My mouth hung open as he traipsed out of the main chamber into the closet. I only stared after him for two seconds before following him in. Lyklor tossed the pillow on the ground and looked at me with an air of impatience.
“I’m not some naïve small-town elf,” I informed him. “I’ve been places. I’ve traveled the three worlds. I’ve battled ogres and angry mobs . . . Why are you smiling?”
Normally, I liked sexy grins but not when the male flashing me one was being a royal smartass.
Lyklor dropped the blanket beside the pillow, his eyes never leaving mine. “You’re a fighter. You like action. I get it,” he said.
O-kay. What was his point? I rubbed my lips together, watching him.
“I just find it interesting that you’re afraid of intimacy.” His gaze dipped to my lips.
“Am not,” I said, even as my stomach flipped just thinking about that kind of stuff. “Not that it’s any of your business, but my boyfriend and I were plenty intimate.”
“Is that all? You’ve been with one elf?” Lyklor shook his head and turned away.
That pit head! Acting like I was timid and immature because I’d only been in one relationship and just turned down a faerie threesome.
“One is plenty good for me!” I snapped before spinning on my heel. “Good night. Enjoy sleeping inside your sister’s closet. If you need another blanket, try using a dress.”
I rushed out, having half a mind to storm straight into the hall. I didn’t want to spend an entire night in the same room as Lyklor—even if he was in the closet.
I missed Ryo. We made a good team. Plus, he was honest, and cute, and a good kisser. Where was he? Had he been given a tiny chamber like the ones Devdan and I had been assigned the first time we arrived at Dahlquist? I sighed. I missed Devdan too.
I glowered at the chamber door. There was no leaving with all the guards Albedo had stationed outside. I was stuck to spend the night in this luxurious prison with a brooding prince. Yay, me.
I searched every dresser drawer in Teryani’s chambers in case she’d stashed daggers anywhere else, but all I found were more jewels, clothes, and accessories. Useless. I grumbled beneath my breath before stomping over to the bed and flinging the covers back. This sucked big time, but I needed to be alert and ready to make a move tomorrow.
Clothes still on, I released my hair from its high ponytail and settled into the bed, mind racing.
What was Lyklor’s deal, anyway? Why in the seven hells would he want me to get it on with those Fae guards? Or was this about something else? Had he taken my rejection as a personal bias against the Fae? Against him?
Arg. Males!
Maybe it was some kind of mind game, in which case I should really ignore him and go to sleep.
I closed my eyes and told myself, “Sleep.”
Ha. Ha. Sure, Mel. Whatever you say.
Fine, if I couldn’t sleep, I’d brainstorm ways to bust out of this castle. Maybe the morning was better, or afternoon. I didn’t care what time it was so long as it happened before tomorrow evening. I wasn’t going to fornicate with Fae guards just to maintain cover.
I tried to lie still rather than toss and turn. What time was it? How long had I been in the comfy cloudlike bed? Ten minutes? An hour? Eventually, I tired myself out and drifted off. My body felt weightless, as though I had been floating on my back in a calm, serene lake for hours. Ever so slightly, my body began to rock then shake. I expected to flip over into the water and sink, but the shaking continued more forcefully until I awoke. My eyes flew open, and a scream rose up my throat. Seeing my expression, Lyklor clamped his hand over my mouth. I tried to bite him, but his fingers were pressed too firmly against my lips. He pulled his hand away and hissed.
“Time to get up. Albedo will expect both of us to show up for breakfast, and I can’t leave this room until after you.”
I frowned. “Won’t the guards see you?”
“Let me be the one to figure that out. Some of them will follow you to the dining hall—hopefully all.”
I nodded and pulled the covers back. Time to get through breakfast then find Ryo. I stood up and stretched my arms above my head as I walked to the closet. The throw pillow and blanket had been put away, leaving no traces of the blond stowaway.
I’d never seen Sarfina in pants, so I selected a golden slip and a sheer white gown similar to something she had worn during my stay at Dahlquist. Teryani’s shoes were too small for my feet, but her satin slippers allowed room to stretch. I stuffed my feet into a gold pair and walked out to the chamber’s vanity where I brushed my hair, standing in front of the mirror. In the reflection, I saw Lyklor watching each stroke of the brush.
