Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
I nod. How can I not? He’s not asking me to hide behind him, nor did he leave me with Tairn to keep me safe. He’s just asking me to stay close.
And honestly, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
He squeezes my hand once, then lets go, freeing us both in case we need to fight, and we move forward as Blue Sash beckons, clearly exasperated with the time we’re taking.
King Courtlyn waves off the couple on the left as we approach, listening to whatever Tecarus whispers in his ear, and servants scurry to replace the plates and cups as the couple departs.
“They don’t shake hands,” I tell Xaden quietly as we walk down the aisle. “They don’t mince or waste words. They speak in double meanings only when it’s convenient to them. They value status, wealth, knowledge, and secrets—anything that can be traded. If you break your word once, you’re never trusted again.”
“Say what I mean. Don’t lie. Act like a rich, entitled dick. Got it.” He nods.
Rage shines in Halden’s gaze as it meets mine when we reach the last set of tables, and his fist closes around his gold fork.
I send him a silent, subtle plea to keep his shit together, and he places the fork on the table and clenches his jaw.
“The Duke of Tyrrendor,” Blue Sash announces loudly, gesturing to the four steps that lead up the dais on the left, “and his consort, Violet Sorrensail.”
Close enough.
Xaden walks up the steps first, his gaze sweeping the floor, the chairs, the table, and even the place settings before he reaches back with a hand. It’s unnecessary but sweet, so I take it and walk up after him. “It’s Sorrengail,” he corrects Blue Sash.
I take the seat on the end, and Xaden takes the one closest to Courtlyn’s right.
“What did you do?” I ask Halden across the divide.
“Straight to the point,” Courtlyn says, rolling the jeweled dagger. “I enjoy this.”
“What makes you think I did anything?” Halden challenges, leaning over his plate.
“Previous history.”
Servants step up behind the other three occupants and remove the dishes.
“I’m sorry to say that you missed the dinner portion of the evening,” Courtlyn announces, “but dessert will soon arrive.”
“What did you do, Halden?” Xaden repeats for me.
“Exactly what I was sent here for.” Color flushes Halden’s cheeks and he slams his palms down on the table. “I reestablished diplomatic connections with Deverelli and asked for their permission to use Tecarus’s manor to launch a search mission with a riot of dragons in return for the artifact he requested, and when that was not enough, I offered—”
“What was not yours to give!” Courtlyn lunges across Tecarus and plunges the dagger into Halden’s hand.
Holy. Fucking. Shit. My stomach churns.
“Your Majesty!” Tecarus balks, the blood draining from his face.
I drop my hand to Xaden’s knee and squeeze to keep from screaming the way Halden does as he stares down in shock.
Xaden tenses but wears his mask of bored indifference like a professional.
“Stop wailing like a child.” Courtlyn sits back in his chair, then takes a drink of red wine from his crystal goblet.
Halden sucks in breath after breath, staring at his hand, but the screaming ceases.
“Pull it out, wrap your hand, get it stitched by a healer, and you’ll be fine in a fortnight,” Courtlyn lectures. “The cut is between your bones, in the fleshy part. No tendons. My aim is very good.” He lifts his goblet at Halden. “You’re lucky I respect Tecarus, because what you’ve done is unforgivable.”
“The dagger was mine to give,” Halden bites out, staring at the jeweled blade. It looks to be antique, with a silver handle and emeralds the size of my fingernails adorning the hilt.
“No, it wasn’t.” Courtlyn shakes his head.
“It’s mine,” Xaden says, and it takes everything I have to keep my features schooled. “Or rather, it should have been. It’s the Blade of Aretia, appropriated for the royal vault by Reginald during the Unification.”
“Yes!” Courtlyn’s goblet swings Xaden’s way as three servants climb the steps around us, one on each side. “Fascinating how he chose this particular…gift, knowing it might provoke your emotions. Normally when it comes to such heirlooms, we’d consider possession ownership, but in this case, His Highness’s word was already broken, hence why I could not make his deal. I’m fascinated to learn how much he is worth on the ransom market, or perhaps I’ll entertain classic blackmail. Surely King Tauri will be amenable to quite a few things should his son remain in residence.”
“You can’t just keep him,” Tecarus argues.
“Why not? Weren’t you telling me you wanted to keep that one?” Courtlyn points at me.
“I did not break my word!” Halden growls and grabs hold of the dagger’s hilt as the servants put down a covered dish in the center of each side of the table. Looks like we’re sharing dessert.