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But she would keep it with her always.

Early morning light gilded the streets when Ria began the walk to the palace again. Many of the food shops were already busy, but the full crowds wouldn’t be out for another hour or two when the rest of the stores opened. It was a relief in more ways than one, for there were fewer people who might offer a greeting. Like Enry. Thankfully, the dye merchant’s shop was closed up tight.

Ria hurried her steps anyway lest Enry spot her through the window. He would want to know what had happened with the poison. Had she found it? When was she going to use it? But no matter how much she appreciated his help, she didn’t want to talk about what had happened at the palace. Even she didn’t know how to explain everything.

She walked between the open gates and did her best to blend with the nobles walking in small clusters along the path to the main entrance. Today, she’d donned a dress abandoned by a lady who’d decided she disliked the color, and she’d braided and pinned her hair up with a string of gemstones pilfered from their stock of dress trimmings.

No,Ria reminded herself.My stock.

It wasn’t theft if it was hers, and she wouldn’t claim to be a noble if the guards stopped her. But she hoped they wouldn’t. The kings would hear court petitions this morning, so with any luck, she would blend in easily with the increased numbers entering the gates. It would be harder to notice differences amidst so many.

As Ria passed through the gardens and neared the inner gate, she increased her speed until she was behind a group of four ladies. They chattered on, not seeming to notice her presence, and Ria tipped her chin up proudly as they neared the guards. Though one of the two guards frowned at her, his concerns must not have been enough to stop her. In moments, she was through.

Ria followed her unwilling hosts all the way through the courtyard and into the palace receiving room, but she didn’t dare stick too close here. They would notice her lingering for sure. In any case, the guards in this room appeared more bored than anything. Vigilant, of course, but not with the same intensity as those outside.

Now, she just had to see if she could make it into the throne room.

Chapter5

Into the Fire

Toren could barely focus on the inane stream of requests brought in endless procession. There was less than another hour of this, and then they would deliver any official pronouncements. Today, the decree concerning Belak would be read again for the court and a date set for the official hearing and final punishment. Mehl had suggested they summon Ria for the decree, but Toren had refused.

Both of them knew why.

He half-listened to a lordling’s petty complaint about his neighbor’s choice of garden flowers while his mind replayed Mehl’s words from the night before.She wouldn’t crumple beneath your power if you lost control. You’re taken with her, too, and that scares you. Admit it.And it was true—all of it.

“If it pleases your majesties, I would like to request another color flower be planted to better harmonize with—”

“No,” Toren interrupted, no longer able to listen to the foolish man. “Your neighbor is not obligated to match his garden to your preferred paint color, and you waste our time by coming to demand it.”

The man’s skin reddened all the way to the tip of his pointed ears. “I did not intend to do so, my king. I merely thought you might like our streets to be well-regarded in light of any alliance you might form.”

Toren had to fight off the insane urge to toss his crown across the room and walk out, never to be seen again. He took a deep breath and reminded himself that he loved his people. Most of the time. Unfortunately, many of the courtiers who’d appeared this week had brought forth superficial problems, a poorly disguised attempt to bring noble ladies to his attention—or, like the current nobleman, to use Toren’s need for a breeding alliance to further their own goals.

As usual, Mehl saved him. “No alliances can be formed with anyone who disapproves of our kingdom in all its variety.”

“Yes, of course, Your Majesty,” the lord mumbled, his disappointment palpable.

Not just because of the flowers, if Toren had to guess. The court had grown increasingly impatient for an announcement about a possible breeding alliance, either a contract signed or a search begun. He would have to find someone soon or suffer more coy flirtations and faux problems. There would no doubt be more of each, considering the line of supplicants lined up all the way to the door. With less than an hour left, getting through them all was beginning to seem impossible.

He listened to two more forgettable, pointless problems—missing hair ribbons and lost pets, truly?—before his thoughts began to drift again. Perhaps he and Mehl should consider a formal, public search for a woman willing to carry an heir, one that gave all citizens a chance. He stifled a snort.Chance.King or no, Toren would hardly be a blessing to be around, especially if he lost control.

Of course, he now had to find another tailor to create new ceremonial robes, one more bother he could have done without.

When the next courtier stepped away from the dais, Mehl leaned close. “What’s wrong, love?”

“I can’t…”

A commotion began at the throne room door as a woman’s startled yelp sounded. Nobles shifted to see the cause, giving Toren a clear view. Beside the herald, a guard gripped a lady’s arm—harshly, if he wasn’t mistaken. Toren’s brows lowered. He’d signaled a halt to new petitioners, not commanded harm to any who requested an audience.

Mehl’s hand closed around Toren’s. “Is that Ria?”

Toren found himself standing, and at the motion, the entire court lowered in a wave to their knees. It was the best thing they’d done all morning, for it provided no distractions for his regard. And he saw at once that Mehl was correct. The lady was dressed more elaborately than she had been the night before, almost like a courtier, but it was undeniably Ria.

“What is the meaning of this disturbance?” Toren snapped, his voice carrying like a whip across the crowd.

For the first time, the guard seemed to notice that Toren—and Mehl, apparently—had stood. He knelt at once, forcing Ria down with him until her knees cracked against the stone floor. At her whimper of pain, Toren’s hands balled into fists. The guard would pay for that.