Wildest Dreams (Fantasyland #1)(94)

Drakkar returned her gaze and also sensed she was not hiding anything.

“This is good,” Drakkar said quietly, “But I suggest you guard that throat, Franka.”

“I always do,” she returned smoothly.

Drakkar wasn’t finished. “And, if you enjoy your lifestyle, as you advance through Lunwyn or Fleuridia in your constant play, you’ll be certain to inform me should you hear anything I may wish to learn.”

Her face grew smug before she asked, “Are you suggesting you can sway my brother into severing my funds?”

When the gods dispensed attributes between Franka and her brother Kristian, unfortunately, Franka received more than her fair share of them including looks and wits. That said, Kristian, being the male child, inherited their dead father’s fortune so he held the family purse.

Nevertheless, Kristian was Franka’s favorite mouse and she played with him often.

“I’m not suggesting anything, Franka. If I discover you know something you didn’t share, Kristian will be given his own choice about the state of his throat. He may be a puppet on your strings, cousin, but one thing I’m certain he was born with and that is a sense of self-preservation.” Her mouth got tight but Drakkar wasn’t finished. “And something else he has born, a son who would inherit his purse should something befall him, a son whose age would mean his mother would control his funds for some years. In your vicious play, have you been clever enough to spare his wife?”

He knew the answer to that as well because she lost her poise and glared at her cousin.

Then, instead of answering his question, she asked sharply, “Am I free to leave or will I be treated to some of the same I witnessed your man meting out to that poor woman?”

“That poor woman was a traitor and nearly murdered my wife, Franka, so she’s lucky to leave here breathing, if not fully intact. But you will not be treated to the same for you would enjoy it,” Drakkar retorted.

Her glare melted away, her eyes heated and she smiled languorously at the thought.

“Too true,” she murmured.

Drakkar stared at his cousin with disgust wondering if he did actually have Drakkar blood in his veins or if he was a changeling.

“You may leave,” he muttered, dismissing her by turning away and back to Atticus and Aurora who both had been watching.

Atticus again didn’t hide his reaction to Franka and stared after her with distaste as she exited. Aurora didn’t move her eyes from Drakkar.

Max walked in and Drakkar’s looked to his man.

“The princess,” Max said and Drakkar lifted his chin.

“Find Thad, send him to her. Have him tell her she needs to change. Then have Tyr brought around. Finnie and I leave for Sudvic tonight,” Drakkar commanded, Max nodded and left.

“Tonight?” Aurora asked and Drakkar looked at her.

“Immediately after I speak with Ravenscroft, Njord, Sinclair and Lazarus,” Drakkar answered.

“But it’s late, it’s night –” Aurora started.

“She’s slept on Tyr with me before, she can do it again,” Drakkar returned.

“She must be in a state,” Atticus put in and turned to Aurora. “We’ll be away to her now, see to it she’s all right and –”

“You’ll get nowhere near my wife,” Drakkar cut in to say and both Atticus and Aurora looked to him.

“I beg your pardon?” Atticus asked softly.

“I’m certain you heard me,” Drakkar replied.

“But…” Atticus began, faltered, his eyes uncomprehending then he finished incredulously, “by the gods, why?”

“Because Finnie was nearly poisoned tonight,” Drakkar explained shortly.

“We know, we were both there,” Atticus shot back. “And our daughter was there too. She saw that woman collapse, I saw her face right after it happened. She was in a state. You can’t toss her up on a horse and –”

Drakkar cut him off. “I can and this is what I’m going to do, Atticus.”

Atticus opened his mouth to protest but Aurora got there before him.

“Drakkar, I understand your wish to be away but my husband and I would like a moment with our daughter to ascertain that she is well after the events of tonight.”

“And your daughter is in another world and has no idea that her selfish actions have put my Finnie in such peril,” Drakkar retorted and was mildly surprised to see Aurora rear slightly back.

Then he was far more than mildly surprised to hear her whisper, “That peril, Drakkar, came at the hands of a woman you tossed aside.”

This was exactly what he didn’t need and precisely what he was attempting not to think about.

Therefore Drakkar clenched his teeth before he returned, “A woman who was paid by a conspirator.”

“A woman who was open to payment because she’d been bedded by you, she liked it, she wanted it to repeat when you returned and you gave her hope by requesting she attend the table where your new wife sat. Then you dashed those hopes because you were enjoying yourself elsewhere,” Aurora shot back. “I know women, Drakkar, being one, and that woman acted out of jealousy.”

Drakkar felt his temper fray as her words made the guilt he’d been controlling rise and he leaned slightly toward his queen before he replied, “That may be but she also acted out the paid request of a conspirator I can assure you I have not bedded.”