list of marriage candidates. Twelve names for me to check out. I’m under orders to choose one and offer marriage.” Jarlath shoved the last bite of his slice of pie into his mouth and chewed. He scratched the back of his neck then his arm. “Want more pie?”
“Are you first in line to the king?”
Jarlath pulled a face. “I’ll take that as a yes.” He handed Ellard a second piece and scratched at his biceps. “Something must have bitten me while I was out in the garden. I might go and clean up.”
“Sure, I have to report to Father. As head of security, he knew you were missing—” He held up a hand when Jarlath went to interrupt. “He knew I was worried, but he was in a meeting when I commed him. I sent a text instead, but I’d better speak with him in person.”
“I’m sorry,” Jarlath said again. The last thing he’d wanted was to get Ellard in trouble.
“You leaving the castle tonight? Schedule says you’re staying indoors.”
“I might go for a walk out in the square and check out the market.”
“Com me,” Ellard ordered. “You can’t go out alone and risk an incident.”
A scoffing sound escaped before Jarlath could censor his response. “The House of Cawdor is quiet at present, and they wouldn’t dare try anything with me. Besides, wouldn’t you rather hang with your girl? Much better than guarding me.”
“There’s nothing to stop the Cawdor from hiring a sniper to take you out.”
“They could do that anyway,” Jarlath shot back. “I refuse to hide behind the castle walls for the rest of my life. Lynx tried to make a move on a Cawdor cutie and stepped on toes. Nothing like that will happen with me because I’m not my brother. Since Lynx’s public apology, things have become peaceful.”
Jarlath reached a hand behind his back to scratch at the base of his spine.
“I don’t care. Com me if you’re going out.”
After a long pause, Jarlath gave a curt nod. “Very well.”
Left alone, Jarlath strode to his sanitizer room, and stripped off his remaining clothes. A glance in his looking glass showed the bruising around his eye had faded dramatically and…was the green of his irises lighter? Because he’d shifted again? Delight had him whistling, then once again his thoughts drifted to Keira. She was from…no, he didn’t get the traitor vibe from her. She seemed upfront and honest, and grata , he wanted to see her again.
Damn, he would see her again.
Somehow.
He might not manage to socialize with her in public, but surely he could meet her privately? Surely they could be friends?
* * * * *
K eira stared into the pink-and-red flames of the fire she’d lit to ward off the wintery chill to the air. Faint curls of pink smoke drifted up the chimney. Outside an unexpected storm battered her home and set the forest trees rustling. Something about the savageness of the storm prickled her skin. She jumped to her feet, her jittery nerves urging her to action.
“Keira.”
Keira froze, her hand on the back of a chair as the voice from her nightmares whispered through her sitting room. She spun around, her gaze darting past gel-chairs and other furniture to search all four corners. There was no one present except her. This storm had set her on edge, fueling her imagination.
Razvan wasn’t here.
The tenseness seeped from her muscles and her shoulders slumped in relief. No one here.
“Keira.” The voice held amusement at her expense.
When she pivoted, her gaze went to the leaping flames of the fire, and she saw him. She froze, her attention riveted on Razvan’s gloating amber eyes and the blue flames licking across his high cheekbones, over his goatee beard.
Magic.
Somehow, he’d managed to send a message via his pet wizards.
She fought to control her shock and the shudders zapping her taut muscles. With her mother’s help, she’d escaped him once, but it seemed she hadn’t run far enough.
She schooled her face to impassive. “Razvan.”
“It’s been a
“Are you first in line to the king?”
Jarlath pulled a face. “I’ll take that as a yes.” He handed Ellard a second piece and scratched at his biceps. “Something must have bitten me while I was out in the garden. I might go and clean up.”
“Sure, I have to report to Father. As head of security, he knew you were missing—” He held up a hand when Jarlath went to interrupt. “He knew I was worried, but he was in a meeting when I commed him. I sent a text instead, but I’d better speak with him in person.”
“I’m sorry,” Jarlath said again. The last thing he’d wanted was to get Ellard in trouble.
“You leaving the castle tonight? Schedule says you’re staying indoors.”
“I might go for a walk out in the square and check out the market.”
“Com me,” Ellard ordered. “You can’t go out alone and risk an incident.”
A scoffing sound escaped before Jarlath could censor his response. “The House of Cawdor is quiet at present, and they wouldn’t dare try anything with me. Besides, wouldn’t you rather hang with your girl? Much better than guarding me.”
“There’s nothing to stop the Cawdor from hiring a sniper to take you out.”
“They could do that anyway,” Jarlath shot back. “I refuse to hide behind the castle walls for the rest of my life. Lynx tried to make a move on a Cawdor cutie and stepped on toes. Nothing like that will happen with me because I’m not my brother. Since Lynx’s public apology, things have become peaceful.”
Jarlath reached a hand behind his back to scratch at the base of his spine.
“I don’t care. Com me if you’re going out.”
After a long pause, Jarlath gave a curt nod. “Very well.”
Left alone, Jarlath strode to his sanitizer room, and stripped off his remaining clothes. A glance in his looking glass showed the bruising around his eye had faded dramatically and…was the green of his irises lighter? Because he’d shifted again? Delight had him whistling, then once again his thoughts drifted to Keira. She was from…no, he didn’t get the traitor vibe from her. She seemed upfront and honest, and grata , he wanted to see her again.
Damn, he would see her again.
Somehow.
He might not manage to socialize with her in public, but surely he could meet her privately? Surely they could be friends?
* * * * *
K eira stared into the pink-and-red flames of the fire she’d lit to ward off the wintery chill to the air. Faint curls of pink smoke drifted up the chimney. Outside an unexpected storm battered her home and set the forest trees rustling. Something about the savageness of the storm prickled her skin. She jumped to her feet, her jittery nerves urging her to action.
“Keira.”
Keira froze, her hand on the back of a chair as the voice from her nightmares whispered through her sitting room. She spun around, her gaze darting past gel-chairs and other furniture to search all four corners. There was no one present except her. This storm had set her on edge, fueling her imagination.
Razvan wasn’t here.
The tenseness seeped from her muscles and her shoulders slumped in relief. No one here.
“Keira.” The voice held amusement at her expense.
When she pivoted, her gaze went to the leaping flames of the fire, and she saw him. She froze, her attention riveted on Razvan’s gloating amber eyes and the blue flames licking across his high cheekbones, over his goatee beard.
Magic.
Somehow, he’d managed to send a message via his pet wizards.
She fought to control her shock and the shudders zapping her taut muscles. With her mother’s help, she’d escaped him once, but it seemed she hadn’t run far enough.
She schooled her face to impassive. “Razvan.”
“It’s been a
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