Page 28 of The Stygian Crown

Kara’s suspicions rose. First the shadow attack, now this. Someone was trying to kill her, which meant her identity was compromised. She replayed the events of the afternoon in her head, committing everyone’s faces to memory. The perpetrator might have been among their group, and it could be the very person plotting against Ariana—or someone connected to them.

The hunting party was mid way back to the palace by the time she and Aidan caught up with them. A large brown buck was draped over Char’s hindquarters, and one of the arrows from Logan’s quiver was missing.

Kara ignored the jealousy daggering at her insides. Apparently he wanted to be near the princess at dinner, too. Maybe he was helping to guard Ariana now, but it still stung.

Curious faces glanced at her and Aidan riding together, turning to whisper once they’d spotted them. Kara didn’t see her grey mare among the party.

Logan turned ever so slightly in his saddle, his eyes cutting across her face, then Aidan’s. His expression tightened. Hope swelled inside her that he might still care, but she shoved it down into the pit of her belly, where it could roil amongst the whiskey and other thoughts she shouldn’t have.

Logan said nothing. Kara relaxed against Aidan’s chest and closed her eyes, hoping she caused Logan a fraction of the pain he did her.

“Will you be attending the feast tonight?” Aidan whispered into her hair.

It was the last thing she wanted to do, but she was on the king’s dime, and regaining her place with the Stygians was seeming less and less likely. Plus, she needed to ask Serena about the shadow creature—could it come back and try to strangle her in her sleep? She checked the ground for her shadow and saw it blurred with Aidan’s.

“I’ll be there.”

* * *

Kara tooka long bath and dressed for the feast in another of the modiste’s form-fitting, low-cut numbers. When she arrived at the great hall, a servant in blue livery stepped forward to escort her to her seat.

Kara did a double-take when she looked at the servant. “Faedra?”

Faedra winked. “Hullo again. You look a picture.”

“Care to trade places?”

“I’m not in for all that posh stuff. Me and Aaron been conspiring below-stairs, trying to convince this lot to strike.”

“Talk to Merry. She deserves a raise.”

Faedra’s smile twisted. “Quite the stunt you pulled, back West.”

They neared the head of the table, and Kara slowed her steps. “I know—I’m sorry—”

“Ain’t me you need to apologize to. Thomas wants you to meet him in the belfry at midnight tomorrow.”

Kara bit her lip. The perfect place for an ambush. Dark, removed from the palace proper. Few people to hear her scream. “I’ll see what I can do.”

They drew to a stop by the long dining table. “Don’t worry, I got you the best seat in the house.” Faedra gestured to a chair directly across the table from Logan Vakarian.

Kara swallowed the rock in her throat and took a seat. “Lord Melbourne.”

His eyes slid through her like she was a feature of the terrain. Rage swelled in her chest. She wished she could unleash it and breathe flame. She could handle his hate, but his indifference was so much worse.

Princess Ariana floated into the chair beside Logan, and cold prickles ran across Kara’s skin.

Serena sat down at her right, and Kara released a breath. “Thank the mother you’re here.”

“I don’t miss venison nights.”

A parade of food was ferried to the table, more than they’d ever manage to eat. The venison was roasted to a golden gleam and flavored with apples and honey. Mounds of glazed bread braided into different shapes and platters of cheese and fruit crowded the table. One of the servants put a thin slice of meat onto her plate. Kara drained the wine from her goblet and raised the empty glass. A servant hurried to refill it.

Logan was calm and collected in his conversations with the table. He showed no signs of being perturbed, as if he hadn’t crumbled timber with his rage last night. She hoped Jon was still breathing.

Serena glanced between her and Logan. “There seems to be some tension in the air,” she whispered to Kara.

Kara snorted. “Do you know of a spell that would make one’s shadow attack them?”

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