Last Stand (The Black Mage #4)(30)

“That thief stole my horse!” Paige stomped around our site, throwing her saddlebags against the ground ten minutes later. “That no good, piece of—”

In ordinary circumstances, I might have laughed. “You can ride with me.”

“If I must.” The knight grumbled as we finished loading my roan with supplies. “But no talking. We are hunting a rebel, my lady, not building a friendship.”

“I would never dream of it.” I yawned—this time from real fatigue—and swung up into the saddle, reaching for Paige.

My guard was too busy staring at a dark stain on the top of my boots.

The rebel’s blood. I had been standing too close when he cut himself for the rope.

My heart pounded violently against my chest.

“When did you injure yourself, my lady?”

“Oh, that?” I laughed uncomfortably. “Must have cut myself when I…” When I did what? Paige was always nearby. “You know what? I think that might have been from the rabbits caught for the stew.”

“So not old, then.”

Was it just me, or did she sound suspicious? “Well, old as this evening.”

Paige continued to stare at my boot.

“My lady and Paige.” Henry’s call rang out over the din of orders. “We are ready to head out.”

Grateful for the interruption, I turned to Paige with a nervous grin. Don’t see my fear. “Time to return to the palace.”

The guard didn’t say anything else as she helped herself into the saddle.





7





It only took us eight days to reach the capital.

It took all of one breath to watch Darren race across the throne room to his brother. That twisting in my chest was a rising suffocation, and it was all I could do to stand there next to Paige pretending I was glad to see Blayne was still alive and well. I didn’t want to see that young, proud king relaxing in his gilded chair with a healthy glow and that lying courtier’s smile plastered to his face. I didn’t like to see the way Darren’s face lit up when he took in the same.

Seven nights of riding on and on, trading mounts at each inn we passed, only remaining long enough for a meal and an hour’s sleep—two at most.

All because the Black Mage feared for his brother.

I tasted bile and made myself swallow. I should have been ecstatic—Tallus was safe, the keep’s rebels were undiscovered, and, with our good time, I had an extra week to search the palace while Darren and the others inspected the Crown’s guard. After all, every second counted now that the Pythians had officially set sail, and I only had three weeks before they would reach our shores.

“Ryiah…”

I glanced up to find Blayne beckoning me forward with the crook of a finger.

I approached and the king gave me a lazy smile, leaning back against his throne. “Well, you look a lot more like your usual self, sister dear. I must say the dresses never felt sincere.”

I will never be your sister. My nails stabbed into my palms, and for a moment, I couldn’t move, save for the rise and fall of my chest.

“Ryiah isn’t a lady of court, brother. She’s a war mage.”

Darren’s voice brought me back to the present. Breathe. Over a month away from the enemy and I’d forgotten what it felt like. If I didn’t get control of my emotions, someone would notice—any of the guards or Mira who stood scrutinizing my appearance with a scowl. Good to see you, too. I looked up through sopping locks and pressed my lips into a shaken smile, listening to the drip, drip as slush collected on the tile beneath my boots. Breathe.

Now speak.

“Funny.” My voice sounded strange even to my own ears, hoarse and too high. “I was going to say the same about you. Sitting on a throne while your brother and I protect the kingdom. Anything more would be off-putting.”

Speaking such words at his father would have resulted in the guillotine, but Blayne was evil wrapped in grace. Verbal spars were nothing he couldn’t handle.

“How I have missed your humor.” The new king narrowed his gaze, fingers tapping loudly against his armrest. “And yet my brother informs me that the rebel escaped. Right under your watch.”

“He drugged our supplies—”

“Used in the meal you were cooking,” Mira interrupted callously. “How convenient.”

“Go ahead and say it. I dare you!” I started forward, but Paige jerked me back with a sharp tug on the wrist that stung.

I fought her grip, but the knight held me in restraint. “Don’t bait her,” she hissed.

Little did they know it was all for show.

I wrestled in the knight’s grip for a moment longer, playing up the part while Darren bristled in my defense.

“Ryiah is the last person who would help a rebel escape, Mira. I had to tear her off the man during interrogations. Believe me, my wife would have liked nothing better than to slit the rebel’s throat who recruited her brother to their cause.”

“Who’s to know he didn’t recruit the whole family? Or did everyone forget the year Ryiah served at the keep alongside both?”

“I never met the man!” I spat. “He wasn’t even on my squad!”

“Once again, a convenience!” the woman barked. “You are so full of excuses, and I, for one, am tired—”