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“He is the Lord of Calladira, enemy to you and Palenor,” Layala said. “At the time, everyone thought your father was dead. He’d likely want it to know how to destroy you so he could take Palenor for himself.”

Thane’s mouth twisted into a frown. “He almost did.” He drained his ale in a few seconds and slammed the mug down loudly on the table. “Of all people, that little prick. A bloody thorn in my side… and yet he knew what to use to poison me. Had the blade ready when I came. As if he already knew I would be there…” He tapped his fingers rhythmically on the wood. The tension lining his face was like a dark storm brewing.

“You’re alive though. He didn’t succeed.”

Thane pushed his shoulders back. “Didn’t he though? There are more ways than one to destroy a person. I have no kingdom, no crown. I had my mate bond ripped from me. And what am I now but a wanted criminal on the run from his father? I would say that High King Thane has thoroughly been destroyed, dead or not.”

Layala placed a gentle hand on his bouncing leg. “We’ll get your kingdom back. And all that has happened can’t be because of Brunard. It was my fault you were there in the first place.”

Kail’s mug scraped on the table, drawing their attention. “If I may offer my input. From what I’ve read about the legend of the All Seeing Stone, it doesn’t know the future because the future’s not set in stone,” he raised a finger with a smirk, “pun intended. So it’s technically notAll Seeing. Besides, I hear it takes a mage to make it work. Last I checked, he isn’t one.”

“So,” Layala started. “It should be able to tell us how to end the curse of the Void and the pale ones right?”

He tilted his head to one side. “Yes, if it’s even possible.”

“Thank you, Kail,” Thane said. He turned to Layala. “I guess we have no other choice than to go to Brunard and hope that he does have it.”

“On a positive note.” Layala took another drink. The ale began to go to her head now. A tingle through her limbs and a lightness in her chest. “We can get payback for what he did to you. That prick has no idea what a mistake he made that day.”

Thane smiled, showing off his pretty white teeth. “Vicious, she-elf.”

Light picks on a guitar and a steady drum of the tambourine lifted her toes. Under the table, Layala tapped her boots, and slowly bobbed her head. Didn’t she promise Thane a dance? A couple others in the room took to the floor; a male with curling ram horns and one of the maiden elves at Alisara’s table circled and laughed below the stage. A single man clapped and stamped a foot. A very loud and boisterous man hopped up on his chair and started singing, “Oh the pretty lass with a fine ass,” and most of the room started in. Layala giggled, having never heard the tune before.

“If this is your mate...”

Layala turned her attention back to the elf across from her. The hairs on the back of her neck rose. Could Alisara or Kail have already alerted someone? After Aldrich, it was difficult to trust.

Kail’s eyes roamed across Layala with some trepidation. “Is she the reason you’re on the run?”

Thane lifted a shoulder and took a piece of cheese off the plate. “We’re on the run because I failed to kill my father properly months ago. A mistake I won’t make a second time.” He appeared calm enough but the way he bounced his leg under the table told her a different story.

Kail’s eyebrows shot up. “You—it was you who almost killed him? Now I’m curious how that went awry. I don’t know anyone who’s gone up against the Warrior King and lived to tell the tale.”

Thane’s piercing green eyes dropped to the tabletop. Chest rising and falling in a sigh, he grabbed a handful of green grapes and shrugged.

“Will you dance with me?” Layala blurted out to distract Thane so he wouldn’t have to relive the details. He’d once regretted he fed his father to pale ones and now, he regretted that it hadn’t worked properly. Tenebris didn’t have to say it for her to know that Mathekis must have stepped in after Thane sent him into the Void. Either that or he’d commanded that his minions didn’t touch the elf king. An oversight Thane should have taken into consideration knowing that his father was in communication with the pale one’s leader.

“How could I ever say no?”

They slid out of the booth, leaving Kail with a grin on his face. Layala held Thane’s hand behind her back and led him through the rowdy, singing crowd. Mugs in hands crashed into each other, spilling over the sides onto the floor. Her boots traipsed over small puddles and the stench of fresh ale pierced her nose. She stifled a cough as the cloud of pipe smoke thickened in this area. She wasn’t used to it anymore. In many ways this place reminded her of the Smoky Dragon in Briar Hollow. She just missed the good company her childhood home offered. They reached the clearing for dancing below the stage and Layala spun on her heel and faced Thane. He smiled at her with soft eyes. He took hold of her wrists and tugged her flat against him. Gentle hands slid down her back.

He leaned down to her ear and gripped her hips. “I never got to dance with you in Doonafell that night.”

“Well, maybe because you ignored me and danced with a host of other beautiful maidens. I was incredibly jealous. I’ll have you know.”

His deep, midnight chuckle sent shivers down her body. “Oh, I certainly know. I felt your raging jealousy. Like a wild boar ready to spear me. I’m surprised I survived the night.”

“Don’t act like you weren’t jealous I gave that boy a kiss on the cheek.”

“You used him like a pawn, naughty girl.”

“And you didn’t use the maidens? You knew exactly what you were doing.” She pushed her hands up his chest, hooking them around his neck.

His smile could have lit up the room. “I would never do such a thing.”

“Liar.”

“I may have danced with them, but it is you that dominates my every thought. You are the fire that burns inside me and without it, I’d surely die.”