“I’m very glad to hear it.” She walked a slow circle around him. For the first moment in his life, he felt as if a predator was eyeing him for weaknesses.
He’d never felt like prey before.
“I need to journey to the road camp in the Forbidden Mountains to see Xanthus,” he said. “I need to speak with him, for him to show me what he’s doing, to assure me that all is progressing with the road as it should. Messages sent by raven are not enough to reassure me.”
“No, you must not go. You must remain here.”
“Why?”
Her brows drew together, her exquisite face growing very serious. “I do not wish to worry you, but . . . if you leave the confines of your palace, your prophecy is forfeit. There are countless dangers and many currently wish you dead. I promised you immortality, my king, but only if you stay secure while our plans solidify.”
He stared at her, shocked, for a long, silent moment. This was precisely what he’d feared. “So I’m to stay here, locked up, like a child that must be protected from potential dangers?”
Something unpleasant flashed through her eyes. “Imprisonment is a state I am very familiar with, my king. Believe me, your confinement will be much briefer than mine has been. If you must learn more of the road, and if you won’t take my word for such things, you can send someone you trust in your place to speak with Xanthus.”
But Gaius trusted no one.
No one—except for his children. Except for his son.
“I will send Magnus,” he said firmly. He hated that he couldn’t leave, but he didn’t doubt her warning. His mortal life was fragile, as everyone’s was. He was too close to what he wanted to risk his neck to a rebel’s blade. “When he returns from the wedding tour and joins the hunt for the rebel leader, I will have him inspect the road camp in the mountains and speak with Xanthus. He will be my official representative.”
“Very good. I hope the prince proves his worth to you on this quest,” Melenia purred. “I know you’ve had some difficulties with him.”
“I’m hard on him because I know he needs a firm hand. He’s at a difficult time in his life. But, despite some resistance, he has proven himself to me again and again. He will not let me down.”
“Yes, send your son to find the answers to reassure you. We are closer than you think.”
He clasped her face between his hands, a gentle touch now when before he was rough. She didn’t pull away as he drew her closer to kiss her. Her mouth was as sweet and warm as it would be in the waking world.
When this was all over, when he had the Kindred in his possession and was an immortal god free to journey wherever he pleased, he looked forward to discovering how pleasurable it would be to kill the woman he now embraced.
By then, he would have no use for a queen.
CHAPTER 27
MAGNUS
LIMEROS
Magnus had come to regret summoning Nicolo Cassian to ease the princess’s suffering on the wedding tour. The boy despised him, blamed him for his sister’s death, and would gleefully shove a sharp blade into him the moment his back was turned.
Nic’s palpable animosity had shot up even more during the last days of the tour after the unplanned kiss on the balcony. It was jealousy, pure and simple. Clearly, the boy imagined himself in love with the princess.
This, if nothing else, could prove an amusement.
“Beautiful, isn’t she?” Magnus said casually to Nic the morning they were set to begin the journey back to Auranos. Cleo climbed aboard one of the carriages, assisted by a guard.
“She is,” Nic hissed.
He had to wonder if Cleo had shared any details of their unconsummated union with her friend. That would be deeply unwise of her. “With every day that passes I realize how lucky I am to have such a creature to share my life with. So cool and innocent on the surface, yet so passionate in our private moments. Insatiable, really.” Magnus smiled at the guard. “Apologies, Nic. I shouldn’t discuss such things with a mere servant, should I?”
Nic’s face reddened to nearly the color of both his hair and his uniform. For a moment, Magnus was certain the top of his head would erupt like a volcano.
Very amusing, indeed.
Then Nic spoke loud enough for only Magnus to hear.
“Know this much, your highness. She’ll hate you forever for what you did to Theon.”
Magnus’s amusement fell away and he turned a glare of warning on Nic, but the guard had already stalked toward the carriages.
The late spring thaw had quickly set in, one that swept away some of the snow and ice for a precious couple of months here in western Limeros before everything froze over again. As Magnus stepped aboard the carriage, he noticed that he’d crushed a small purple wildflower that had managed to struggle through the remaining frost. He stared at the decimated spot of color with dismay before a guard closed the door, shutting off his view of it.