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The servants’ door creaked open and a maid walked in, wearing a black dress with a white apron. Katana had seen her once, whispering to another maid in the hallway about how she swore Thane’s cousin was sleeping in the same bed as Layala and what a scandal it was. The other one questioned whether or not that could be true.

She had flashbacks of her own servants whispering about Atlanta’s latest fling and howloudthe pair were making love. Her cheeks flamed, and the chair legs scraped against the floor as Katana pushed back. Before she even thought about the consequences, she dropped onto Thane’s lap and wrapped her arms around his neck.

His big hands clamped around her waist and she felt his heartbeat pick up speed.

Leaning in, she whispered, “Well, we can just give them something else to gossip about.”

His stiff posture relaxed, and he brushed her blonde hair behind her ear, playing into it. “Only problems I like.” His touch tickled and sent a tingle down her spine. The maid had stopped halfway to the table, eyes wide. “Give us the room,” he said, keeping his eyes on her. She quickly followed his command.

Katana smiled. “Do you think she will go tell the others the High King is sitting in the dining hall with a new, scantily-clad lady?”

“Certainly.”

“I hope that does not bother you.”

He let out a low laugh. “I think you might have made my day actually. As much as I care for them, Hel and Val, and know it’s right they are together… It was easier when they were gone. Layala was betrothed to me since birth.”

“That was your father’s arrangement I am guessing.”

“Yes.”

“And what if you told people you made your own choice, and the relationship was not in either of your best interests?” Katana slowly kicked her feet as they hung over the edge of the chair’s armrest. “You could always tell them the truth.”

“That she is a goddess reborn, and I was once a god of Runevale? The gods were forgotten here long ago. The elves aren’t ready to hear it.”

“The council will bring war soon and they will have no choice but to be ready.”

He half smiled and let out a long breath, closing his eyes. It was as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. He shouldn’t have to worry about petty gossip among servants in the castle when his people’s lives were at stake.

“They won’t believe it,” he whispered.

The door burst open, and a beautiful elven maiden glided into the room. Her heels tapped lightly, her lush red gown trailed behind her in an overstated train. Brown curls tumbled down her back in an extravagant style. She paused halfway to the table, hands clasped before her and glared at Katana. “Thane, who is this trollop?”

He sighed and sat back against the chair but kept his hands around Katana’s waist. “Hello, Mother.”

Chapter 10

THANE

Thane kept hold of Katana as he brought them both to stand. First gossip from the servants and now this. If he didn’t have duties and powerful people that wanted him dead, he’d simply go take Phantom out for a long ride and not return for weeks.

His mother, Queen Orlandia, had come back from their manor in Brightheart a few weeks after Valeen and Hel had left to Ryvengaard. She had many questions, and he had answered them as best as he could. His mother accepted that Hel was the Black Mage and Layala had left with him without so much as a flinch. He’d once suspected she knew Tenebris had made a deal with Hel long ago in regard to Valeen, but that confirmed it. She’d known all along and was only too happy they had left. Maybe she never liked Layala because she was looking out for him, maybe she knew it wouldn’t end well when the Black Mage returned.

And he hadn’t heard the end of her complaints for the last two days. Sure, she was overjoyed that Thane, Piper, and Leif had returned so soon, but not that Valeen or Hel or the dragons were here. Although Varlett hadn’t made an appearance sincethey returned. As much as he hated her, it would be better for her to remain close so they could keep an eye on her.

“I wouldn’t call the goddess of day a trollop, Mother.”

Orlandia took a half step back, face pinched in a sour expression. “The what?”

“You heard.”

Her cheeks puffed as a slow breath parted her lips. “I swear you’re only doing this to get back at me. All this talk of gods and portals to other realms… is it to punish me for not telling you the truth about your father’s deal with you know who? I don’t understand why”—she looked around and lowered her voice—“heis back here. How are we supposed to keep this all under wraps?”

“Hel is my cousin and that’s all anyone knows. I kept it under wraps fine while you were in Brightheart.”

“Your cousin.” She pressed her lips together and her already rouged cheeks reddened. “I carried you in my womb. I birthed you. I held you in my arms and watched you grow and yet you want to have me believe you are the god of war? I know you are special and always have been, but that Layala is a goddess reborn and this maiden you have hanging all over you is… It’s too much, dear. It’s?—”

“I don’t know how else to explain it,” he snapped. Rehashing this same conversation and her acting like he had lost his rationality was getting old. Thane held out his arm to Katana. She wrapped her hands around his elbow, and they started for the door. “I have to go north.”