Page 142 of The Fae Kings' Bargain

Fear prickled her skin. “I never would have guessed that he wanted to hurt me.”

“Vesset insists that he didn’twantto follow King Ryenil’s orders,” Mehl said, some of the anger on his face morphing into concern as his gaze swept over her. “But he will be punished the same way, regardless. You needn’t worry in that regard.”

“What…what are you going to do with him?” she couldn’t help but ask.

Even if she wasn’t sure she wanted to know.

“He’ll be executed eventually. I’d intended to have him provide false information to King Ryenil for a while, but the more I think about it, the more I doubt the wisdom of the plan.” Mehl rubbed the back of his neck, though it didn’t seem to ease his visible tension. “Despite the number of spies we have working in the background, it will take time to capture all the Centoi informants, so word of Vesset’s capture might be wending its way to the king already. And we absolutely can’t let the healer roam free to maintain appearances, not with the amount of harm he could do with his ability.”

“Indeed.” Shivering, Ria rubbed her arms. Vesset could have stopped her heart with a thought, especially during her last examination. “It’s unnerving. I’ve never had anyone want me dead. My father needed me for his work, so even when he beat me, I didn’t fear that. Do you think…will there be other attempts I should look out for?”

Toren’s nostrils flared, and he ran his fingers through his hair with a sharp tug. “Unfortunately, yes. Accept no food or drink from anyone unless it has been thoroughly tested, although even that will be difficult to trust after Vesset’s betrayal. I suppose I’ll have to find a healer or two willing to swear the deep oaths like Macoe.”

“My sister would likely do so,” Sir Macoe offered suddenly. “She’s skilled enough that Vesset would sometimes send her in his stead, yet she’s not malleable enough to be chosen as one of his favored apprentices.”

“Remind me later to investigate those apprentices,” Toren muttered, scowling.

Ria had a feeling the healer’s guild would soon be in a bit of upheaval.

Mehl nodded at Toren, but the look he turned on Sir Macoe was thoughtful. “Ah, Mery is your sister, correct? I wasn’t thinking about it earlier, but that’s who Vesset sent to examine the box whileheapparently committed treason.”

By the dart of pained alarm on the captain’s face, Ria couldn’t help but hope that the woman was innocent of wrongdoing. Mehl’s tonehadsounded more curious than concerned, but Sir Macoe obviously worried for his sister. Surely there weren’t many healers involved in Vesset’s plot? Toren and Mehl would have been assassinated long ago if that were the case, healers being experts on ways for people to die.

“Yes, Mery is my sister,” Sir Macoe answered. His expression softened. “Though she is younger by several centuries, we’ve grown closer since she accepted an assignment in the palace. She’s bright, cheerful, and talented, but I assure you she’s stubborn in her ideals and loyal, too. She has often complained to me that the top healers tend to snub her because she refuses to become a participant in their machinations.”

Ria frowned in thought. What did he mean by that? Maybe she’d been wrong to dismiss the other healers as innocent if they were known for their scheming.

Apparently, the captain noticed her concern. “Your Highness, I didn’t mean to imply that the healers are connected to Vesset’s treachery,” he rushed to assure her. “No matter the vocation, there’s always intrigue amongst those who seek greater status or an increase in power. My sister’s focus is on healing, though, not moving up the ranks.”

Toren slipped his arm around Ria’s waist, the sudden contact startling her—then soothing. “Summon Mery, then,” he said, his voice a low rumble beside her ear. “Both of you may wait outside the doors until one of us calls for you.”

Brows drawing down, Sir Macoe hesitated, clearly loath to leave his post.

Mehl stepped up to Toren’s other side. “I am here to keep guard, and six elite bodyguards are shielding the royal entrance behind the thrones. Your presence on this side of the doors will hardly make a difference.”

A muscle in the captain’s cheek twitched, but he bowed. “Very well.”

Once Sir Macoe exited, Ria cast an uncertain glance at Toren, then Mehl. What now? She already knew that Toren wanted to work on changing the inheritance law, but unless he’d discovered something he’d yet to share, he still didn’t know how it was done. None of them did. Were they supposed to experiment with something so important?

Toren spun her to face him, sweeping her up to claim her mouth for an unexpected kiss. For a moment, she let herself sink into him. Let herself enjoy the merging. He tasted of hope and despair, love and fear. Or so she imagined. Maybe it was in the tight way his fingers gripped her waist or the way his lips clung to hers when their mouths parted.

Maybe it was the frenetic pulse of his energy around them even when she leaned back in his arms. “I’m sorry,” she said.

His brow furrowed. “For what?”

“Nothing I did,” she quickly replied. “But it grieves me that you’ve gone through so much. You’re a good king who does not deserve this. You continue to look after your people faithfully, though many would have abused such a store of power when facing so many challenges.”

Smiling down at her, he brushed a stray hair from her cheek. “Somehow, you and Mehl both have more faith in me than I do. It’s impossible to be certain what is right. How can I be sure I won’t abuse that power still?”

“Because we know you,” Mehl said, pressing himself against their husband’s back. His hand slipped around Toren’s waist. It came to rest between Toren and Ria, but not to separate. Mehl’s knuckle rubbed a gentle circle against Ria’s stomach, and he smiled at her over Toren’s shoulder. “And because the three of us will work together in this. We’ll provide balance.”

Wordlessly, Ria nodded.

“Provided we can determine what to do,” Toren grumbled, though his tone was softer with it.

“I have faith that we will,” Mehl replied.

Mehl eased away from them a little reluctantly, but he didn’t hesitate to move once he was free. She and Toren both watched as their husband took measured paces around the massive throne room. This time, it was no restless ambling born of frustration or worry. This was an examination. But what was he looking for? The description of the original spell hadn’t given a location, much less any kind of identifying details.

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