Glint (The Plated Prisoner 2)

Funny, I doubt he ever said such a thing to my husband, who kept a harem of saddles at all times. Not to mention that golden bitch.

Jeo straightens up from my desk and turns with a grin. He loves to rankle Wilcox now that he knows the older man disapproves so thoroughly.

My advisor stops in front of my desk, sweeping low with a bow. “Your Majesty, I hope I wasn’t interrupting.”

“Not yet,” Jeo says with a salacious wink.

Wilcox’s lips clamp down in irritation, though he likes to think the gesture is hidden behind the messy gray whiskers growing over his chin.

He ignores Jeo as my saddle walks around my chair to stand behind me. His large, strong hands come down to start kneading my shoulders. A display—to touch the queen so freely is a power play—and I allow it.

“Hmm, so tight, my queen,” Jeo coos.

My advisor’s face turns slightly mottled, while I try not to smirk. I can’t figure out if he hates our display because it’s a show of my blatant disloyalty to Tyndall or if it’s simply because I’m a woman who has her own saddle.

Perhaps it’s a bit of both.

“Did you need something, Wilcox?” I ask evenly, while Jeo’s deft fingers continue to massage my skin in deliciously firm strokes.

Wilcox’s gaze snaps back to me from where they’d drifted to Jeo’s touch. “Pardon. This missive came for you,” he says, stepping forward.

I reach my hand out, taking the rolled parchment from him. “Thank

you.” When my eyes fall to the red wax seal, my pulse jumps, though I don’t let anything show on my face. “You’re dismissed, Wilcox.”

My advisor turns on his heel and leaves, apparently all too ready to be gone from my saddle’s presence.

As soon as the door closes behind him, I release the breath that got caught in my chest.

“What’s wrong? I’d say you’re white as a ghost, but that’s always true,” Jeo teases.

I don’t give him a dry laugh, though. I’m too busy staring down at the blank stamp pressed into the cracked wax, sigil absent—telling of exactly who this letter is from.

“It’s the Red Raids.”

Jeo’s touch pauses on my neck. “The pirates answered?”

A hum is my only reply before I slip my finger beneath the curled flap and break the seal. Unfurling the small scrap of paper, I quickly read the letter, noting the smeared ink, the sloppy scrawl. Honestly, I should be glad the thieves can even write.

I read the message again, chest pounding. “Great Divine...”

“What is it?” Jeo asks, coming around, his beautiful face marred with a frown.

My eyes flick up at him as all the implications run through my mind. “They don’t have her.”

His blue eyes widen. “The golden bitch? Why the hell not?” he demands. “You gave them plenty of time to get their sorry asses to the Barrens in time.”

Shaking my head, I drop the letter and stand up from my seat, pacing a few steps away.

“Malina...”

I spin to face him, and he blinks in dumbfounded surprise at the brilliant grin that’s spreading over my face. “Fourth’s army came to their ship,” I whisper, awed. “They took the saddles, the guards, everyone.”

His red brows shoot up. “The gilded cunt?”

My smile is so wide my cheeks hurt. “They have her too.”

Jeo’s lips pull back, cheeks moving to match my grin. He knows what a win this is for me. I thought the Red Raids would be a good place for her. But this? This is so much better. “Fuck, yes!” Jeo exclaims. “This calls for more wine.”