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Regardless, it stung. She tried not to think of the abrupt change in her circumstances as she sat beside the window and watched the rush of people below. This room was situated above and to the side of the back entrance, so her observations were confined mostly to deliveries and dinner preparation—not exactly the best distraction.

Based on the baskets just carried in, freshly roasted vegetables were on someone’s menu tonight. Too bad she had no idea if it was hers.

Would she dine with the servants? The kings? Alone in her room? Perhaps she would be forgotten entirely, as Feref clearly hoped. The man had given her no instructions on what to do. She had no clue if it was safe to leave her chamber or if she wassupposedto leave when she needed something. A chambermaid wouldn’t wait to be served, after all.

It wasn’t that she minded attending to herself. She was accustomed to that. But—

The door swung open, and just like that, the kings stormed through. Ria leapt to her feet out of instinct, but the raw fury on Toren’s face locked her body with fear. Even Mehl’s jaw was set with anger, his eyes flashing with it. Hadshedone something wrong? She’d only followed Feref’s directions, but she might have misunderstood. She was the stranger here, not him.

Abruptly, Mehl halted, and his hand darted out to grip the High King’s arm. “Toren, stop.”

Toren glared at his husband. “What?”

“Look at her,” Mehl said, then leaned close to whisper in Toren’s ear.

Either his voice was too low, or her heartbeat drummed too loudly in her ears, but Ria couldn’t hear what was said. Whatever it was, Toren’s expression blanked for a moment before dismay crossed his face. He went still, even his posture relaxing.

“Forgive me for scaring you, Ria,” Toren said softly. “My anger was not for you.”

She pressed her palm against her breastbone and inhaled through her nose. Once her frenzied heartbeat slowed to normal, she nodded. “I didn’t know what I was supposed to do, so I’ve just been…here. Waiting. I thought I’d chosen wrongly.”

Toren’s jaw clenched. “You should be in your room upstairs.”

“Oh.” Her palm dug into her chest until it stung. “I only did what—”

“Feref is to blame,” Mehl interrupted with a quick, frustrated glance at his husband. “Toren didn’t mean to imply it was you. We came to bring you back upstairs. Please?”

The tension unwound from her muscles until she nearly slumped. Whatever had led to her move here, they hadn’t forgotten her. Ria didn’t know what shape her life would take in the coming days, but with the kings, she could truly find out. How could she refuse Mehl’s quiet request?

But then, she was coming to fear she’d accept any invitation from these two.

“First to our room,” Toren said tightly.

Heat replaced the chill of fear.

Especiallyan invitation like that.

Chapter14

Coaxing

Under any other circumstances, Ria would have laughed at the spectacle their passage through the servants’ quarters caused. Even in the middle of the afternoon when most were working, the hallways were fairly busy with people passing through as they changed tasks. Or in this case, freezing like statues at the sight of the kings before dropping hastily to their knees. Toren’s expression twisted with frustration each time he had to gesture for them to rise.

Eventually, he halted beside one of the women, her lined face revealing her great age. Even fae with human blood lived unchanging for millennia. “Margil, please stand. You would not do this in the palace proper, or no work would get done. None of you would. Why now?”

The woman wobbled on her feet as she rose, and Ria’s eyes widened when Toren held out a hand for her to grip. Surprisingly, Margil did so. With a grateful smile, the woman regained her balance and patted the High King’s arm lightly. Then she took a small step back.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Margil said. “As for the other? It is unprecedented for you and your husband to walk these halls. That’s why.”

A hint of softness lightened Toren’s eyes. “Is that so? I seem to recall racing down this very corridor more than once in my youth. Someone who looked much like you kept chasing me away from the kitchens.”

“Curious, that.” Margil smiled slyly. “I’ll have to seek my face sister, Your Majesty. I was unaware another resembled me so closely.”

Ria couldn’t help but stare at the High King as he asked after the woman’s family. Did Toren know the names of everyone who worked in the castle? Surely not. Considered to be fair but firm, he was a powerful king whose rule was obeyed without question. Even so, she’d never heard rumors suggesting this level of kindness.

“Would you please ensure that word of this doesn’t travel to the outsiders from Centoi?” At her nod, Toren smiled. “Also, I would greatly appreciate it if you would precede us and ask the other servants to cease these displays. I wish to return Lady Ria to her proper room without delay, but I did not intend to cause such a disruption in the process.”

Margil bowed. “Of course, High King Toren. I would be pleased to give aid.”