Total pages in book: 222
Estimated words: 210715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1054(@200wpm)___ 843(@250wpm)___ 702(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 210715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1054(@200wpm)___ 843(@250wpm)___ 702(@300wpm)
You broke my heart. Own up to it.
The whole courtyard was filled with his smoke now. We were ankle deep in it. It churned and roiled, sparking with green when it collided with itself. Magic saturated the air, so thick and potent, it sizzled on my skin. At this rate, he would wake up Isadau and adding her to this mix would only make things worse.
A third Selvan knight ran into the courtyard. “My lord, our absence was noticed. Crown Prince Kiel is on his way to Razmur. He’s accompanied by Silveren and the Redeemers—”
I faced Everard. “Answer me one thing: If I hadn’t danced with Arvel at the joedurar, would you be here right now?”
“My lord,” the knight called, his voice tight with urgency. “We must—”
Everard raised his hand and the knight fell silent.
Everard looked at me. “I want to be with you and just you. If you never told me another secret again, I would still want you. Nobody can take you away from me. Not Arvel, not Sauven, not the Archmage, not the entirety of the Crimson Empire. The only person who can come between us is you. And I promise you, from this point on, I will bring the full power of everything I am to win you over. You will put your hand in mine, Maggie, and you will do it gladly.”
When hell froze over. “Leave my house.”
He turned around and marched out, his knights in tow. Will followed him and barred the door.
The remnants of Everard’s power faded into the night air.
“You fucking fools,” Gort said, his voice bitter.
“Not your call,” Will told him.
Lute grinned. “They’re our lives, old man.”
“I told you,” Shana said.
I cleared my throat.
“The joedurar went very well,” I said. “I danced with Arvel and, Clover, he said I looked exquisite.”
She blinked. “He did?”
“Yes. He also said I was radiant. I do believe you are the most skilled lady’s maid in the entire city.”
She raised her chin. “Damn right.”
I looked at Shana. “Do we have any wine?”
“I have two jugs of Favonian red mead,” she said.
“That will do.” I took off my shoes and headed into the house.
CHAPTER 42
REDBERRY 21
Maggie!”
Someone was shaking my shoulder, and I was absolutely sure it wasn’t Mom. Because I didn’t live at home anymore. I had moved out to my own apartment ages ago.
“Maggie!”
My eyes snapped open. Clover leaned over me. My head pounded like someone was beating my skull with a hammer.
“What time is it?”
“The bells have struck eight.”
I’d gone to bed drunk just after midnight.
“My lady, Lord Arvel is here.”
“What do you mean here? Here here?”
“Here, downstairs, by our front door. He is waiting in the street.”
I sat up and winced. My poor head.
“Your hair is a mess,” Clover said.
I hadn’t bothered unbraiding it last night. I’d just taken all the metal out.
“How many people does he have with him?”
“Just one knight.”
“Please let them into the courtyard and put them at the table by the wine tree. Do we have any snacks?”
“I already have tea brewing. Let me help you with your hair.”
Clover held up one of my house gowns.
Twenty minutes later, I was in the courtyard, sitting across the table from Arvel and his guard. The Golden Knight wore a plain hooded cloak and his face looked like he was about to lead an army into battle.
Gort and the brothers formed a triangle behind Arvel, maintaining a respectable distance. If he decided to make himself into a problem, there wouldn’t be much they could do to stop him. His magic made him invulnerable, so I had to win this fight on my own.
I wouldn’t be running from that confrontation. No, I welcomed it. That was one good thing about having your heart broken—you stopped giving a crap, and he’d just presented me with a target for all of my frustration.
“What an unexpected visit, my lord. The last time I visited the Citadel, you served such wonderful tea. I’m afraid mine can’t compare. But our pastries are second to none.”
“They are indeed superb.”
“To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”
“I know you’re not a Demarr.”
Straight to the point.
I sighed. “Lute, bring the painting from my office.”
“The large or the small one, my lady?”
“Both.”
“Yes, my lady.”
I turned back to Arvel. “I’m exactly who I say I am. But I fail to see why it matters to you, my lord.”
He leaned back in his chair. “I would like to know everything there is to know about you, my lady. And I will. Right now, I want to know why you are lying.”
I sighed. “I see you intend to make your interest in me into my problem.”
Lute returned, placed the small painting on the table, and held the larger one up.
I looked at the small painting. On it Griele Demarr hugged a ten-year-old girl who resembled me. Griele’s smile was soft and warm. She didn’t look anything like my mother. My eyes grew hot.