Page 68 of Nocturn

I was unsure when I would utilize it, or if I would need to, but I had collected many of the flowers and had begun to stash them beneath my bed by bringing them inside within the pages of my journal. It would work well for rendering any officer unconscious⁠—

‘I believe you are collecting those, are you not?’ Piper’s voice filled my head. I kept my expression bland.

Swords were not the only method of battle.

‘Let me guess, you are musing to yourself about how underestimated other ways of battle are.’ She chirped and her little claws dug into my thighs as she pushed up to look at the journal in my lap.

“Since when did you fancy yourself a jester?” I muttered to her.

“Since I have been stuck in that dratted cage with vulgar-mouthed rakes flitting in and out.”

“Are you ready to return?” Egan asked, startling me from my musings. His question melded with Piper’s sentence.

Before Lord Draven departed, he had left firm orders.

Allow the Vessel access to the Gardens. This particular freedom had stunned the other feeders and forced me to dodge their questions. Now he had been gone for too long, and I had only a moon rotation until Nocturn.

“You cannot imagine how much whoring happens in the dusty place I am being kept⁠—”

“To the heavily guarded feeder wing?” I asked Egan loudly, a small smile playing along my lips.

Egan snorted and quickly stifled it. As my personal Guard, we spent a lot of time together. He followed me everywhere. If I left the feeder wing, he was my shadow. Little by little he caved to my inquiries. Well, enough that I knew he was incredibly disciplined with himself. Other than that, there was a more pressing fact: he held a certain disdain for his father, Lord Vaner.

“So, have you given any thought to Lady Branwen’s interest?”

He was not daft, he knew she fancied him. Her reactions to him were quite sweet in all truth. She became mute when he came around.

Much to my surprise, I enjoyed the other women’s company, and I often had to remind myself not to relax too much around them. After all, as did many residing at Sycarious Court, they would turn against me in an instant, taking any advantage to gain favor.

Each one had their reasons, and they all ran in the same vein: coin, status, and, most importantly, security.

Egan cleared his throat again and shuffled on his feet, muttering nonsense under his breath. “You and your questions,” he mumbled.

‘Do you like him?’

Piper’s question shoved a pole to straighten my spine.

“I do believe it is time to go,” I announced and swept her up with one arm.

‘I get it! I get it,’ she squealed, writhing against my side. With a wince, I softened my grip. I had not done it on purpose.

“Officer Vaner,” Drusilla’s voice echoed nearby, and she rounded the hedge where it led into the circular area where the fountain was. I did not miss how Egan flinched at how she addressed him.

“Get that creature out of here.” She jerked her chin toward Piper, then focused her gaze on me. “You are needed in Lord Draven’s chamber with all haste.”

My pulse sped up. There was only one reason I would be needed there so suddenly.

The Warlord had returned.

‘Oh no.’

Piper’s soft voice was muffled in my head.

‘You do not prefer the officer . . . you fancy the monster.’

The hushed tone wrenched me back to the present, and I filled my lungs with air.

‘I see it.’