Page 76 of Captive of the Stolen Empire

Stefan’s eyes widened as I curtsied before him.

I raised my head and descended the stairs to Lucien, feeling as much like the heir of Sorrena as I had in days. I’d gathered precious knowledge and delivered some of my own.

“What was that about?” Lucien whispered as he walked me to the carriage. He saw too much, but hopefully not enough.

I grinned. “Lady Basilla passed along a comment about how handsome and strong Emperor Ryszard’s guards looked this trip.” I eyed him up and down. “I merely stated my agreement.”

Lucien nearly tripped over himself as I stifled the laughter aching to burst from my lungs.

If nothing else, I’d given him something to stew over on the journey back to Zhine.

Chapter34

Lucien

Ilya sprang from the carriage like a buck from the wood as soon as it rocked to a stop inside Zhine’s castle. Two guards hustled down from their horses, racing after her toward the large doors exiting the bailey into the castle proper.

Roasted meat from the kitchens teased my senses as I dismounted, hinting at the dinner ready to be served in the main dining area at any moment.

My muscles ached from days on the road in my armor. Though it had been carefully crafted to move like a second skin despite its bulk, the steady movement on horseback never failed to chafe.

“Welcome back.” Zurina strode across the bailey yard, the metal of her armor glistening like a flame as the last trails of sunlight spilled across it.

“Zurina. Back already.”

“We returned yesterday. More importantly, Emperor Ryszard would like your report. Immediately.”

A groan escaped from my lips. I wanted nothing more than to follow the woman who I’d shared lingering glances with the entire ride back, not to mention our whispered words in the dark and stray stolen touches. I’d even take the sharp barbs she loved to fling my way if one of her delightful, wicked grins followed.

I hadn’t tried to kiss her. Not after her rejection, but something had softened between us.

“Will you be joining me?”

Zurina swooped her arm in a grand gesture. “Right this way.”

“Your journey was a success?” I asked as we traversed the halls.

“I’d say so. Lady Reyna delivered the message we agreed upon, and we encountered no issues. A good thing, since there’s been more unrest while we’ve been gone.”

I snapped my head in her direction. “Tell me.”

“Some of our watchmen reported suspicious activity in a few city-states, potentially troop movements or something else out of the ordinary. Our emperor has spread his forces in three directions, bent on investigating. A counterpart of ours joined with each group to deal with any threats.”

More of this. Something was going on between the city-states. We’d already stretched our territory too wide to control with our meager forces. Our emperor couldn’t think to push it further.

“There’s more.”

“More?” I sighed.

“Scouts have been sent into Marsali. One of our spies reported soldiers gathering, or so Orson said.”

Fuck all. “And our emperor thought that was enough to send soldiers across the border to scout them?”

She nodded. “It happened before I got back.”

Of course it did. Orson would have waited until we were away to relay that news, if it was true at all. He looked to undermine me at every turn, coveting my title like a hoard of jewels. We couldn’t attack Marsali on a whim, not with our soldiers still recovering from the last battle.

I fisted my hands at my sides as Ilya’s words echoed through my mind. What would be enough? Whenwouldhe stop?

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