“Like what you see?” I challenged.
“What if I do?” he fired back.
Heat licked through my belly. I felt the flush rising to my cheeks. I broke eye contact and tried to control my hand from shaking as I set down the brush.
“Too bad you’re a one-elf kind of female,” Lyklor said in a bored tone.
I turned and glared at him head-on. “You’re the one who told me to stay away from you, remember?” I still recalled his rough words to me in the library after I tried to offer him a scone after dinner.
Lyklor’s lips pursed. I hated how kissable they looked. I had enough to deal with crushing on two males without adding a third to the mix.
“Well, I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” I announced. “I will see you at breakfast.”
As soon as I stepped into the hallway, I commanded the guards to escort me to the dining room. The copper-haired one led the way, and several followed, but not all. Well, that was Lyklor’s problem. Perhaps he could lie his way out.
The guards stopped once we reached the open double doors leading into the dining room where just last week Folas and I had dined as guests. Albedo and Malon stood hunched together, speaking in a corner. I lifted my head and strode in.
“Good morning, Cousins,” I said.
Malon looked me up and down with a nasty smirk that made me want to burn his eyes out. “No crown today?” He sneered.
With a huff, I pulled out a chair and sat. It was safe to assume Albedo and Malon told each other everything. I ran my hand through my loose hair and glanced at the brothers. “Teryani didn’t exactly have any tiaras lying around.”
Malon prowled toward me, taking his time, watching my expression with each step. I’d been proud of my sarcastic response, but he didn’t seem to have paid any attention to my words. My body tensed as he neared, and my jaw tightened. I tried to calm the racing of my heart. My skin heated, flames itching to leap from my fingertips.
“Oh good, everyone is here,” Lyklor said in a boastful voice as though we’d all been waiting for his glorious appearance. He strutted inside with an arrogant smile that did not reach his eyes as he gave his golden locks a slight toss.
Albedo narrowed his eyes at him. Malon stopped, his attention momentarily drawn away from me as he scowled at Lyklor.
“Look at this one. He’s as prissy as his sister,” Malon said.
“Always with the jealousy.” Lyklor rolled his eyes and rested his arms on the back of the chair beside me.
Malon snorted rudely. “Why would I be jealous?”
“Because I’m pretty and you’re not.” Lyklor brushed his bangs aside, watching Malon as he did.
“You’re a pussy,” Malon jeered at him.
“And you’re a cunt,” Lyklor returned.
Malon lunged for Lyklor, but the blond Fae pulled the chair out as he did, causing Malon to trip and topple toward me.
“Hey!” I yelped, abandoning my seat and jumping out of the way.
Malon caught the seat and pushed himself back up, swinging his arm and fist at Lyklor, who ducked with a laugh. Malon kicked Lyklor in the shin. Lyklor grabbed an empty plate off the table and smashed it against the side of Malon’s head.
I backed up to the wall utterly bewildered. They were all crazy! What would Sarfina do in this situa
tion? Seriously, no one could convince me that Sarfina’s eyes wouldn’t be bugging out right now. This branch of the Elmray family tree was twisted at the roots.
Malon launched himself at Lyklor, tackling him to the floor. They kicked and hit, rolling around before disappearing beneath the table, where their smacks and grunts continued.
Three footmen entered with trays. Their eyes widened when they heard the noises coming from below.
A tinge of red filled Albedo’s pasty cheeks. “No fighting at the table,” he bellowed.
His words were met with silence. Then Malon called out, “But we’re not at the table; we’re under it.” This was followed by snickering.
Malon crawled out first, emerging from the opposite side of the table where he dusted himself off and plopped into a seat. Lyklor came out on my side and sat down in the chair he’d used to trip Malon.
“You may serve breakfast now,” Albedo said to the footmen. He stared pointedly at me and raised his brows. “Have a seat, Sarfina.”
I held my ground. Albedo didn’t move either, like he wanted to be the last one standing.
