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“Thank you both for the tour. But if you will excuse me—” Theodor interrupted a lengthy story Kallos was reciting about an ancient part of the Keep that he didn’t care about. “—I’d like to go back to Boraleashe’s chambers for the evening.”
“Oh, um, sure. I mean, of course, lord.” Kallos muttered, then turned in the opposite direction, leading back to the main entrance. They had to almost jog to keep up with his rushed steps. “If I may ask, Lord Theodor?”
He didn’t slow his strides, but he nodded at her to ask what she wanted.
“What will happen next?” Kallos directed the question at him, but her older sister answered.
Enosabe’s face was calm except for the deep crease that’d settled in the center of her forehead, her voice hard as steel. “Our father will wed the Treasure of the Realms, and we will rule the land of Tir an Amárach… together.”
Boraleashe
Yes… Yes What?
Boraleashe ran the tips of his trembling fingers over the raised welts across his abdomen. Images of the Snow Trolls’ long claws ripping his body apart before his daughters and army flashed across his eyes, making him squeeze them shut in a useless attempt to will the horrific visions away. He breathed in the aromatic scents his attendants added to his bath. He eased his worn body deeper into the massive tub and rested his head against the cushioned edge.
Royale poured a ladle of fragrant water over his hair, combing it until there wasn’t a hint of blood or forest soil left in his long tresses. He still didn’t like being catered to, but he was just too exhausted to care for himself.
“Add more chamomile oil and lavender leaves, thank you,” Adresin commanded one of the servants, who was quick to pour more healing herbs into his bath. “Our lord still requires healing.”
Embarrassment burned Boraleashe’s pale cheeks. “Adresin, please stop fussing. As you can see, I’m quite well now.”
His closest confidant and friend glared at him for a long moment before his stern expression relaxed. “We almost lost you, my lord.”
Boraleashe felt horrible that he’d worried the people who cared most for him, but he couldn’t deny who he was. And while his fighting days should’ve been well behind him, it was still his duty to defend his kingdom with his life.
The worst part was that he still wasn’t safe. The Snow Moon’s assassins had failed. Now, it would come itself with its final—more than likely successful— attempt to claim his life.
The realization of that fact was evident in Adresin’s dark eyes. He wasn’t sure Boraleashe could pull off another miracle.
No one understood how he’d been healed within seconds of almost dying. Boraleashe wasn’t sure either, but he remembered being at the underworld’s door, the spirit of death and doom extending its gnarled hands in his direction. He’d closed his eyes, defeat settling into his bones. Then he blinked, and the pain and ache had gone, replaced with light and tranquility that reached his soul.
Boraleashe was still fuzzy on the details. However, one thing was for certain: he’d felt Theodor’s presence as strongly as he’d felt the serene healing flowing over him. The king had been there the entire time.
A foreign sensation bloomed in the center of his chest, sending an eruption of chills down his spine. Boraleashe held in the clawing groan that wanted out as emotion flooded his heart. The foreign feeling ramped up the speed of his pulse beyond his control.
“Are you okay, lord? Do you need the healers?” Royale asked, pausing his brushing.
Boraleashe had to clear his throat several times. Bolts of energy—passion-filled, sexy energy—throbbed between his legs to the soles of his feet. “Yes. I’m fine, Royale.”
Like hell he was fine. Something was happening to him. Boraleashe tried to regulate his ragged breaths, but nothing was working. He was still struggling minutes later, his staff noticing and taking concern, but before they could act, the sound of heavy footsteps headed toward him. Boraleashe sat up straight, his head spinning. He wasn’t afraid—there were thirty of his elite guards posted outside the double doors—but he had a suspicion it wouldn’t matter if there was an entire legion positioned outside.
It wasn’t going to stop the man who wanted inside.
“Step aside from the doors, or I will remove you myself.” The bass and power in Theodor’s voice was strong enough for Boraleashe to feel in his chest. “I will not caution you twice.”
The determined footfalls didn’t slow when the commander of his guards responded, “Highness, our lord is still in his bathing chambers, and Adresin instructed that he not be—”
Boraleashe didn’t flinch at the frightened yells or the loud thuds that slammed into the walls in the corridor. Seconds later, both doors flew open on a determined gust of warm wind, and Theodor strolled inside with his long emerald robe dragging on the marble floor behind him.
