Page 39 of The Court of Secrets
“No.” She cast her eyes downward. “If you can acquire the books banned by your father, I suggest you do so in secrecy. Ask Blaise to help you.”
I looked at her incredulously. “I can’t do that.”
“You can and you must. He will help you, and he’s a good ally. Tell him everything.”
“I haven’t even told Cedric.”
“Blaise knows how to get around people. He knows the trickery of politics and how to keep things hidden. Blaise will do anything to help you. He will go further than Cedric ever could.”
I realized she saw them as nothing more than traits; right now, Blaise’s were needed more than Cedric’s.
“It’s more complicated than that,” I explained. “Blaise won’t put himself on the line for me. Again.”
She gave me a look. “Get Blaise to help you. For all our sakes.” She looked out the window. “You can start now. They’re here.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The ship’s navy-blue sails flapped in the wind. Beside the grand vessel were two smaller ships. Their carriages had already gone. He must’ve been close. The drawbridge was lowered, and my heart pounded. Cedric joined my side. We hadn’t spoken since our fight, and I was sure seeing Blaise wouldn’t help.
“I thought you were leaving before Blaise arrived.”
He held his head high. “I decided to follow your footsteps.”
I quirked an eyebrow. “How so?”
“To be brave.”
I couldn’t help but smile, even though I was mad at him. “Good.”
“We should talk before bed,” he said quickly.
I nodded. “Yes. We should.”
His fingers brushed mine but pulled away. A guard walked to my other side and stood with a spear as the horses pulled their carriages over gravel. The door was opened once they stopped in front of us. A pair of black boots hit the ground. My breath was stolen. He looked different. Stronger. Deadlier. His eyes focused on mine, and a wicked grin taunted on his lips.
His grin hardened into a frown when he saw Cedric. He paused in front of me. “Love.” He held my hands in his, then bowed and kissed them.
My heart skipped a beat. Cedric’s expression wavered, uncertainty lingering in his eyes.
“Blaise.”
We were being far too informal, but being anything but felt unnatural at this point.
“I’ll find you later.” He winked, then gave Cedric a hard stare.
“I don’t understand the sudden hate. You always disliked one another, but now…” I shook my head.
“You have guests to greet,” Cedric said bluntly, his tone sharp, and walked away. He greeted a few of the fae he’d become friendly with while we had been in Niferum, and he accompanied them into the banquet hall.
Prince Lucien was accompanied by a young, beautiful faery. His brother Niam walked behind him, hand-in-hand with his boyfriend, Crawn, who was as always dressed in the most elaborate costume of feathers and green, resembling the peacocks that wandered the gardens.
“Your Majesty.” Niam bowed with Crawn. Lucien reluctantly fell in line, bowing too. They stepped around me as more hurried to meet me.
Vahaga did his best to hold his disgust as they were brought into the castle, but he made sure to take the time to shoot me a venomous stare.
Many of the men watched with disgust, although their anger was swiftly replaced with something else when they saw the beautiful fae women. Blaise had brought a small army with him. I guessed he wasn’t going to make the same mistake in trusting lunas again, after my father was close to slaughtering them at our almost-wedding, even though I was in power. Blaise never had been naïve. I noticed Darlina had joined him on his journey—his plaything, ex- or current girlfriend, I wasn’t sure. She didn’t look happy to see me. She swept into the hall, her bright red dress billowing around her as she did. I gave her a bright smile and was pleased to see annoyance shroud her features.
I’d hoped to talk to Blaise in private, but I had no idea where he’d gone. Something had changed about him though. I could see it in his eyes. They were no longer pained. The suffering in his expression had evaporated and was replaced with callousness. He reminded me of the prince I’d met years before, not the man I’d come to… care for.