Lyklor clasped his hands behind his head and stretched back in his seat. “It’s safe now, Sis.”
“Is it?” I demanded.
“As you can see.” He moved his arms to the table, resting his elbows on the surface. He stared at the empty space between his fork and spoon. “We need a new plate,” he said absently.
One of the footmen set his tray at the end of the table and ran out.
Reluctantly, I took the place beside Lyklor and sat down. As soon as I had, Albedo sat down heavily at the head of the table.
The footmen served him first, using tongs to place a mini quiche onto his plate, followed by grilled asparagus and a stuffed tomato. Steam rose to his thin lips and narrow nose. Malon was served next and then me. The black-haired brothers began eating immediately while Lyklor waited for a new plate.
“Go ahead,” he said when he noticed I wasn’t eating.
“I’ll wait,” I said.
Malon shoveled quiche into his mouth and spoke while chewing. “Aw, isn’t that sweet how quickly these two are bonding?”
“Malon,” Albedo said in a warning tone, but he turned his glare on Lyklor and me.
A footman jogged back in with a fresh plate, and Lyklor was served. I still had trouble eating. I wasn’t used to such a crazy commotion during mealtime. My family upbringing suddenly seemed super normal compared to this madness.
I poked at my tomato with my fork several times before taking a small bite. Breaded, buttery, cheesy goodness touched my tongue. Delicious. I took a larger bite, followed by another, and another, until the tomato, and its stuffing, had disappeared into my belly. Next, I attacked the quiche.
Although my days of rose petal tea and unseasoned deer stew were behind me, that time of my life still clung like a second skin and made me appreciate the finer things. Albedo, Malon, and Lyklor attacked their meals as though they, too, were not accustomed to such delicacies. The real Sarfina, who had been raised with a silver spoon inside Dahlquist castle, probably would have never wolfed down her food this way, but I didn’t care. It wasn’t as though these males had ever dined with her before.
I chomped down the last piece of asparagus drizzled in olive oil and salt, set my fork down, and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.
Lyklor kicked me under the table. I swung a sideways glance his way and scowled at him. He lifted his linen napkin and dabbed the corners of his lips delicately. After setting the napkin down, he pressed his leg into mine.
My heart fluttered on contact. Ugh. Why? He was so annoying. But he was also trying to help me maintain my cover, which was pretty hilarious since he’d never met Sarfina.
Well, I shouldn’t have to keep up the charade much longer. Today I would find a way to open the gates of the castle.
I wiped my hand on my napkin, tossed it down, and stood up. Malon’s head jerked.
“Leaving before you’ve been excused?” His pupils burned like coals between woody irises.
I put my hands on my hips and swung a glare at Albedo. “Is this how it is? Am I to be treated as a child?”
Albedo stared at me. “How is it at Liri’s table?” he asked slowly.
The room grew silent as all three males waited for my answer.
Uh-oh. I’d never dined with Liri. I had no idea how he ran things. The pit head probably did make everyone wait to be dismissed. He’d stolen my sister. Talk about a control freak. For all I knew, he had tied her to the chair at dinner.
Albedo’s lips thinned the longer I took to answer.
I tossed my hair back to buy a couple more seconds then started by sneering as I said Liri’s name. If there was one thing Albedo and I shared, it was our disgust for the white-haired king. I didn’t like the black-haired one any better, but he didn’t need to know that. Plus, he was a total imposter. This was Teryani’s castle.
“Liri acts like he’s a dictator rather than a king,” I said. “He gets his way by any means necessary and punishes anyone who displeases him.”
How could I forget watching Hensley, followed by my sister, dragged out of the dining room for upsetting His Royal Whiteness? That was when Galather and Folas had been a couple of pit-headed minions. Luckily, they’d turned out okay. All it took was strong leadership, the female elf kind, to straighten out the twins.
There was no hope for Albedo and Malon. At least Liri had seen reason in mating someone who actually wanted him and put Aerith in charge while he was away. But I didn’t think about that. I channeled my past feelings of the bastard, which were still as raw as a fresh wound.
