A Kiss of Shadow (Court of Starlight and Darkness #2)(35)

“If she could find it,” Meria said. “It’s hidden.”

“I’m sure she’ll manage.”

“Unfortunately, I think you’re right.” Meria looked at Eve. “But we’ll be ready.”

“Thanks, guys. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have you.”

“Kick ass, still. Just slower.” Meria grinned at me.

I smiled back, but it faded as we began to climb the stairs to the castle entry. Lore waited for me at the top, holding out his arm for me.

I drew a shuddery breath, then took it. His sleeve was warm beneath my fingertips, the muscles firm beneath the fabric. Heat shot through me where we touched, and I raised my head to meet his gaze.

“We need to present a united front,” he murmured.

“We are united.” We might have our issues, but I was dead certain we were on the same side when it came to matters at the palace. We were here to protect the Court of Starlight and Darkness. I’d do whatever it took. So would he.

He nodded, then led me through the open door and into the enormous entry hall. The domed ceiling was built of white stone and glass, while the floor beneath our feet was a colorful mosaic of blues and greens. On a sunny day, it would be brilliantly beautiful, with the light streaming through the glass above.

As it was, the clouds overhead gave the interior a dreary feel. If this were a real wedding that I was looking forward to, I’d be nervous about rain.

Instead, I was nervous about an evil witch.

Freaking fantastic.

Many of the fae who’d been on the train milled around inside the enormous entryway, but we ignored them. Lore led me toward a staircase that swept up along the curved edge of the room, our court following behind us. Amidst this splendor, with a troop of people following us, I was really starting to feel like a queen.

It was…crazy.

At the top of the stairs, a servant dressed in a simple maroon uniform met us with a bow. He looked to be roughly forty years old, with short dark hair and the bland expression of someone who tried to blend into the background.

“My lord, my lady. We are delighted you are at the palace. May I show you to your rooms?”

“We know where ours is,” Lore said. “But you may show the queen’s ladies-in-waiting.”

Meria gave a little wave, and the man turned to them.

He bowed. “Right this way, ladies.”

“Ours?” I asked Lore.

“We share a room, of course,” he murmured.

“Of course.”

My attention remained riveted on that idea as he led me down the wide hallway to a chamber at the far end. Dain and the rest of the guards peeled off to go another way.

“They know where their rooms are?” I asked.

“They do. Each Court has assigned chambers that they decorate as their own.” He pushed open the wooden door to reveal a large room with enormous glass windows overlooking a dark lake surrounded by mountains. Sentries guarded the water, which looked endlessly deep. There was something almost ominous about it, but that was probably because it reflected the dark clouds that hung above.

Despite the slightly freaky view, the rest of the room was beautifully decorated with furniture made of warm golden wood. The white stone walls were a neutral backdrop for the jewel toned upholstery and bedding.

“It’s beautiful.” I walked into the room, drawn by the windows and the view of the clouds. “I didn’t think she’d be so close when we arrived.”

He joined me, staring out at them. “I’ve heard a few other courts talking about them, but no one else seems to realize they are more than just bad weather.”

“Eventually, they’ll have to rain, or people will start to wonder.” Why the hell were they so dark if they never rained? “Before I came to your court, did you ever see them rain?”

He shook his head. “We believe their dark color is from the magic they contain.”

I shivered. “What happens next here?”

Certainly not a discussion of last night.

“There will be a dinner later tonight. Then tomorrow evening, our wedding.”

I nodded, deciding not to think of the wedding right now. “And until the dinner?”

“We can explore. See who we run into. What we can hear.”

“Snoop, you mean.”

“Exactly. There’s often a lot to be learned by paying attention.”

“Should we talk to them about the dark clouds? See if they know anything?”

He hesitated, staring out at the sky. “The witch with the deathly magic is a problem that weakens our court. My information suggests she isn’t related to any of the other courts. The threat they pose to you is separate.”

“So many threats.”

“Welcome to being royalty.”

I huffed a small, wry laugh. “It’s not exactly what I expected when I was a little girl.”

“You always knew you would be royalty?” Surprise sounded in his voice.

I looked at him, caught off guard. “Wait, you think I was being serious?”

“Are you not?”

“How out of touch are you, Lore? Every little girl wants to be a princess. It was a joke.”

“Ah.” He looked back to the sky. “I haven’t had a normal life in a while. And children…they are very foreign to me.”