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“I said I was surprised to see a mortal in the Shadow Realm. I can’t recall ever seeing one before. At least not a live one. However did she manage to get past Basal?”
Knowing she’s gauging my response as she reaches for her wine, I keep my expression neutral.
“She has something I want. We have an arrangement.”
It’s not entirely untrue, but it’s not the whole truth either. Elora hasn’t exactly been keen on our one-sided bargain, as evidenced by the fact she was more than likely trying to seduce Nevon in an attempt to escape.
I find the idea both clever and repulsive.
“What could you possibly want from a mortal?” Iluna scoffs, taking another sip of wine.
I’d have shared her sentiment once. I’d likely share it still were it about anyone else. But Elora is different. She has been since she stumbled across the veil and into my world.
“I have my reasons. That should be enough.”
Setting her glass down hard enough that it clinks against the wood, she sits back in her chair with a huff. Iluna doesn’t like being on the outside looking in. But if she’s taking a high court lover to her bed again, she doesn’t need any more details than absolutely necessary.
“I think I’ll be cutting my time in the Shadow Realm short, if that’s all right with you.”
I gesture between us with a flick of my wrist. “You know your presence here is never required. You are free to come and go as you please.”
Iluna pushes to her feet and turns toward the door.
“I only hope you’ll remember one thing.” She pauses with her hand on the knob, peering back at me over her shoulder. “The truce between my brother and I is tenuous. And as a member of my court, you've always known the consequences for upsetting that balance.”
She gives a curt nod, her tiara sparkling in the candlelight, before stepping through the door and closing it behind her with a snap. If my brother finds out about Elora before I’m ready, I’ll handle him. But I’ll make sure whoever decided to parade my business around as idle gossip pays for their transgression.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The wind bites as I draw my cloak tighter around me, and I warm myself with thoughts of the years I spent living in the north by the sea.
It’s never cold in Acaria’s northern territories, the constant sun broken only by the occasional storm before it clears again and the sky returns to its sparkling blue. It was the perfect place to start over. Living on the streets in Dremen, with its dreary winters and mountains of snow, would have been unbearable.
But, like everywhere else, it was full of people only willing to look out for themselves. I learned a valuable lesson living in the land of the God of Sea and Storms. The only person you can ever count on is yourself.
The young girl is out tending to the goats when I arrive, and I lift my arm in greeting. She smiles and moves toward me across the small field, the goats trailing in her wake.
“It's good to see you again, my lady,” she says, patting the head of a goat, who nudges her hand.
“It’s just Elora. Please,” I add when the girl hesitates.
“Elora,” she says shyly. “I’m Corinne. And my parents are Elspeth and Jerund.” She gestures toward the small farmhouse.
“You’re here with your parents?” I want to ask how, but the question feels too personal. It’s none of my business how she or her family died.
Corinne smiles sadly. “We used to live in Lady Orella’s territory.”
I killed a lecherous village elder in the Goddess of Love and Lust’s capital city once. After cutting off his hand to remind him to keep it to himself.
“There was a great storm. It rained every day for a week. The river overflowed, and…everything was lost. Including ourselves.”
“I’m sorry, Corinne.”
The words are empty, hollow sounding to my ears, but she smiles brightly and her cheeks pink.
“That’s very kind of you, my la—Elora,” she amends at my raised brow. “Is there anything I can help you with today?”
“No, thank you. I think I might saddle Meera up and explore the village.”