“We all hate him,” I stated. “With the exception of Jastra, but she’s stupid. Even Ryo hates him. He told me he hopes Liri never returns.” This last part, at least, was true.
“Did he now?” A grin slithered up Albedo’s cheeks. He clasped his hands together and set them on the table’s edge. “Maybe there’s hope for our little brother, after all.”
Malon snorted and pushed his plate aside. “The little shit just wants more time with the elves. He swore his loyalty to Cirrus’s widow, and he wants her sister.”
Lyklor’s head jerked. He turned sideways in his chair, lifted one boot to his seat, and rested his arm across his knee. “Is that true, Sis? Has Ryo caught elf fever? Does what’s-her-name return his feelings?” After speaking, Lyklor gave me a tight-lipped smile.
I glared down at him. We both knew he was asking for my answer, not his sister’s. I looked away from him and visualized my last memory of Sarfina. She’d been wearing a peacock dress at the feathers and lace ball. I’d observed her as she stormed up to Ryo and said something that turned his soft smile into a deep frown.
Lifting my chest, I wrinkled my nose. “I certainly hope that’s not true. It was bad enough being forced to watch Liri salivating after Cirrus’s betrothed—an absolute embarrassment to the family. Ryo would do well not to go down the same path.”
My breakfast churned inside my stomach. I missed being me. This whole pretending thing wasn’t my style. I wanted to battle with swords and fire, not glamour and lies.
“That wasn’t an answer,” Lyklor said. His blue eyes looked darker when he met my gaze. Cold. Freezing me in their grip.
“I don’t have an answer for you,” I said, my tone coming out as frosty as his expression. “I don’t know. My family has never been close.”
Albedo nodded. “Our male cousins have destroyed themselves from within. Let that be a lesson,” he said, looking from Malon to Lyklor.
“May I be excused now?” I asked, an edge to my voice.
“You do not have to ask, Sarfina.” Albedo spread his arms out. “Come and go as you please. It is a new dawn, Cousin. Loyalty is rewarded under my rule.”
I forced a smile, not dropping it until I’d spun around and turned my back to the males.
Lyklor didn’t wait for me to leave before asking Malon, “What makes you believe Ryo
wants Melarue?”
My body jerked to a halt upon hearing my name. Arg! Who was infuriating now? I started walking again, slowly, to listen in as long as I could. Lyklor either wanted me to hear him or didn’t care—or was taunting me. Insufferable faerie!
“I thought you didn’t remember her name,” Malon challenged. Several seconds of silence passed before Malon continued. “Ryo resisted my ultimatum when we first met, but he didn’t attack me until she showed up.”
“Interesting. So he was protecting her,” Lyklor said.
“I would have captured the wench if he hadn’t gotten in the way,” Malon grumbled. “Next time I won’t bother. Next time I’ll burn her alive.”
Chills ran along my spine, causing my fire magic to recede inside me as though scared. That was weird. I didn’t get scared. I got stabby. My feet moved faster, nonetheless, as a warning ran through my mind that it was time to call in backup.
I needed to find Ryo.
As I started down the corridor, familiar ripples appeared in the air at the end of the hall, elongating into an oval. Someone was portaling into the castle.
Chapter Five
Melarue
Friend or foe? I wondered as the portal expanded. The guards lining the hall glanced at the wavering space but did not move from their posts or lift their weapons. While their attention was diverted, I ducked inside one of Ravensburg’s numerous parlors, sliding behind the open door and peering through the crack. I couldn’t see the portal, but I’d be able to see who had come through once they passed.
I heard the rough clomp of boots over the flagstone.
“Where is Albedo?” a piercing female voice demanded in a shriek that bounced off the walls. My fire magic reared up my spine, and my stomach seared in warning.
“The dining room, mistress,” a male guard scrambled to answer.
Her boots stormed past me so fast I barely caught a glimpse of a tall, thin, white-haired female even though she was within five feet of me. Heat flared through my body. We’d learned that Albedo had a sorceress working for him. This had to be her. This banshee was responsible for the ogre attack on Pinemist. Images of families fleeing their homes before ogres smashed their dwellings into pieces assaulted my memories.
Three Kings Page 5
