Page 9 of A Dagger of Ice and Intrigue
My cheeks instantly heated up even as my heart slammed into my ribs. I was sick and bloody tired of everyone mentioning my failed engagement.
None of them had said a thing–no warning, no whispers, no sage advice–while I’d been deliriously in love, had they?
“Yes, well.” I avoided his gaze. “This family has a bad history with love.”
With me leading the pack of bad choices when it came to relationships.
“One of the many reasons I never married.” Uncle Maksim patted his left shoulder; his old war wound acted up in the worst times. “We can’t all find a woman like Lisette.”
That was a very polite half-truth. Uncle Maksim was an old fox, always seeing too much, never saying enough. He was one of Grandpa Constantine’s best secret weapons and had taught Dax and Dara everything he knew.
He hadn’t lived a life in which a marriage would have fit.
“Let’s hope Evie is the lucky one, then.” My father looked up at the sun slowly approaching the tallest tower on the island. Midday was almost here. “We need to make the rounds. We’ve been gone for too long, the Serpents might start suspecting we don’t want them here.”
“Doubt they can even see their feet after all the bottles they drank from our wine cellar,” Uncle Maksim said.
“Then it really is time to leave, before they start throwing jade daggers around.”
Silas didn’t need to be told twice. He slapped his knees, groaned to his feet, and walked away from the garden muttering something about punch and venison.
Uncle Maksim shook his head, watching his nephew vanish into the castle. “Constantine really should have stopped at three sons.”
“Our mother pampered him too much. It’s always a risk with the baby of the family,” my father said, once again devoid of any discernible emotion. It was a fact and he loved facts. “Go after him. He’ll be looking to boost his bruised pride in all the wrong places.”
“It always amazes me that out of all my brother’s sons, you’re the only one who turned our half right.” Uncle Maksim sighed and jutted his chin at me. “Cheer up, darling. It sounds like we’ll be spending more days on this island than we bargained for. It would be a shame not to enjoy our time here.”
With his departure, the silence in the garden turned heavy. I was only two paces away from my father, our gazes now locked, and yet we felt islands away.
“Father,” I pressed. “Your plan is good, but it has too many loose ends. The Serpents will suspect foul play. They might drink themselves into a violent stupor and wreak havoc on our island. There are children and young women here–”
“So concerned with everyone else’s wellbeing.” He closed the distance between us, and reached out, gently grasping my shoulders. At five foot seven, I’d risen a few inches above him one summer, but with my heels, the height difference between us was even more obvious. “You don’t have any time to fret for yourself.”
“Why would I?” I forced a hollow laugh. “I’m fine.”
“My little ember, we both know the truth.” His grip tightened. “That ratneverdeserved–”
“Dad, please.” I squirmed in front of him, but didn’t move away. This was the closest I’d gotten to a hug from him since Mom had died. And I would not show weakness, not even in front of him. “We need to concentrate on Evie.”
Thunder gathered in my father’s eyes. “My dear, she is not walking off this island as a married woman. This, I swear.”
Then, he hugged me, as he hadn’t in years, holding on tightly, as if he was afraid I’d vanish. I leaned into him, resting my head on his shoulder like I did when I was young.
But the sudden warmth couldn’t thaw the knot of icy worry setting deep in my chest.
My father, the man who hadn’t so much as raised his voice since my mother’s funeral, sounded ready to burn the entire world to keep that promise. For the first time in years, I saw that Vegheara fire in him–and I wasn’t sure if it thrilled or terrified me.
Chapter
Three
ALLIE
Why risk it?
The question hounded me as I left the tranquility of the interior garden and rushed back into the castle halls. Instantly, the sound of crashing waves from the beach below and the rustle of servants in the kitchen scratched at my ears. The smell of sweet wine and searing meat tickled my nose and clenched my empty stomach.
All this effort, all these resources, all these guests fornothing.
