Page 90 of A Crown Without Mercy

“Yes, milord.”

Riordan removed his hand, turned to Nicolai and Kieran, and placed his hand on one of the guard’s shoulders. “Move them into the tower chamber. I don’t want anyone to so much as hear their whispers.”

“Yes, milord.”

As they left, Mira spoke up from behind. “Are we your prisoners?”

They turned ever so slightly and looked at her. “Consider yourselves our guests,” Nicolai replied.

“You will regret this when Sylvana finds out what you have done.”

“Mira!” Laurent snapped.

They glanced at each other, and a look of amusement crossed their faces. “Is that so?” Riordan asked.

She crossed her arms and lifted her chin. “Yes, milord.”

Laurent nudged her with his shoulder. “Stop it!” he whispered.

“Sylvana will find out soon enough,” Nicolai stated.

Mira glanced at Laurent and then back at the brothers. “Are you going to tell her?” she asked.

“Yes,” Kiran replied.

The heavy door shut, and Laurent spun Mira around to face him. “Never speak to them in such a manner again! Do you want to get us killed?”

She plopped down on the tattered mattress, pulled her knees tightly against her chest, and sobbed. “Sylvana is going to hate me!”

Laurent walked over and stroked her head. “She will understand, Mira.”

“She will never forgive me, and neither will my family!”

After siting with her for a few minutes, Laurent wandered around the cell and then placed his ear against the door and listened; all he heard were a few ghostly moans and intermittent cries of pain echoing from somewhere off in the distance. He jumped back when the lock clanked and hurried over to Mira.

“Come with us,” the guard stated.

The guards escorted them up numerous sets of stairs and down various hallways before coming to the end of another corridor. The guard opened the door, ushered them in, and then shut and locked it. They looked around and it was an elaborate chamber rather than another cell.

“Are we really their guests?” Mira asked, feeling confused.

“I don’t know what is going on. First, we were in a cell and now we’re here?”

They walked over to the large windows at the opposite end and realized they were at the top of the Castle. Laurent turned the lock and tried to open a window, but it was sealed shut. “We are still locked up.” He sighed.

Mira looked through the beveled glass and stared at the moon. “What have I done?” she stated softly.

“You didn’t have a choice. They will understand.”

“I like the bairn. She has Sylvana’s courage.” Nicolai chuckled.

“Yes, she does,” Riordan replied.

“How the fuck did Kadric take a purebred Ascelin as his mate and go undetected?” Nicolai asked.

“There is only who knows what took place. We need to find Kadric,” Riordan replied.

“There is a lot more to this story,” Kieran stated.

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