Page 60 of To Save a Kingdom

Aliya narrowed her eyes. “Can I, though? You’re so biased against the elves you can’t take a few minutes to see how we would benefit from working with them instead of in opposition to them.”

A wave of exhaustion barreled into Aliya, forcing her to brace her hand on the windowsill. She no longer cared. She was adrift in a river, slamming from one boulder to the next as ice-cold water tried to force its way into her lungs. No matter what she did or how she acted, the problems resting on her shoulders were too massive to overcome before the current washed her away.

Where had everything gone so wrong? What had set her on the path that ended here? Was it when she chose to come back to confront Malkov? When she’d run to Filathas? The day she decided she wanted to live, so she’d fled her wedding?

The aching throb between her temples made it impossible to focus. There was no way to know for certain.

After several tense minutes, Shadow spoke. “I’ll spy on the guards. I’ll figure out which ones are loyal to you, and who supports Malkov and Brooks.” She flexed her ears until they flattened against her skull. “Then, we’ll purge the traitors from our midst.”

The bloodthirsty side of Shadow was one Aliya hadn’t seen before.

She turned away, moving to stare out the window like Elessan had been, seeing nothing as the tears finally spilled down her cheeks.

“I’d like to be alone.”

She didn’t move as the light thud of cat paws hit the floor, followed by heavy footsteps as the closest two people in her life headed toward the door.

Aliya leaned her forehead against the cool glass, relishing the slight relief the chill brought to her headache.

Footfalls sounded behind her as a warm chest pressed into her back. Elessan wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on the top of her head. “I’m sorry,” he murmured.

Part of her flared in annoyance that he hadn’t left as she requested, but her traitorous body longed to do nothing more than collapse and let him hold her, comfort her.

With a sigh, she leaned into him, still keeping her focus outside. “Do you think they’ll stay? The elves?”

Elessan shrugged. “It’s hard to say. If the guards on the other side of your door report to Roland you have no intention of marrying him, he’ll leave and take all his people and support with him.” He huffed. “Your aunt is right about that, at least.”

He rubbed one hand up and down her arm, the gesture soothing.

“I don’t know what to do,” she whispered. “I can’t see any way out of this that doesn’t see me married to some bastard I hate and the kingdom in an even worse position.” Unless Brooks had his way and she ended up dead.

“One problem at a time,” Elessan said. His deep voice sent vibrations through her torso as he stared out the window with her. “Tomorrow morning, we’ll find out if Roland intends to stay or not. And perhaps the day will also bring answers as to Lord Macherall’s murder and the location of the errant Whisperers.”

Aliya chewed on her lower lip. She hoped so. He sounded so confident. “I’d feel a lot less helpless if we had that information and a plan to move forward on at least some of the problems we’re facing.”

“Uh, huh,” he rumbled. “Me, too. But have faith. Things will sort themselves out.”

She snorted. Not if Brooks, Roland and her father had their way. The three men were bound and determined to make her life a living hell unless she bent to their wills. But she was just as stubborn as any of them.

“I wonder if Jalius and the others could come up with a way to magically locate the Whisperers?” she mused.

His jaw worked for a few heartbeats as he contemplated her words. “I suppose, if Brooks has the jewel in his forehead that lets him track magic users, that’s proof it’s possible.”

“Malkov had a tattoo around his wrist that did something similar,” Aliya said as the memory popped into her head.

“Then there’s a way to do it. The Whisperers are unique, which should help,” Elessan said. “Unfortunately, designing such a thing likely requires a niche skill set and I wouldn’t count on your current mages for the knowledge.”

She sighed. He was right. Before Malkov massacred the Mage College, their numbers were high enough there’d be a decent chance. Now… “I suppose the Master Artificer would’ve been our best bet.” And the man was on the run with Brooks, assuming he still lived.

“We can ask the junior artificers and the alchemists. I’m sure they’d love a challenge.”

She nodded, the throbbing in her head relenting as a tiny grin ghosted her lips. “See? I already feel a little bit better.”

He bent down and kissed the sensitive spot beneath her ear as one hand squeezed her hip. His voice dropped in pitch. Each word had her core burning. “Want to be even better?”

She burst out laughing as she smacked his bicep. “Really? That’s your line? It’s so corny.”

He nuzzled her. “But it made you smile, didn’t it?”