Page 67 of Kingdoms of Shadow and Ash

'Indeed,' he said, then spun her under his arm.

She tried not to give him the satisfaction of a smile, so she smirked instead. 'You're not too bad yourself,' she heard herself say.

He inclined his head. 'Most kind,' he said, then pulled her into a tight hold, and set off around the floor.

Edu was happy to retreat to the edge of the room. From the shadows, he could watch openly, and listen to the revelers' unguarded drunken words.

'I was sure he was gay!' said the woman the King had pulled to the dance floor. 'He only ever dances with his cousin.'

'Trying to impress the Queen,' said an old man, knowingly.

'Why?' said a second woman. 'Not like we need the likes of her …'

'Probably taken a liking to her …' said the old man.

'How will Mama Bear like that?' said the second woman.

'Spells trouble,' said the first woman.

'He has to marry sometime,' said the old man, then, seeing her sullen face, added, 'What? You thought he'd marry you?'

The second woman laughed.

Edu moved on, nearing the stage. Zhura put down her drum, accepting a drink from the man the King had called Aaran.

'What is he doing?' said Zhura. Her voice was too low to hear, but Edu could read her lips well enough.

'Flirting, I believe,' said Aaron.

'Flirting …' said Zhura, incredulously.

'Trust him,' said Aaron.

'I do … but …' Zhura shook her head, then surveyed the dancing. She watched Fyia and her cousin, their bodies pressed together in a way courtiers considered most inappropriate in Fyia's own kingdoms. 'We're being watched,' said Zhura, as her eyes flicked to Edu's.

Edu held her gaze, unembarrassed at having been caught. They'd let their guards down …theyshould be embarrassed. Although, it was surprising Zhura had spotted him at all. Edu was well versed in stealth and concealment.

Zhura brought her hand up to her mouth and continued her conversation, shielding her lips from view. Edu inclined his head and moved on.

Fyia's second dance with the King came to an end, and she was about to take a seat, to turn away and remove his arm from her back, when the door to the tavern's window-sized entrance banged open. She wondered why they'd gone so far as to replace the window with a door, but hadn't made the opening itself bigger, so they could just walk through. But before she could ask, the room went quiet, and a big, broad man with a shaggy beard swung his legs through the window.

'Cal!' the man boomed, looking directly at the King. 'Nephew!'

The King hesitated, his eyes seeking Fyia's as the word echoed around her mind.Cal. The Cal from the Fae'ch party?

The King's hand brushed her bare arm, and Fyia's Cruaxee magic jolted to life in her mind. Eagles screamed, and her wolves snarled, racing towards her. What in the Seven Hells? Had he done something to her magic again? Was she in danger?

Edu stepped between Fyia and the King, and a dangerous stillness descended, all eyes watching as Fyia's guards formed up around her.

Her wolves sprang through the window, snarling and snapping their teeth, and the room erupted in fright, stools clattering, glasses smashing, the drunken crowd scrambling to get away.

'Call them off,' said the King, his voice low and urgent.

'I …' said Fyia. Pain lanced through her mind, her vision becoming a tunnel rimed with black. She looked wildly around, seeking some kind of clarity.

'You don't want to do this,' said Cal. 'Call. Them. Off.'

She didn't know how. Her wolves had come to her … she hadn't summoned them.

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