The Shadow Princess (Chronicles of the Stone Veil 6)

Turning to Annika, I rest my hands on her shoulders and take her in. “You’ve grown into a lovely woman. You are well?”

If I remember correctly, Annika Foss was only about sixteen at the time I was sent to the First Dimension. She’d be around twenty-three now and she’s a tremendous beauty with golden-blond hair and honey-gold eyes.

“I am well,” she replies, but in such a way that I actually don’t believe it. Her gaze drops from mine, and I cut a glance to her father who seems oblivious. I turn to Mason, who’s watching Annika guardedly.

I nod to him. “Mason.”

He utters a short bow. “Your Highness.”

I’ve never liked Mason. He’s a few years older than Annika and was always a hellion during visits. But Renard treats him like he’s his own blood, and I won’t be surprised if he names him heir over Annika, purely because he’s a man. Renard Foss is a misogynist, and I’m sure he has raised Mason to be the same.

Someone touches my elbow, and I turn to see Laina. “Thalia… Prince Baynor is on the dais and would like a word before we commence.”

“Of course.” I smile and nod that way. “Please let him know I’ll be there in a minute.”

I excuse myself from the Foss family, making a mental note for later to pull Annika aside and ask her again if she’s okay. Just a gut feeling. She might not tell me anything, as we don’t know each other well, but as a woman who cares about other women, I need to try.

Looking up at Bastien, I say, “I’d like you with me when I talk to Baynor, but I need you to tone down your antagonism.”

“What antagonism?” he asks, but he knows damn well what I’m talking about.

“You never liked him, and you’ve always made that clear. But we need his troops, so I need you to play nice.”

“Noted,” he mutters with a curt nod.

“Then let’s go.”

We make it no more than a few feet up the aisle before Kieran steps in our path, but his focus is solely on me. “You must tell me who that ravishing creature is you were talking to.”

My mouth drops and I glance over my shoulder, then back to Kieran. “Annika?”

“That’s all I needed,” he says with a wink and starts to brush by us.

“Kieran,” I call out, and he stops to look at me.

“She’s…” I don’t know what she is. Fragile? Vulnerable? I can’t put my finger on it, but in the end, I trust Kieran. He might be a big flirt, but if she shoots him down, he’ll accept with all due respect. “Never mind. She’s a sweet girl, but her stepbrother’s a bit of a douche. Don’t offend him, or you’ll offend Renard, and we need his support.”

“Noted, sis,” Kieran says and saunters off.

I stay frozen a moment at the use of the word sis. He used to call me that after Bastien and I became a couple. When everyone knew that we’d be married someday, he started calling me his sister.

Ignoring the sadness the memory evokes, I square my shoulders and move to the dais, Bastien at my side.

Baynor stands with the head of his Conclave, Ranulf Centara, and they’re chatting with Laina. Baynor is dressed as a royal in velvet and silk, though he’s in no way weak looking. Baynor is as big as Bastien, but he’s more politician than soldier.

He’s incredibly handsome with dark hair that’s curly and longish and summer-blue eyes. I used to have a bit of a crush on him when I was younger, but that was on the back burner because my heart has always belonged to Bastien.

As I reach the top of the dais, Baynor’s expression lights up with joy.

“Thalia,” he exclaims, moving to me with outstretched arms.

Seeing no way out of it, I graciously accept a hug. He pulls me in close, too close, and holds me tightly. “I’m so glad to see you safe and healthy.”

Stepping back, I say, “It’s quite wonderful to see you, too, Baynor. And thank you for coming on such short notice. We have much to discuss.”

“Anything for you,” he says solicitously, but I know that’s a lie. Just yesterday he was insisting we come to him, until Kieran put him in his place. His gaze moves to Bastien, his smile dropping. “Commandant Dunne, I didn’t expect you to be here.”

“I find it odd you wouldn’t expect that,” Bastien replies lazily. “Thalia is my top concern. I lead our army. Surely, you didn’t think only you would have her ear.”

Baynor shrugs innocently. “Things change.”

It’s a direct slap at Bastien that Baynor knows he’s no longer my love interest and not concerned about me in all ways. I let it go as I’m sure Baynor’s insolence bounced right off Bastien. He simply doesn’t care about me personally in that way.