Page 75 of A Crown Without Mercy

“Laurent! Do not speak to me in such a manner.”

“Does Mira know of this?”

“Yes, your father planned on to telling her this morning.”

“Great. Thanks for interfering in my life—again!”

Enatta ran her hands down her corset, struggling with the situation.I will find a way around

Cadell.

“Since you have nothing more to say, I’m going to find Mira.”

“Laurent, you will do no such thing. I don’t agree with this either and I will speak to your

father, but for now, you will do as you are told.”

“We will see,” Laurent mumbled under his breath as he stormed off.

Calista sat with Sylvana in her room, trying to comfort her.

“I don’t think I can go tonight after what happened this morning,” Sylvana stated.

Calista rubbed her arm. “They came for you last night. Do you think tonight would be any different?”

“No. I suppose not?”

“Look, we can’t do anything about this right now. I assume they are only suspicious. If they knew more, I’m sure things would have ended differently. Now let’s get you dressed. I want you to enjoy yourself tonight.”

They heard the door slam shut and the heavy thumping of boots on the stairs. “Ah shit. Alaric is back,” Sylvana said.

They waited with bated breath, thinking Sylvana’s door was going to slam open. Instead, they heard Alaric’s slam shut.

Calista’s face lit with amusement. “One of these days, you are going to push him over the edge.”

“I think the vein in his forehead was throbbing,” Sylvana replied.

Through their laughter, they heard hooves coming down the road; they leapt off the bed and rushed to the window.

“It’s Klyn,” Sylvana said.

“What is he doing here so soon?” Calista asked.

“I don’t know? But I suggest we greet him before Alaric does,” Sylvana stated.

They ran down the stairs and out of the front door just as Klyn rode up with Skadi in tow. “Sylvana, good to see you again. Good afternoon, Calista.”

“Hello Klyn,” Calista replied.

“Why are you here so early?” Sylvana asked.

“The ceremony is tonight, or have you forgotten?”

“I didn’t expect to see you so soon. I’m not dressed.”

“It’s fine. They want to see you now, and I suggest you wear the outfit they gave you.”

Calista looked at Sylvana. “What outfit?”

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