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Except now it did. Things were getting worse. The storms raged more viciously. Goblins, orcs, and other brutal races of fae attacked villages or travelers for food and other supplies. I’d been part of a party attacked by goblins, and the one I’d caught in my sleigh had said as much. They starved because Winter’s Realm was squeezing them at the necks.

“I see,” I drew the words out. “And you said this involves someone we allied with? Who?” I had an idea but wanted the truth out in the open.

“Lord Riis.” Vale confirmed my thoughts. “Though I don’t see it, Father has reasons to suspect him. And he’s not the only one. My father suspects Lord Balik and Roar as well.”

Roar, well, I understood that line of thought. He’d fled the castle in the middle of an obligatory festival. In doing so, he’d defied the king’s orders.

“Lord Balik? I haven’t met him, only some of his children.”

“Many regard him as the most honorable of the lords and ladies of the Sacred Eight. I can’t say I agree with my father’s call on this one.”

“But you can with Roar and Lord Riis?”

Vale paused before nodding. “Roar, certainly. Lord Riis, well, he is the spymaster. He’s cunning and adept at hiding things. And while he wasn’t a lord at the time of the rebellion, he was a wealthy merchant. Those who didn’t know better could have perceived him as a lord. Someone like an orc.” He blew out a breath. “I think we should trust him, and I’d like to tell him that the king suspects he is acting oddly. But at the same time, I want to keep an eye on Lord Riis.”

With the words in Queen Revna’s diary fresh in my mind, I couldn’t help but agree.

Chapter 17

VALE

Iwoke to the tantalizing scent of smoked vanilla and the weight of a delicate hand on my chest. My heart gave a hard thump as I twisted to find Neve cuddled up against me. I blinked. We’d fallen asleep on our sides of the bed, which was large enough to fit five people.

Not that I minded her being so close, but I wasn’t sure she’d like waking up as such.

I shifted and became painfully aware of howlittleI minded. My cock stood at attention. Blazing moon.

We’d said no physical intimacy, and considering the odd circumstances we were in, I still thought that was wise. My body, however, was calling me a prized idiot.

Neve was all luscious curves that begged to be stroked, cupped, gripped. Her sensual lips and enchanting eyes never failed to steal my attention from whatever I was supposed to be paying attention to. Then there was her personality, which I found warm, kind, and charming. Most of the time anyway.

I chuckled at the memory of her “beating” me in training. She’d been so pleased at winning by technicality. And the way she’d looked at me before she whacked me with her practice sword . . .

My cock twitched at the memory of that sultry violet gaze and her heaving bosom. By the Fates and stars above, maybe I was an idiot for not pursuing something physical. I was sure we both wanted to, but I couldn’t break my promise.

Slowly, I slipped out from under her hand, hoping not to wake her, even as I missed the feel of her soft curves pressed up against me. We had plans to train again this morning, but at the very least I’d take care of myneedsbefore I woke her.

Unfortunately, the moment I rose to sit and shifted to put my feet on the ground, the bed creaked.

Neve’s eyes flew open, and her lips curled up. “Morning. Is it late?”

I cleared my throat, relieved that the tent in my sleeping pants was hidden.

“Still early,” I said, guessing by how the sunlight filtered in through the window. “You can continue resting.”

“I feel great!” She rose to sit, her breasts bouncing with the movement.

I placed a hand over my groin and stifled a groan.

“I’m ready to beat your arse again today.” Neve stretched luxuriously. “What do you?—”

A knock came at the door. “Prince Vale! A message!”

Bleeding skies! This had to be a joke.

“From whom?” I knew it had to be someone important and persuasive if the Clawsguard on duty was knocking at this hour.

“Sian Balik,” the knight called. “He claimed you’d be up for training. Shall I come in and deliver it?”