“At least my brain isn’t the only one clogged up by all of this.”
Caelan’s softly spoken words jerked Rayne from this torrent of thoughts. He blinked and found Caelan smiling at him, but there was worry filling his eyes. He slouched in his chair, his legs stretched before him, and his head resting against his fist. It was like all energy had been drained from him. His prince was simply overwhelmed. It was Rayne’s job to process all of this information and provide him with options that would lead them all to success.
But right now, Rayne was floundering in the worst way. Normally, this kind of discovery would leave him excited. He would be thrilled to have something new to research and learn about, but there wasn’t time for idle exploration and study. Erya was under Empire control, the Godstone was in their possession, and this was likely just the first step in the Empire’s grand scheme. Caelan needed answers and options right now, but Rayne wasn’t quite sure what to say.
That didn’t matter. They needed to meet and discuss all they’d learned. As they pondered the various angles of this new dilemma, Rayne would be able to come up with solutions. Yes, he could do this.
Straightening, Rayne pushed to his feet and forced a smile on his lips. “We should head to our chambers. Eno and Drayce are likely to be there. They’ll have news, and we can share what we’ve learned with them.”
Caelan’s fake smile fell away and he nodded. “Yes, we need to learn what has happened at home and what we can do.”
Rayne moved around the table and led the way out of the conservatory. When they stepped into the hall, one of the guards and the page were gone now. A single guard had been left behind to watch over them should something be needed. Rayne’s feet found their way to their apartments on their own, while his brain returned to the information they had learned, trying to sort through it all so he knew how best to relay it to Eno and the volatile Drayce.
His prince moved slower than before, his mind lost to his thoughts. Several times, Rayne had been forced to reduce his pace and even backtrack when he’d nearly lost Caelan to his wanderings. Not that Rayne could blame him. He would have preferred to find a comfortable chair in front of a window filled with sunlight. There, he would stare out over the beautiful city and leave his mind to turn this problem of what to do about the Empire and its potential plans to claim all the godstones.
At an intersection in the hall near their apartment, Prince Shey popped out and Rayne very nearly jumped. His footsteps were soft, and sadly Rayne’s mind was thoroughly distracted.
“Prince Shey, good morning,” Rayne said, recovering and bowing to the man.
He caught the playful smirk on Shey’s lips as he turned his attention to Caelan behind Rayne. “Good morning, Rayne. Good morning, Your Majesty. I wish to give my sincerest condolences.”
“Thank you,” Caelan replied. He stepped up beside Rayne and extended his hand. “And Caelan is fine between us, Shey.”
Shey took Caelan’s hand and shook it. “I take it you’ve been speaking to Mother this morning.”
Caelan nodded. “She’s given me a great deal to think about.” He paused and a small grin slid across his face as he observed Rayne. Oh yes, of course Caelan was thinking about his past with Shey, which was the least interesting thing Noemi had told them. But the smile quickly fell away, and he turned serious again. “There is much I need to think about and discuss with my companions. However, I was wondering if I might steal some time with you later to get your thoughts.”
“Of course. I am happy to be at your service.”
“Excellent.” Caelan looked as if he were going to resume walking toward the apartment, but Shey cleared his throat, stopping him.
“I was also hoping that I might steal Rayne for a moment to discuss just a small thing.”
The grin had returned, and Rayne fought the urge to roll his eyes. Shey was not thinking of anything romantic, but that was obviously where Caelan’s mind had gone.
“Of course,” Caelan said, with a wave of his hand. “I’ll be in my chambers. I’ll catch up with you in a bit, Rayne.” Caelan resumed his stroll along the hallway.
They watched him disappear into the room before Rayne turned his attention to Shey. When Rayne opened his mouth to ask what Shey wanted, the man grabbed his wrist and pulled him along the corridor past their apartment and to a hidden nook tucked away out of immediate sight of anyone coming down the hall.
Rayne found himself pushed up against the wall. One of Shey’s hands was braced on the wall right next to his head while the other pressed on his chest, holding him in place. A slow, wicked grin spread across Shey’s lips, and there was no question that he could feel Rayne’s heart racing in his chest.