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Auberon let Amaris return to the banquet first. When he stepped through the doorway several minutes later, he spotted her already making her way toward the double doors at the far end of the room, eager to make her escape. Every so often, a courtier tried to engage her in conversation, but she murmured an excuse and apologized before continuing on her way. One hand rested on her stomach as if she were feeling sick. Auberon glanced at the king. He was once again in his seat at the head table, a look of displeasure on his face as he watched Amaris make her hasty exit. King Domhnall knew the truth behind Riona’s absence, which meant that he also knew Amaris was feigning illness to leave the banquet early. Fortunately, she was too far away for him to stop her without making a scene.
Amaris slipped out of the room, and Auberon started after her at a leisurely pace, his hands tucked into his pockets. To his left, he spotted Drystan still speaking with the council members. Lord Farquar was leaning back in his seat, a bored expression on his face, but the rest seemed to hang onto Drystan’s every word. The war had cost them lives and trade, and they were eager for the rush of prosperity that would follow the signing of a peace treaty. Auberon didn’t bother telling Drystan that he was leaving. He had made it abundantly clear that Auberon was to stay out of his way when it came to matters of the court.
So be it. Drystan could face the court alone while he went off in search of Riona.
Auberon left the castle’s main building and started up the cobblestone path toward the guest houses. Amaris was already waiting for him near the front door when he arrived at the house he shared with Drystan, speaking quietly with a castle servant. The future queen stood with her head high and hands clasped, her long braids twisted into a waterfall that spilled down her back. For a moment, as she turned to face him, Auberon was struck by how much the girl resembled Riona. They weren’t related by blood, but their mannerisms were nearly identical.
A pang of regret and longing buried itself deep in Auberon’s heart. He shouldn’t have pushed Riona away. The Creator only knew where she was and what she was doing, but he was willing to bet it had something to do with Cathal’s murder. That was the only thing that would have caused her to leave the city with such haste. If he hadn’t argued with her, would she have told him whatever she’d discovered? Would she have asked him to join her?
He pushed the thoughts away as he approached Amaris and the servant. When the light from the lantern hanging beside the door struck the girl’s face, he realized that it was Ophelia, the servant who had summoned him and Drystan for the negotiations.
“Tell me where Aeron is,” Amaris was saying as he met them outside the house. “I’ve searched everywhere for him, and he’s nowhere to be found. He escorted Riona out of the city, didn’t he?”
“I don’t know anything about it, my lady.”
“You must know where they’ve gone,” Amaris insisted. She pointed behind them, to the dark silhouettes of the rolling hills that surrounded Innislee. “They are out there somewhere with bandits and highwaymen roaming the roads. If you care at all about Riona’s safety, please, you must tell me where they’re going.”
“I cannot help you, my lady. I’m sorry.”
Ophelia turned to leave, but Auberon stepped into her path. “Ophelia, I don’t think you’re aware of just how serious this may be. Lady Riona did not run off with a secret lover because no such lover exists. She was meeting withmeall those nights she snuck out of her father’s estate. I was helping her search for Treasurer Cathal’s murderer, and I believe she has taken matters into her own hands. She could be in trouble. She could bedying. We cannot delay. Where did Riona and Aeron go?”
“I—I couldn’t tell you, Your Highness. I don’t know,” Ophelia responded, her eyes flitting from his to Amaris’s and back. It was a tiny but telling movement.
She was lying.
“Are you sure?” he pressed, stepping closer. “Shall I recount for you the horrific death Treasurer Cathal met in that brothel? Or the way that serving girl’s throat had been slashed from ear to ear, just to ensure her silence? If their murderer learns that Riona is searching for him, she may meet just as gruesome an end as they did. Is that what you wish for the woman whose token of favor you wear around your neck?”
The servant shrank back. Then a cool mask slid over her features, and she pulled the small obsidian pendant out from under her tunic. “This necklace means that I have sworn my loyalty to Lady Riona. She has ordered me to remain silent, and it is not my place to question her. I can only assume she did not want anyone to follow her, no matter how seemingly pure their intentions.” She glanced at Amaris. “I’m sorry I cannot tell you anything, my lady. Goodnight.”
Ophelia performed a stiff curtsy and started down the cobblestone path. Auberon started to follow her, his temper reaching the end of its leash, but Amaris caught his arm. “Let her go. She’s not going to speak.”
His hands curled into fists. “I would marvel at the loyalty Riona inspires in her allies if it weren’t so damned frustrating.”
“Speaking of allies…” Amaris turned on him. “Riona was meetingyouall those nights she snuck out? What were you thinking, helping her search for a murderer? What game were you playing? You couldn’t have done it out of the goodness of your heart.”
“I couldn’t have done it because I wanted to see the bastard who poisoned me meet the executioner’s blade?”
“You and your brother have been manipulating the court every day since you got here. Of course you had some ulterior motive.”
He shook his head and entered the house, Amaris trailing his steps up to his bedroom. She watched as he sheathed a sword and dagger at his hip, then fastened a cloak around his shoulders. “I’m going to find her,” he said as he pulled the hood up. “Is there another exit from the castle, one where royal guards aren’t stationed? The longer it takes the king to realize I’ve left, the better.”
When Amaris didn’t respond, he turned and found her studying him, an unreadable expression on her face. “What?”
“…You care for her, don’t you? Perhaps this all began as a game to win her over for your brother’s sake, but…that’s not how it is anymore. At least, not for you.”
He brushed past her and started down the stairs.
“Don’t walk away from me, Auberon,” she warned, hurrying after him. “If she must leave her home and her family behind, it should be to marry a man who will love her and make her happy. Your devotion to your brother is admirable, but you and I both know that he is not that man. He and Riona are too similar. There’s nothing between them, and there never will be. She—”
Auberon whirled so quickly Amaris nearly slammed into him. She gripped the banister as she stopped short, only a few inches between them. “I was sent here to secure a marriage alliance between Riona and my brother, and until we leave this castle for Erduria, I will not stop trying to do that,” he said in a cold voice. He was tired of people questioning his heart, his loyalties. He wouldn’t give in to his desire. Hecouldn’t. “I will find her and bring her safely home, and then I will do everything in my power to ensure that she and Drystan are betrothed.”
Without a word, Amaris turned and walked into his bedroom. She returned a moment later with a cloak wrapped around her slender shoulders. “I’m coming with you.”
“No—”
“I am coming with you,” she repeated, her tone leaving no room for argument. She slipped past him and continued down the stairs, leaving him no choice but to follow her out of the house. “If you’re right about her hunting down Cathal’s murderer, then her life could be in danger. You and I are going to search for her together. Either that, or I can call for the guards and have you dragged before the king. I’m sure he’d be very happy to hear how the ruthless, manipulative Erdurian prince has been sneaking around with his niece at all hours of the night. What will it be, Your Highness?”
Amaris pinned him with her stare. She knew she’d trapped him, but she didn’t know just how dangerous her threat truly was. If the king had ordered Cathal’s assassination, then his learning that Auberon and Riona had been investigating the murder would only paint targets on their backs. He wouldn’t put it past King Domhnall to arrange for someaccidentto befall them once the negotiations were over.
