Page 80 of An Archer's Redemption

That same guilt, the pang that swelled each time I recalled Tiana’s final moments, haunted the warmth I felt each time Jess entered a room. All I wanted was to be happy, to enjoy the moment with a woman who made me feel . . . whatever Jess made me feel.

Why couldn’t life be simple?

If it weren’t for my inexplicable, ever-present desire simply to be with Jess, I would’ve already headed home. I wasn’t sure what existed between us, that feeling of togetherness, that longing, but I felt it every time she was near.

I felt it even more strongly when she left.

It pulled me, or pushed me—I wasn’t sure.

The logical Constable’s brain couldn’t comprehend the utter illogic of me mooning over a woman I barely knew; but here I was, staring at her chair, willing to wait until the world stopped turning for her to arrive and smile.

Just as I was about to chide myself for being sappy, the doors flew open, and Jess stormed into the dining room. The servants, already stiff in their uniforms, snapped to absolute rigidity at the presence of their fuming sovereign.

A man in his mid-thirties with only a few strands of pulled-over hair scurried behind her, his eyes downcast and expression wan.

“Explain this to me, Lord Chamberlain. Didno onein this Palace knowtheSheriff’s sonhad returned? The one who sold me to be slaughtered?” Her voice rose with each word, and the man somehow bowed lower in her wake.

“I do not know, Your Majesty. No one reported this to me.”

She wheeled to face him. “Stand up straight and face me.”

He did, reluctantly, though his gaze remained fixed on her chin.

“Unless you want to be theformerLord Chamberlain, you will look me in the eye. Now.” She waited as the man struggled to lift both of his chins. “Find the High Chancellor and get me a report from our eyes and ears. I want to know our numbers, strengths, gaps, and how the best network on the continent could miss something so obvious. Then I want to hear the plan to never miss so much as a whisper on the wind again. Am I clear,Lord Chamberlain?”

The man bowed several times nervously. “Yes, Majesty. Perfectly clear. I will find the High Chancellor at once.”

“Now get out.” Her voice had fallen to an indistinct murmur, which was somehow more intimidating than her raised pitch from before.

The man practically ran from the room.

Servants began their choreographed dance, pouring wine and water, removing chargers, and retrieving platters of rolled meats and cheeses from the kitchen.

I sat back as Jess turned and noticed me.

She sucked in a deep breath, then released it, then reached over her chair to grip her glass, drained half of its contents, and set it down.

“I am sorry you had to see that. You are not going to believe who showed up in court today.”

I raised one brow but didn’t speak.

“Danym. Can you believe it?”

“You mean Ambassador Danym? The Priest?”

Her jaw dropped. “Youknew?”

I threw my hands up to fend off her rising anger. “I knewaPriest named Danym was appointed Ambassador. He was at the coronation banquet and paid me a visit at my table. Are you saying he’sthatDanym?”

“Yes,thatDanym,” she spat. “The one who tricked me into falling in love and running away with him, then gave me away to be killed. The one who laughed at me as those robed monsters dragged me into their Temple.ThatDanym!”

She grabbed her glass and finished the wine, slamming the crystal on the table so hard I wondered that it didn’t shatter.

A servant materialized and refilled it as soon as she’d set it on the table.

I switched into investigator mode, insulating my newly found, highly confusing emotions from her wrath. I watched but held my tongue.

She gulped more wine.

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