Page 76 of A Throne of Blood & Vengeance

Again, Aniela looked towards the door. This time, I noticed the tension in her shoulders. Was she expecting someone else? Or was she worried about Cali getting here? If it was the latter . . . why?

“Something on your mind, Aniela?” I watched her carefully as she swallowed and met my gaze again.

“I don’t know who to trust, Samara,” she admitted. “I’ve always liked you, even when Dominique threw you in with Carmilla—who she was always suspicious of because of your aunt’s friendship with Queen Velika—but Ary trusts you.”

A hint of softness entered her eyes. There was something between Aniela and Ary—the Heir of House Tepes. He was definitely carrying a torch for her, and up until this moment, I hadn’t been sure she’d felt the same.

I didn’t say anything, and the others followed my lead. Aniela was hiding something, and whatever it was, she feared Cali learning about it.

The moment of vulnerability in Aniela’s expression left and was replaced by grim determination. Then she squared her shoulders as she sat straighter and raised her chin while holding my gaze.

“Rynn is locked up in our dungeon.”

Well, fuck.

“We haven’t harmed her,”Aniela rushed on before wincing. “But she was quite injured when the rangers found her two days ago. She kept attacking us when we tried to see to her wounds,so we put her in a cell as much for our safety as hers. Hostilities seem to be rising against the Velesians. I thought it best to keep her out of sight.”

“Two days ago,” I murmured and then asked sharply, “Does Dominique know she’s here?”

If she did, it seemed likely that Carmilla knew as well, and my aunt would absolutely try to capture Rynn as a way to control me. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for Rynn and Cali.

“No,” Aniela said softly. “The rangers found her in the badlands. She didn’t arrive here until after I got that message from Mika. I haven’t sent a response back yet.”

“Okay.” I nodded and rose to my feet. “Aniela, come with me to fetch Rynn. Everyone else, stay here and keep Cali distracted when she arrives.”

“Absolutely not,” Petra and Alaric said at the same time before glowering at each other.

“Perhaps one of us should go with you,” Kieran suggested.

I shook my head. “Cali is . . . testy right now. It’ll make me feel better knowing you’re all here to help keep her calm. Besides, Aniela picked a fight with me once and lost—badly.”

“You kicked me right in the cunt.” Aniela glared at me before rising from the settee.

I rolled my eyes. “You punched my tit. Twice.”

“What type of fight was this exactly?” Both of Kieran’s brows rose.

“A drunk one,” Aniela and I said at once.

“Why don’t I go get Rynn,” Alaric volunteered.

“No.” I made a halting motion when Alaric started to stand. “I haven’t spoken to Rynn since we separated at Lake Malov. I need to make sure she doesn’t lose her shit when she sees Vail—and more importantly, that she doesn’t tell Cali.”

“What exactly did Vail do?” Aniela arched a dark red brow at me.

“It doesn’t matter,” I said tightly, not wanting to go into detail about Vail’s betrayal and then have to explain why the fuck he wasn’t dead in a ditch somewhere, or at least locked up in a cell. I realized I was absently rubbing my chest just over my heart and dropped my hand.

“Funny,” Aniela drawled. “Itsoundslike it matters.”

I gave her an obscene gesture that had her barking out a laugh.

“I’ll be fine,” I promised, making eye contact with Kieran, Draven, and Roth before lingering on Alaric, who was clenching his jaw so hard, I was worried he’d crack a tooth. I bent down and kissed him with the intention of it being a quick, reassuring type of thing, but when he wrapped his hand in my hair and pulled me close, I lost myself until someone cleared their throat.

“Cali’s gonna be here any minute.” Roth gave me an amused grin. “You can make out with grumpy-pants later.” Then they shoved Alaric’s face away so they could lean forward and kiss me. This time, it was a quick one because they pulled back and pointedly looked at the door.

“So you’ve got the wicked prince, the heartthrob courtier, the gorgeous advisor, and the cunning scholar . . .” Aniela asked as we walked to the door. “Bit greedy, aren’t you?”

I snorted. “Jealous?”

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