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“You’re—” His mouth opened and closed. “She’s yourwifenow? Your eternal wife? But Lady Endalaver?—”
“Shall never be married to me.” I clasped Ilara’s hand, our inked bindings flashing in the fairy lights. “Lady Seary and I are eternally wed. Not even the king can alter that.”
The castle commander gaped.
We strode past him, heading toward the throne room doors.
Ilara’s wings shimmered like glittering snowflakes in the wide hall. The bright lights illuminated the space as the familiar tapestries holding scenes from all of the territories decorated the walls.
At the final ice doors, the guards’ eyes were wide, their mouths hanging open.
“Have you forgotten your jobs?” Nish snappedwhen we stopped before them, and the doors remained unmoved.
“Sorry, my prince. Very sorry.” They both bowed and opened the doors simultaneously.
The six of us strode inside without pause, my steps increasing in speed when my father and mother appeared at the end of the large throne room, on their dais with a few nobles surrounding them.
The second my father’s attention alighted on Ilara, he sat straighter on his throne.
Our footsteps echoed in the huge room, and when we reached the bottom of the dais stairs, we bowed automatically.
“Leave us. Now.” My father’s cold words cut to those around him. The nobles scattered and disappeared out the doors until it was only the guards, my mate, and my parents.
Gray hairs streaked through the white hair at my father’s temples, but despite his middle age, the king’s eyes were sharp and his body fit. My mother appeared as she always did. Calm. Poised. Regal. Long hair draped down her back, white from the illusion I’d hidden it under. Without my illusion, her hair was as black as my mate’s.
“You go too,” my father said icily, eyeing all four of my guards. “Out. I would like a word alone with my son and the female.”
My jaw locked, and my nostrils flared.The female.I could defy him, insist that my guards stay, but if I did,they would, and their disobedience to their king could send them to the dungeons.
Black wings rippled around my guards’ backs, their magic soaring as their warrior affinities heated their limbs, but I shook my head. “Do as he says,” I commanded.
The king scoffed when my guards responded to my bidding after hesitating at his. It was only when they’d left the room that he muttered, “Such insolence.” His attention snapped to the queen. “Lissandra, return to your tower. I meant it when I said I wanted a word alone with Norivun and the female.”
My mother stiffened and then stood. Her complexion was clear, no bruises present as had been the case the last time I’d seen her, but that didn’t mean the rest of her remained unscathed. Yet one would never know from the strong way she held herself.
“As you wish, my king.” She glided down the stairs, and her attention drifted to Ilara’s and my hands. They were hidden behind our thighs, our eternal marks unseen, yet I knew my mother was aware of them when a tiny smile lifted her lips.
She brushed against me when she passed, her smile growing broader. As much as my father tried to suppress her affinities, he never had been able to completely.
“Well done,” she whispered so quietly that I knew the king hadn’t heard.
The ice doors opened and closed when she exited, the sound resonating through the room.
Ilara’s chin rose higher as King Novakin leaned back on his throne. My father flicked a hand toward the guards at the doors, his fingers making a strange movement. When I turned to see what new activity was to follow his subtle order, both guards had left.
We were truly alone with the king.
King Novakin stroked his jaw. “So, you’ve finally returned.” His words sounded neutral, but ice shone in his expression when he assessed my mate. “And you’ve brought the female from Mervalee, just as I requested.”
His words lacked the smugness I would expect if he truly believed we’d come innocently.
Magic roiled along my limbs, and I stepped closer to my mate. I wanted to shield her with my body, but I knew she wouldn’t like that. Ilara could handle herself, as she’d proven time and time again. “I have, Father. Just as you requested.”
“How long have you been gone, Lady Seary?” The king continued to run a finger along his lower jaw. “Has it been three weeks? Three weeks of you defying my command?”
Worry strummed from her, yet she replied in a steady tone, “Yes, I did flee and defy your command, but only because I could not watch my mate marry another.”
The king’s eyebrows rose. “Ah,mate, now is it? Does that mean...” His words hung in the air, like icicles suspended from a fall, before he inhaled through his nose, then began to chuckle. “Youaremated. You each carry theother’s scent now. How tragic it is if you’re fully bonded to one another. You do know that my son will be marrying Lady Endalaver in only a week’s time, don’t you?”
