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Teryn’s mouth tightened, but he quickly donned an easy grin that didn’t meet his eyes. “As my wife, she no longer needs to stay in her own room.”
She blushed at what he was suggesting, but that didn’t change the fact that she’d had Master Arther unlock Teryn’s room this morning too, when he hadn’t answered his door. Thankfully the steward was amenable to Mareleau’s commands, despite being only a visiting queen, but now she was more perplexed than ever. Did Ridine perhaps have a wedding chamber like the one she and Larylis spent their first night in? If so, why would Cora be there all day while Teryn was out here? Alone?
“Surely, she’ll accept my visit—” Her words cut off as Teryn handed her an envelope.
“A letter arrived from your husband this morning.”
Her heart stuttered as she tore the envelope from his grip and immediately flicked open the seal. Before she could read its contents, she glanced back at Teryn. “Why do you have my letter? Why wasn’t it delivered directly to me?”
“Larylis had a letter for me as well, so the messenger delivered them together. I offered to bring you yours.”
That was an adequate excuse, she supposed…
“Don’t expect too many more before his arrival,” he said. “He’ll be traveling by now and likely won’t have time to write. And you have your own travels to prepare for.”
Excitement flooded her. Larylis was on his way! He’d be here soon, and after the pact was signed, she could return home with him. Was that what travels Teryn was referring to? Surely she didn’t need to prepare for departure just yet.
“You may not have heard,” Teryn said, “but the signing will now take place on a celebratory hunt. In a few days, we’ll make camp not too far from here and await the arrival of your husband and father.”
Her eyes went wide. “We? As in…me? Going…hunting?” She wrinkled her nose. She’d never been on a hunt before, and she certainly didn’t like the sound of camping. Sleeping at shoddy inns on her way to Ridine had been bad enough.
“I want you there. Cora wants you there. As Queen of Menah and heir to Selay, you’re an important part of this pact. Besides, it will allow you more time with your beloved husband. He will be going straight there regardless of whether you attend.”
Mareleau narrowed his eyes. There was something about the way he’d phrased that last part that almost made it feel like a threat.
Teryn’s smile softened. “What will you call it?”
She paled. Was he referring to the baby? Last they’d spoken, she’d confessed to having lied about her condition. Had her newest change of fortune already spread through the castle?
“Your two kingdoms,” Teryn clarified, dousing her anxiety. “Once you’re queen of both Menah and Selay, what name will give your new land?”
She gave a flippant shrug. “I haven’t considered it.”
He took a step closer, his feet reaching the edge of the platform. Mareleau descended another step. “You should think about it. You’re a powerful woman, Majesty. Power should fill your every thought. I know it fills mine.”
She lowered her brows with a dark glower. “Shouldn’t your new wife fill your thoughts instead?”
“Oh, she does. It is because of her that I am here. To give her peace of mind, I’ll tidy up her work in the tower. It’s merely a matter of redecorating. Surely even I can do that.”
Then why the hell had he askedherto set up his private dinner with Cora a few nights back? Furthermore, the odd clusters of hanging herbs and basins on the floor made it seem like there was something other than redecorating going on. She was about to say as much but thought better of it. Brother or no, she didn’t like conversing with him when he was in this strange mood. A mood he’d been in since the dinner they shared, she didn’t fail to note.
She left him with no other farewell than an irritated scoff and descended the stairs. Her muscles were coiled with agitation. She still hadn’t figured out where Cora was. Nevertheless, she’d find her. Until it came time to leave for this grand hunt she was now expected to attend, she’d have little else to do.
At least she had one source of comfort. She opened her husband’s letter and sank into the solace of his words.
49
Teryn stared down the stairwell, even after Mareleau had gone. He and Emylia had witnessed her exchange with Morkai, and it left Teryn with a hollow pit of dread where his stomach should be. Teryn had realized something when they were talking; Cora wasn’t Morkai’s final option for getting everything he wanted. Mareleau could provide it in the same way—everything from her two kingdoms to a body he could use for Emylia.
All Morkai would have to do was get Verdian and Larylis out of the way. Force Mareleau to be his bride.
Teryn’s lungs felt tight. While he’d managed to protect Cora somewhat, he now needed to find a way to save everyone else. Larylis. Mareleau. King Verdian.
“Teryn.” Emylia’s voice, pitched with urgency, stole his attention from the empty stairwell. Morkai had now returned to the tower room and was poring over a book on the cluttered table. Emylia stood beside the sorcerer, watching the pages that flipped by.
Teryn made his way inside, eyes locked on the sorcerer’s waistcoat pocket. He and Emylia had projected themselves outside the crystal in time to catch him lifting the hidden stone in the floor and extracting the two glass vials. Emylia had been right; Morkai had hidden stores of his original body’s blood. A necessary ingredient for Teryn and Emylia’s plan. Only one essential remained: the pattern that would allow Teryn to unravel the spell on the crystal.
“What is he doing?” Teryn asked, standing at the other side of the table. His eyes fell on the pages of the book Morkai thumbed through. Each was either scribbled over in an elegant script—one he had a feeling belonged to Morkai himself—or bore intricate patterns rendered in ink. He lifted his gaze to Emylia’s.
