The Curse (Belador #3)(58)

Brina’s fingers tensed where she clutched the cushion she sat on. “I assumed you’d be wantin’ that information in case …”

“In case Evalle just disappears again.”

“I did not say that,” Brina countered in a tight voice.

“But that’s why you’re telling me. I thought Evalle’s deal with Macha meant Evalle wouldn’t get yanked into Tribunal meetings anymore to answer for someone else’s transgressions.”

Brina sat up straighter, just as in the past when she’d get her back up over something. “I mention this only so you’ll not be surprised.”

“What I know is that Evalle shouldn’t be held responsible, especially when I bet no one has determined if it was even an Alterant that killed the bounty hunter. Could have been a Rías since not everyone knows the difference.” Tzader struggled to keep from raising his voice. Yelling at Brina wouldn’t help Evalle or him right now.

Macha might like the friction climbing between Brina and him these last two meetings, since the goddess expected him to break off their relationship, but he didn’t. For the first time in his life, Tzader questioned whether he could put honor first and walk away from Brina.

Just as he questioned whether Brina truly wanted him out of her life.

With Macha away at the Tribunal, he didn’t see the harm in getting some straight answers from Brina. What could be dishonorable about asking her straight up if she still loved him?

Tzader shook off his anger and smiled at her. “Do you—”

The male Belador guard Tzader had seen during his earlier visit came walking up the hallway, and Tzader lost his train of thought. That hallway led to Brina’s private quarters.

What was that guy’s name? Allyn?

The top three buttons on the guard’s jacket were unbuttoned.

What the devil?

Brina snapped her fingers. “Tzader? Hello. Are you payin’ me no mind?”

“I heard you,” he muttered, watching as the beefy guard carried something concealed in his closed hand and offered it to Brina.

Allyn said, “I believe this is what you were searching for.”

She held her hand out to receive what looked like a tiny coil of gold chain. Her eyes lit up. “My mother’s necklace! You found it. Where?”

“On the floor next to … your bed.”

Tzader cleared his throat, hoping the sound came across as deadly as the intent behind it. Why had Brina sent a guard to search for her necklace in her bedroom? She normally cleaned her own room, preferring to keep her room private and allowing only Tzader in there.

Or had at one time.

Brina angled her head at Tzader. “Have you not met Allyn? He’s my new personal guard.”

“No, I haven’t.” Tzader had known all of her guards up until four years ago when he’d stopped entering the castle in his physical form. Since then, Macha had approved the inside guards, and Tzader rarely saw any of them inside the castle since their job was to prevent anyone from getting through the front door.

Allyn smiled briefly at her, then shifted his expression to professional when he faced Tzader. He had the thick neck of a young man who pumped iron. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Burke.”

Mr.? Tzader’s father was Mr. Burke. This guy might be five or six years younger, maybe midtwenties?

Thirty sure as hell wasn’t old. Tzader corrected him, “It’s Maistir.”

That set-down registered in the guard’s face for only a second, then his demeanor shut down to stoic again. “Maistir.”

That was the extent of Tzader’s acknowledgment of the other man. If he said any more, he’d give away the surge of fury at seeing the guy stand too close to Brina. Saying the wrong thing right now would get Tzader in deep trouble with Macha and knock the wheels off this conversation with Brina.

Allyn turned to Brina. “I’ll wait outside, Bri—uh, Your Highness.”

“Absolutely not, Allyn. I want you … here.” She gave him an extra look as he stepped past the giant stone fireplace and circled the sofa to stand behind her. Once he took that position, Brina faced Tzader again. “As I was sayin’, I’m only the messenger on this Dakkar issue an’ merely wantin’ to keep you informed. Now, about these Svart trolls, I wish to know who they’re workin’ for as soon as you find out.”

Giving a quick nod of acknowledgment, Tzader had to swallow the lump in his throat to get any words out with reality crashing in on him with double fists. Macha had not been twisting the truth after all when she’d said Brina was ready for someone else. That she had accepted the futility of her and Tzader’s impossible situation.

He hadn’t believed Brina a month back when she’d told him they had no future.

Tzader would respect her wishes and—

The guard leaned forward and put a hand on Brina’s shoulder, clearly to comfort her.

Tzader roared, “Take your hand off of her!”

Guess his control wasn’t as good as he’d thought.

She reached up and placed her hand over Allyn’s, preventing him from moving his.

The guard’s face showed no emotion, but his eyes held a warning when he stared at Tzader and said in a low, threatening voice, “It’s inappropriate to raise your voice around the queen. I won’t have her upset.”