The Forsaken King
He stilled and looked at me over his shoulder.
“Who are you?”
He stepped away and entered the hallway where Quinn had disappeared.
I was left there, my heart pounding as if the walls of the castle crumbled around me.
TWO
Ivory
I sat with Burke, my father’s commander and adviser, and told him the whole thing.
“What were you doing outside your room?” He wore a black cape like my father, a dark blue tunic, and was always in his battle uniform, his black vambraces jagged on the surface.
I ignored the flutter in my heart. “I thought I’d heard something outside.”
“But if you heard him outside your door, you must always hear the guards in the hallway.”
I didn’t appreciate his astute observation—not when it was directed on me, at least.
“What made you go outside this night?”
“I just heard him, alright? Can we get to the part of the story that actually matters?”
He stared.
“It’s the same guy I told my father about. He watches me everywhere I go, and he looks at me like he wants to kill me.”
“He had the perfect opportunity to do that last night—and he didn’t.”
I gave a loud sigh. “Doesn’t mean he won’t later. Why is this happening right now? I’m reporting an issue in the castle, and it’s being disregarded. But if Ryker said something, it would be taken seriously.”
“Ryker hasn’t mentioned the guard with blue eyes.”
“Because he has it out for me, apparently.”
“We only employ the strongest and most able men to defend this castle, as well as your father. They aren’t diplomats. They aren’t shopkeepers. They’re here for a job—and may not be pleasant company as they do it.”
Okay, I officially give up.
“Can we proceed to other matters now?”
Yes, let’s just sweep it under the rug and assume I’m overreacting. “Sure.”
“Your presence is required in the Capital.”
“And who’s requesting my presence?”
“Queen Rutherford. She’s hosting a retreat for all the young ladies of the court.”
That meant tea parties. Gossip. Marriage proposals. I enjoyed getting together with my friends, but I didn’t care for the rest of the things on the list. Occasionally, I’d meet a man I fancied, but it was too complicated to get involved with him. Sneaking guards and men I met in town into my bedroom was a lot easier. No witnesses meant no gossip. “When do I leave?”
“Tomorrow.”
“That’s short notice.”
“Do you have prior engagements?”
I’d checked on Madeline the other day, and she’d pulled through the night. It would take some time for her to regain her strength, but she would be a powerful horse once more. “I guess not. I love the Capital this time of year. Can actually see the ocean instead of a bottomless cliff.”
He shifted his gaze away.
“Burke?”
His eyes moved back to me.
“What’s at the bottom of the cliff?”
After a long silence, he gave a subtle shake of his head. “I have no idea, M’lady.”
“Ryker.”
As if he didn’t hear a word I said, he continued to feel up the servant against the wall, groping her through her dress as he kissed her like they were the only two people in the room—even though they were in a hallway.
A hallway that everyone used.
“Let the poor girl come up for air.”
Ryker finally let her go with an annoyed sigh.
She scurried away back to the kitchens, and he turned to me, dressed in his tunic and breeches, his looks similar to mine because of the blood we shared. His eyes were now lifeless as he looked at me. “Yes?”
“I’m your big sister, you know.”
“Your point?”
“Maybe you shouldn’t feel up the servants in front of me.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t stare,” he shot back.
“Look, I’m leaving in the morning. Just thought you should know.”
“You are?” His hostility dropped, and he came closer. “Where are you off to?”
“I’m doing some lady stuff at the Capital.” I walked down the hallway and took the stairs down to the next floor.
He kept my stride. “Lady stuff?”
“You know, we discuss our future husbands over tea.”
“Sounds boring.”
“Yeah, but I’ll get to see some of my friends, so that’s exciting.”
“Friends?” he asked incredulously.
I nudged him in the side.
He chuckled. “I can’t picture you with a husband.”
“Me neither.”
“Too high-maintenance.”
“I am not high-maintenance. I just don’t put up with bullshit. Big difference.”
“Well, I want a wife who puts up with all my bullshit.”
“Then you shouldn’t expect a very good woman.”
He looked at me, his eyebrows raised.
“How remarkable can a woman be if she’s a pushover? If she accepts less than what she deserves? Trust me, you don’t want that. You want a woman who calls you out on your shit and makes you a better man.”
“Then let me ask this. Do you want a man who calls you out?”
“I wouldn’t marry him unless he did.” I made it to the double doors and stepped inside. The library was abandoned because no one ever used it. Ryker had never been interested in books, and none of my father’s associates seemed to value it either. When I’d asked where all these books had come from, my father said they were from our ancestors.