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The members of the Clawsguard led me through the palace. Now that I’d been here for a few days, things had begun to look more familiar. At least they did until the soldiers took a turn, and I found myself in the most opulent corridor I’d seen yet.
As in the rest of the palace, the tapestries hung on the white walls, though they were thicker than before, and the brocading on their edges looked finer. At least three bore images of King Magnus in the midst of harrowing and heroic deeds.
When we reached a set of double doors guarded by Clawsguard soldiers, I knew we’d arrived. Without my escorts saying a word, the fae at the door knocked and opened the king’s door. A high, feminine giggle seeped out.
“Should I be here?” I asked with a swallow.
Having seen the king’s harem already, I recognized he was not a shy fae. I might be walking into anything.
“Your king commanded you,” the Clawsguard that had told me to come with them replied.
“And he is ready for you,” the one at the door said. “Enter.”
I took a step forward, steeling myself. My eyes landed on bare breasts and the king, blessedly still clothed, fondling them. I cleared my throat and forced my eyes to take in the rest of the vast room.
The single chamber spanned the size of Roar’s entire suite, roomy indeed. Diamonds in shades of white and off-white patterned the marble floor. A fireplace dominated the wall across from the king’s bed, spanning from floor to ceiling, and two white bears with claws extended were carved into each side of the hearth. Arched windows featured the Shivering Sea glittering in the day’s sunlight. At the moment, judging by the waves and the motionless tops of the trees, the temperamental winds were down. If I wasn’t playing ill and worrying about Roar, I’d have looked forward to the promenade on the itinerary.
The king gestured to me. “Lady Neve! Please, approach!”
I did so, stopping a few paces away as the king motioned for the female to lie on the bed. I was thankful she slipped beneath the gold brocade covers, especially when I recognized her. She was not a harem fae at all, but a daughter of a jarl who had spoken with Roar last night.
“As I have many matters to attend to today,” he eyed the bed, “I will make this quick. Your lord was seen fleeing Avaldenn in the small hours.”
I stiffened. “Pardon me, my king? I thought you said that Lord Roar has fled the city?”
“I did. He left alone and on horseback. Three of my men spoke to him in the stables, and the city gate confirmed seeing him ride down the Queen’s Road. A bell later they claimed that three soldiers wearing the snow leopard on their breast followed to the west.” The king frowned. “The idiots didn’t even try to stop any of them.”
“But—why?” With each second, I grew colder.
What had happened that would make Roar leave? And if he’d called for soldiers to follow, which it seemed like he had, why wouldn’t he tell me—take me? We had a deal, and if he was in danger, I would be too.
“I hoped that you might answer that question.” King Magnus studied me, his expression fierce. “I blessed your union. I told you to remain in the capital for the duration of the Courting Festival . . . and then the Warden of the West leaves?” He shook his head. “Not only do his actions make me look a fool, but they are also treason.”
“It can’t be!”
The king glared at me. “As is speaking to your king in such a manner.”
Bleeding stars.
Magnus paced his vast chambers. “My lady, you know nothing of why your fiancé left?”
“Nothing,” I admitted. “Perhaps something went wrong in Guldtown?”
“I would have been informed.”
I wracked my brain but could not think of a single reason for Roar to leave the city as he did. After all, he had no family to worry about. And he’d surely guess that the king would deem his actions as treason. What in the stars had he been thinking? And he couldn’t even have stopped by our rooms before leaving?
No, this made no sense. Roar was hiding something, just like when he’d hidden that he’d been dosing me with potions.
Anger rose in me at the position I’d been put in. “I-I don’t know, my king.”
“The Lisikas have always been a self-interested family.” He stopped and turned to me. “That being said, I cannot abide by my lords disrespecting my commands. Lord Roar has committed treason, which puts you in a precarious situation.”
The hairs on my arms rose, but I said nothing; I just waited.
“However, I am a merciful king.” A small smile grew on his face. “So I will not blame you, a powerless fae in the face of a warden who swept you off your feet.”
I curtsied. “Thank you, my king. I—”
