To Seduce An Assassin (The Omaja Series Book 2)(59)

“You let me worry about keeping my oath. It’s not your responsibility.”

“Can we perhaps continue this discussion later? I have to go check on Wilten to make sure she’s doing all right with lunch preparations.”

“I’ll walk you down there. I’m headed to the Great Hall anyway to meet with my guard captain.”

He offered her his arm, but she resisted. “I’m not touching you right now. It’s safer.”

“All right.” He opened her bedroom door, then followed her out into the hallway. “By the way, you left your pillow in my room last night. You can take a nap in there this afternoon if you like. I won’t disturb you. I’ll be sparring with my partner in the courtyard.”

“Me, take a nap in your room?”

“Well, yes, if you’d feel safer in there. More ghost-free.”

“Hm, perhaps so.”

He walked with her downstairs and paused at the kitchen door.

“Lunch should be ready by one o’clock,” she told him over her shoulder as she pushed the door open. She looked back at him. “See you then?”

He inclined his head to her. “Until then, Miss Stovy.”

She smiled, went into the kitchen, and let the door swing closed in his face.

He was smitten.

And he had to figure out how to keep Wolfan out of her room that night.

§

Graciella stood beside Yavi at the top of the steps to the entrance of the palace, huddled in her cloak, watching as the coach came to a halt. Yajna stepped out first, then reached back inside to help Jiandra out. Once she was on her feet on the ground, she waved up at Graciella excitedly. Yajna offered her his arm and escorted her up the steps to meet Graciella and Yavi.

“Sister!” Graciella exclaimed. “It is so good to see you’ve returned home safely!”

Jiandra hugged her. “We’ve had a very successful trip.”

“Brother.” Yavi extended a hand to his twin. “Welcome home.”

“Let’s get inside where it’s warm,” Jiandra urged, pulling at Yajna’s sleeve.

§

Graciella finished dinner preparations, went upstairs to her new room in Yavi’s wing to change her dress and freshen up, and then met the twins and her sister in the dining room.

“We have so much to tell you,” Jiandra said as Yavi served the wine.

“Us too,” Graciella replied.

“Oh? Things haven’t been business as usual here at the palace while we were gone?”

Graciella shot Yavi a sly glance. “Not exactly.”

“Graciella has changed rooms.” Yavi handed them each a goblet of wine. “It seems her room had an uninvited visitor.”

Jiandra frowned. “A mouse?”

“No, sister,” Graciella answered. “I wouldn’t change rooms because of a mouse. No, there seems to be a ghost haunting your wing.”

Now Yajna looked concerned. “What makes you say that?”

Graciella explained the incident with the ghost-boy the night before, including his assertion that someone named “Uman” had killed him.

“Uman?” Jiandra looked at Yajna.

Yajna leaned forward a bit. “Did the boy say anything else? About Uman?”

“He said Uman was his brother.” Graciella shrugged. “I don’t know who this Uman is.”

“So was that it?” Jiandra prodded. “He told you Uman killed him, that Uman was his brother, and just disappeared?”

“No, he didn’t disappear. He changed.”

“Changed how?”

“He changed into a monster of some sort, a demon. His eyes went bright yellow, and his teeth turned into fangs. I ran.”

“Sweet Zehu!” Jiandra gasped. “How terrifying.”

Graciella continued. “Wolfan said the guards all know that side of the palace is haunted. He said they’ve seen windows that were mysteriously opened and furniture that had changed position.”

Yajna nodded. “I’ve noticed furniture that had been moved unexpectedly as well. I thought the servants or guards had perhaps shifted things around.”

“Why haven’t you ever mentioned it, brother?” Yavi frowned.

Yajna shrugged. “It seemed of no import. I certainly haven’t seen an actual spirit like what Graciella encountered.”

“Anyhow, we’ve moved Graciella’s furniture to an empty chamber in my wing.” Yavi sipped from his wine. “And in the meantime, we need to find someone who specializes in contacting the dead, try to find out who or what this spirit is and what it wants.”

“If he would appear to me, perhaps I could read his mind with the Omaja,” Jiandra suggested.

“Well, he seems to like that bedroom I was staying in, so feel free to spend a night or two in there,” Graciella teased her sister. “If you dare.”

Jiandra glanced at Yajna. “Not without my husband. Are you game for spending a night in a haunted guestroom, Yajna?”

He grinned mischievously. “Could be interesting. But not tonight—you need your rest, Lahdli.”

“We’ve told you our big news,” Yavi said. “What news do you bring of Nirren?”

Jiandra spread her napkin over her lap. “Much news. But can we ask for dinner to be served first? I’m starved.”