Page 94 of Realm of Thieves

“Once you get the egg—if you do—you are to be done with the purple-haired girl. I want her disposed of.”

I had a feeling it would come to this.

I open my mouth to protest, to tell him I’m not promising him that of all things, but he goes on quickly. “By being with her, you have disrespected the princess of Altus Dugrell, the girl you were supposed to marry. I should toss the Eslander and her damned dog out ofStormglen right now,” he says. “The only reason I won’t throw her to the wolves is because you need her for your little heist. But when that need is over, Andor, whether you’ve had your fill of her or not, I won’t let her step foot on our lands. If you plan to come back with her, then you won’t be welcome either. Perhaps you should make it easier on yourself and conveniently leave her with the Black Guard in Esland. You’ll need a scapegoat, after all.”

The pulse in my throat pounds as I narrow my eyes at my father. “You know I can’t promise that,” I say, my voice going low.

The corner of his mouth lifts, liking this challenge. “Perhaps not.” He pauses. “But then I’ll just find someone who will.”

Chapter 27

Brynla

I’m half-asleep when a shoutingmatch makes me jolt. When the walls shake, as if someone is being thrown around in the hall outside my room, I leap out of bed, tangled in the sheets. Lemi comes in from the balcony and lets out a low growl, but I quickly motion for him to be quiet as I scurry toward the door. I rest my ear against it, wishing I could lock it without someone noticing from the other side.

I hear Andor’s voice.

Then his uncle’s.

Something about…

A princess?

He’s jeopardizing his relationship with the princess?

I swallow hard, a sinking feeling in my stomach, almost afraid to keep listening. But I have to.

I hear his father’s voice now, yelling at Andor.

Lemi lets out another growl, coming toward the door.

I motion for him to be quiet again, straining to hear the rest of the conversation. They’re arguing about something…me, I think. Then there’s another thud against the wall, enough that I leap backfrom the door, terrified that they’re going to come in here. I look around the room for my swords but they’re nowhere in sight. The room is a mess since I’ve done nothing but cry and stay in bed since we got off the ship. I can’t even remember the last time I saw my weapons.

I rub my hands over my face, panic surging through me as I struggle to think, to feel even remotely competent. I can’t stay in a stupor of grief like this forever, as tempting as it is to drown in it. I’m still in the Kolbecks’ keep, and though I have Andor on my side, this is a hostile place and I need to keep my eyes open and my defenses up.

I hear someone, maybe his uncle, grumble something, and then footsteps fading away.

I rest my head against the door, willing my heart to calm down and waiting a full minute before I dare open it and glance outside.

The knob turns with a loud click that makes me wince, but when I poke my head out, the hallway is empty. The only sign anyone was here is a painting on the floor, having been knocked off the wall.

I know I should close the door and go back to bed. Forget the whole thing.

But I can’t. Because his uncle had mentioned Andor’s relationship with a princess and this is the first I’ve heard about this.

Could it be possible that he’s had someone else this whole time? A princess, at that?

That sinking feeling grows deeper now, a gash inside me that makes me feel sick and weak. But I can’t let my insecurities run away on me; I can’t assume anything from only hearing a snippet of an argument.

Against my better judgment I slip on my nightgown plus a pair of slippers and head out into the hall. Lemi tries to follow but I motion for him to go back inside the room. I know he’ll shift if I get into trouble, but I don’t want him giving my whereabouts away, or getting protective before he should.

My dog gives me a wary look but resigns himself to sitting by the door as I gently close it and pad down the hall, listening for voices. I may not have hearing as good as someone with suen magic, but it’s still pretty good. I think I hear them downstairs.

I hurry down the staircase, looking over my shoulder in case a servant or one of the siblings spots me, then head over to the door to Torsten’s office. I place my cheek against the door like I did earlier.

“You are marrying Princess Frida!” Torsten bellows, so loud that I have to step away from the door.

Princess Frida? Who the fuck is Princess Frida? Could there be someone else in the room, Vidar maybe? That would make sense, that the heir would have to marry a princess. But not Andor.

---