Page 14 of The Twisted Throne

Amber eyes locked on hers. They were the color of expensive whiskey, the sun illuminating flecks of gold in them, the very outer rim an inky black. Cardiffian eyes, if she’d ever seen them, and Ahnna shivered, because the people of the northern kingdom were said to cast spells, many of their women known to be witches.

“My thanks, Your Highness.” His voice was different than it had been before he’d known her identity. Bland and nearly inflectionless. She didn’t like it. “However, we brought the conflict with Amarid to your shores, so the fault in security lies with us.”

“We can spend all day arguing over who is at fault, but the results are the same,” Aren snapped, showing no signs of coming to terms with William’s absence, though Ahnna wasn’t entirely certain why it mattered. “Good soldiers dead and a pier rendered half unusable with debris that will take days to clear. Better to press forward than look back. If you’ll excuse me, I intend to do just that.” He strode off, shouting orders.

“Ithicana still bears fresh scars from war,” Lara said, hand curving over her stomach as she spoke, the exertion so late in pregnancy showing its toll in the pallor of her face. “To have violence rear on our shores so soon is not what we hoped for with this alliance, Your Highness. Or do you prefer Major General?”

Ahnna hadn’t focused her recent research on James, though she knew he was the illegitimate son of Edward and a Cardiffian woman, and that Edward had formally acknowledged him as hisson and prince. Knew that he was a fighter of some renown who was often sent where conflict was thickest due to his prowess on the field. She’d not dug much deeper because James had felt less important. Her interest had been in the king and queen and, most of all, the prince she was supposed to marry. Butmajor generalwas very nearly at the top of Harendell’s incredibly complicated military hierarchy. Higher than William, who held only the rank of captain, his title primarily honorific.

“Whatever your preference, Your Grace. I serve the crown in both capacities.” James gave Lara a small smile, obviously as enraptured with her as every other man who ever saw her given the way the tension on his face faded. Ahnna struggled not to roll her eyes as he said, “I am deeply sorry for this distressing turn of events.”

A flicker of emotion that Ahnna didn’t care to name filled her chest, but she bit down on it, because she knew that when it came to the queen, nothing she felt was ever considered reasonable.

Lara stepped in front of her, forcing Ahnna to take a half step back. “The men who infiltrated your crew, were they unfamiliar to you? Or did Amarid buy off men who’d long been in service?”

“The latter, I’m afraid,” James answered. “All handpicked. I won’t offend Ithicana’s spy network by suggesting that it is not an ongoing problem, though we have the same leverage in Amarid.”

A spy network that Lara now ran.

Lara made a humming noise of agreement. “We should vet the sailors of the other ship before you depart. Check them for weapons they should not have so as to be sure Ahnna is safe on her journey. Our spies may have information you don’t, so we’ll check your crew before Ahnna boards.”

Lara was speaking as though Ahnna weren’t standing right behind her. As though she couldn’t defend herself, if needed. Asthough she were a child who needed to be coddled and protected rather than the woman who’d led Ithicana through most of the war in Aren’s absence.

Anger swelled in her chest, and Ahnna snapped, “It’s his goddamned ship, Lara. If he wants your assistance, he’ll ask.”

James’s eyes flicked between them, but he said nothing as Lara stiffened, then stepped to one side. “I’m only trying to ensure your safety, Ahnna. You’re important to us.”

The words were genuine—Ahnna knew that—but as she looked into Lara’s impossibly beautiful face, all she saw was the wolf in sheep’s clothing from whom she’d failed to protect Ithicana. The ingénue who’d swanned her way into everyone’s hearts with her charm, wit, and strategically deployed bravery, then left the door open for Silas Veliant to do his worst. Ahnna knew that Lara had turned on her father by the time the invasion had occurred. That she hadn’t wanted it to happen. But intentions didn’t bring back the thousands of Ithicanians who had died as a result of the invasion, and it certainly didn’t erase the nightmares of dead families and dead children that walked through Ahnna’s mind every night.

You were supposed to protect them!her conscience screamed.You were supposed to keep them safe!

“I assume the princess will have an Ithicanian escort, Your Grace?” James asked. “Hand-selected to ensure her safety?”

“Of course,” Lara replied. “Our finest—”

At that moment, singing echoed down the pier.

Ahnna’s cousin Taryn, along with Lara’s half sister Bronwyn, were staggering, arm in arm, toward them, singing a bawdy song about a sailor marooned on an island with a goat. Both women were clearly drunk out of their wits. Which was perhaps no shock, for they were long overdue at Northwatch after an excursion to one of the other islands. They stumbled to a stop, looking around,and Bronwyn shouted, “Holy shit, Aren! I thought you said that Harendellian ceremonies were dull!”

Aren broke off what he was doing to stare at both women, then scrubbed an irritated hand through his hair and went back to barking orders.

“Our finest warriors,” Lara murmured. “The most loyal men and women Ithicana has to offer.”

Lies.

Taryn was coming with Ahnna because she needed to get away from Ithicana as much as Ahnna did, and Bronwyn…Well, Bronwyn was coming because she felt like it. Which was fine with Ahnna, because Bronwyn was the first Maridrinian she’d met whom she actually liked. Bronwyn could lie through her teeth but nevereverdid. Most found her honesty a fault, but Ahnna relished it. “My cousin Taryn Kertell, as well as Princess Bronwyn Veliant, will be accompanying me.”

James inclined his head to Bronwyn and Taryn, the picture of Harendellian courtesy, and as she stared at his chiseled profile, Ahnna was struck with the memory of that face between her legs as she’d set explosives not half an hour ago. Her cheeks warmed, and she silently prayed that he’d never mention it to his brother.

“You’re not William,” Bronwyn said, peering up at James. “You don’t build muscles like those dueling with a rapier for the entertainment of the court. Which means you are James.”

“Sorry to disappoint.”

“Who said I was disappointed?” Bronwyn said with a wink, then gestured to the ship. “That our boat?”

“TheVictoria,my lady. The servants will be working to make up appropriate quarters, as I’m afraid the ship that—”

“I’m sure it’s a great story. Let’s save it for when we’re at sea,” Bronwyn interrupted. “You coming, Ahnna?”

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