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The door banged open and Aeris walked in. I tipped over the side, scrambling to cover myself, and landed hard on my face.
“Ow!”
“Ooh, oh dear.” Aeris rushed over to help. “I’m so sorry, my lady. I didn’t mean to—”
“To what? Knock!” I slapped her hand away. “How dare you go barging around my castle without so much as a by your leave! Servants have sense and respect where I come from.” I shoved up to my feet, glaring at a calm and smirking Alisdair as he slid up and lazily licked my juices from his lips. “This is your fault,” I snapped at him. “You let them get away with this nonsense.”
Aeris backed away, eyes huge—feathers ruffled. “I truly am so sorry, Lady Ana—”
“That is Royal Highness Emiana to you.”
Lips pressed tight, she bowed deeply. “Your Royal Highness, I apologize. I was told you were having a rune lesson in here. If I’d known you were up to more amorous pursuits, I would’ve knocked.”
My amorous pursuits were hanging free in the open air and running down my leg. “Are you going to do something about this?” I demanded of Alisdair, gesturing to my nakedness.
“As you wish, my queen.”
I bristled. I hated how he did that—mockingly used my title as if my Meya-given power was no more than a joke. The beast didn’t know how lucky he was to be married to me. To share my bed, to breathe my air, to live another day now that I had the purple petals in my possession.
Alisdair snapped his fingers and my clothes magically reknit themselves.
“What was so urgent, Aeris?” he asked.
“It’s Foalan. Terrible news, I’m afraid, my lord. The Rajadom chancellor went to temple today and prayed for Meya’s mercy,” she said, “because he’s dying.”
“He’s what? Fuck!” Alisdair blared, punching the chair.
I was having the same reaction, but decorum wouldn’t let me show it. It may have seemed strange to be angry that a man we wanted dead was dying, but it was the second-worst possible news we could’ve received. The worst being that our assassins were discovered. Still, finding out that Rajadom was about to initiate succession protocols was pretty bad.
“All of the heirs are about to scatter to the far corners of Elva and go into hiding, waiting until he’s passed and his chosen is safely coronated,” Alisdair gritted. “Killing the heirs was supposed to be the simple part. Only the chancellor was the challenge. If it’s a slow disease, they’ll stay in their holes for months.”
“Which means our plans are delayed for months,” I cut in. “Unacceptable. Give the word to kill the chancellor and his heirs now.”
Aeris’s face was grim. “That’s why the news is terrible, my lady. The heirs have already left. The chancellor didn’t share his news with the priestesses until after he sent his sons off to the summer palace. Treasa checked with your servant in the summer palace. It’s empty, dusty, and everything is covered in white sheets. No word was sent to open it,” she said. “They’re not going there. We don’t know where they are.”
“Fuck,” I shrieked, decorum be damned. “I will not have this. Not now when everything was finally in place. There has to be something else we can do.”
“Treasa is looking for them, of course,” Aeris said. “As soon as she does—”
“No.” My hand sliced the air. “My father will not live a second past his due. What about the siren? Have we figured out how to harness her song?”
“You forbade it,” Alisdair reminded. “Ordered me on multiple occasions to return her to her home.”
I planted my hands on my hips. “Well, thank Meya you didn’t listen to me. We tried the method of least resistance, it didn’t work, and now we move on to our next plan.” I met his eyes. “As a general should.”
He flashed me an unreadable smile. “Well said. And it no longer bothers you that it will kill every man—heir and innocent—who hears it?”
“Should it?” I turned back to Aeris. “As for that rat woman, bring her here. It’s unacceptable that we’re receiving vital information after it’s passed through half a dozen ears.”
“But, my lady, it’s difficult for Treasa to travel with the babies.”
“Then send the litter for her,” I snapped. “Must I think of everything?”
“No, Your Highness.” She backed further away. She bowed deeper. “It will be done.”
“Good. Now leave us.”
Aeris didn’t move. “There was one more thing. Eadaoin has asked to see you. She’s in the garden.”
