hoped it would be you.”
Rayne clung to his smile. That was an interesting bit of information. Had he stopped coming to the restaurant when Rayne left Sirelis? That was…unexpected.
Panu led the way through a narrow hallway paneled with dark wood. He stopped halfway along the hall and pressed on a special spot on the panel, opening a secret door. Panu waved for Rayne to enter with a smile. “The wine has already been served, and he has ordered. Would you like your usual?”
“Yes, please. And please see that we’re not disturbed.”
“Of course, Master Laurent. Only I will be serving you this evening.”
As Rayne stepped into the surprisingly large room that housed exactly one table and two chairs, he found his heart doing an odd little skip in his chest as his eyes locked on the only person in the room.
“Thank the gods you’re still alive!” Crown Prince Shey Thrudesh-Vo, heir to the Caspagir throne, exclaimed as he bounded out of his chair. It took two long steps to close the distance between them, and then Rayne was wrapped tightly in Shey’s strong arms.
Rayne stood frozen. He’d never thought he’d experience this ever again. To be held by the prince of Caspagir, to smell the warm hints of his cologne or to hear his ragged breath in his ear. A shudder ran through Rayne as an unexpectedly intense feeling of safety and rightness surged through him. For the first time since they’d heard the news of Queen Amara’s murder, he felt truly safe and protected. Shey would never do anything to hurt him.
