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I didn't hear anything, not even footsteps outside, until the door flew open so hard it bounced off the wall behind it.
33
Khala
Ryze was on his feet in a blur of movement, immediately putting himself between us and the Fae that stood at the door.
Zared and I tumbled off the bed. He hurried to pull on his clothes.
"Interesting." A Fae with red-gold hair regarded Ryze. "I heard a rumour the High Lord of the Winter Court was in Garial. I had to come and see for myself."
"Wornar," Ryze drawled. "I say it's good to see you but we both know that would be a lie."
Wornar laughed, but the sound was without mirth. "I wouldn't expect anything else. Perhaps Lord of Lies would be a better title for you."
"Always with the sense of humour," Ryze said. "It's good to see you haven't changed a bit."
Wornar peered around Ryze. "You always did keep some curious company. A pretty Fae." His nostrils flared. "An omega. And a human."
He looked back at Ryze, realisation on his tanned face. "You are treading on thin ice."
"Always. Are you going to stand there in the doorway all day, or are you going to come in?" Ryze moved back.
Wornar nodded to the two other Fae with him and stepped inside. He closed the door and caught Ryze up in an embrace.
"I should have known you're here to cause trouble, you old asshole," Wornar said.
Ryze snorted. "You're older than I am." He clapped Wornar on the back.
Arm still over the other man's shoulders, he turned to gesture at us. "Khala. Zared. Wornar is the cousin of the High Lord of the Spring Court. He's about as welcome in Garial as I am. He was just about to explain why he's here." He looked directly at Wornar, eyebrows raised expectantly.
"As it happens, no. I wasn't," Wornar said. "At least not until someone explains what a pretty Fae is doing with a reprobate like Ryze." He looked me up and down, openly predatory gleam in his eyes.
To my surprise, Ryze explained everything to Wornar in a handful of words.
Wornar watched me while he listened, no hint of surprise at what he heard.
"I've heard similar stories in the Spring Court," he said finally. "Human women being brought here. Fae women," he corrected himself. "Transformed and then… No one knows what happens after that. Cavan is a secretive piece of shit at best. I assumed he has a harem of omegas locked away somewhere."
"Is that why you're here?" I asked, speaking finally. The idea of women being locked away for the pleasure of the High Lord, of any man, was sickening.
"No," Wornar said with a small measure of regret. "I'm here to speak to Cavan, to ascertain the extent of the alliance between him and the Autumn Court. They refuse to tell us anything, but Thiron is becoming concerned. Harel, the High Lord of Autumn is, how do I put it? Shady as hells? More so in recent years. Both of them together is a potential cause for concern. If they're working together for some sort of grab for power, then it's just as well we're both here. I have an audience with Cavan in the morning if you'd like to tag along?"
"If you already know I'm here, then it won't be long before everyone else knows." Ryze sighed. "I might as well make this official. Unless Vayne and Tavian can locate those women and we can get them out tonight."
"There's only one way into the palace these days, and that's through the front door," Wornar said. "Cavan has guards posted everywhere. It's almost like he has something to hide." He smiled ironically.
"And you call Harel shady as fuck," Ryze remarked. "Nothing says shady like guards on every door. Still, if anyone can get in and out it's Vayne and Tavian."
"I wish I shared your confidence." Wornar stepped over to the table and picked up a slice of cheese. "I've had several men and women try to gain access during the last week with no luck. I've had to stop trying before it looked suspicious." He bit into the cheese and nodded his appreciation.
"We wouldn't want anyone accusing you of being shady," Ryze said.
"Why not, it sounds accurate," Zared muttered.
"We're still working on teaching him some manners," Ryze said to Wornar.
"He isn't wrong though." Wornar smiled. "That description applies to both of us. Otherwise we wouldn't be in a waterfront inn, sneaking around like a pair of thieves."
