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Lugh’s feelings changed from calm to angry. Probably to avoid arousing suspicion in Lord Trechting, Lady Queill released my tongue and allowed me to respond.
“Thank you, Lord Trechting,” I replied.
I could not reach into his emotions to warn him that something was wrong. Not when Lady Queill was right beside me, listening and ready to intervene. But he was not aware of the danger we both were in.
“Is it true that the prince has been trying to steal your throne?” he asked. “I hear...”
Anger lifted the fog for a moment.
“You shouldn’t believe everything you hear, my lord,” I blurted out. “My brother is an honorable man. He does not...”
I did not see him move. I couldn’t have stopped him even if I had.
Lugh slapped me.
My neck moved awkwardly with the force of his slap, and the sound echoed in the hallway.
Trechting said something, but I could not hear him through the buzzing of my ears.
I closed my eyes to try and contain the humiliation that came over my every sense. My cheek burned and stung, but I did not care about the pain.
This was a first. No one had ever done such a thing to me within these walls.
Lugh had no right.
“What do you think you are doing?” Lord Trechting raised his voice.
I brought my hand up to my cheek and opened my eyes. Lord Trechting was now being held by two of Lugh’s soldiers. His hands were pulled behind his back, and although he tried to resist, the two burly men held him tightly enough that he could not escape their grip. Lord Trechting’s men were similarly subdued behind him.
It was obvious that Trechting had done something in reaction to Lugh’s audacity. I had not seen it, but the way Lugh’s soldiers held him and his men was enough proof.
Lord Trechting and his men looked appalled, but Lugh’s men did not react at all. It irked me to see their reaction. They were Lugh’s, but still, it was odd to witness their casual acceptance of the new way of things.
Only one of Lugh’s men seemed surprised. The soldier with the blue eyes did not move from behind Lugh, but he gave me a compassionate look as though he pitied me.
I hated him more than the others at that moment. My cheek kept stinging.
“You cannot do this,” Lord Trechting said. “The princess...”
“The princess knows what it means to go against me, Trechting,” Lugh said. “You should know better too.”
“Are you threatening me, Lugh?” Trechting asked angrily. “You do realize that I have my men with me? If anything happens to me...”
“Nothing will happen to you,” Lugh said, gesturing his men to release him. He smiled as though everything had been a simple misunderstanding. Then, he added dryly: “I cannot say the same thing for your father.”
Lord Trechting’s eyes widened despite his attempt to keep his expression flat. I knew at once that he had not heard from his father, at least not for a while.
“I see that you know,” Lord Lugh continued. “It is a shame really, that you do not keep in touch with him more often. You should be more aware of where he is and what he is doing.”
“Where is he?” Lord Trechting asked, trying to contain his anger.
“He is well,” Lord Lugh said, not answering Lord Trechting’s question. “For now... We are taking care of him. It would be a shame to lose a man such as your father, Lord Trechting. Lord Petret has served the realm well.”
“My father would not want me to betray the princess to save him,” Lord Trechting said. “He is an honorable man. You cannot threaten me or our family...”
Lugh glared at him.
If you do not stop him, Lady Queill’s voice rang inside my mind. He will die. His father will die as well.
