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Uneasy glances passed around the room like fire over dry brush, a hint of fear left in their wake. Mehl was no empath, but the silent worry building in the room made the spot between his shoulder blades itch. Especially when a few of those looks were cast toward Ria. He would like to believe the courtiers were too rational to blame Ria, but he was all too aware of what fear did to logic.

“Toren,”he sent to his husband.

“I see it,”Toren answered at once.“Make note of any whose suspicion lingers.”

His husband continued his proclamation in a hard-edged tone. “I have reason to believe my brother is ultimately responsible. He would do anything to establish his dark rule here, including deceive the royal family of Centoi. He will most certainly attempt to interfere with my breeding contract. As such, I will expect each of you to guard Lady Ria as you would me or King Mehl. My brother must be stopped at all costs.”

Mehl scanned the crowd, noting the bows of acknowledgement but also the tight, false smiles. As at dinner last night, he could see that some would obey more readily than others. Fortunately, they were to receive more exacting instructions to counter any loose interpretations of Toren’s orders.

After the courtiers’ movements had ceased once more, Mehl finally spoke. “Further directives will be sent to the head of each noble family by the end of the day, but it is expected that all nobles will encourage calm amongst the citizens. Any caught spreading false rumors will be dealt with harshly.”

Their proclamations delivered, Toren and Mehl resumed their seats. Usually, the courtiers stood rather quickly, but today, it was an uneven and hesitant rise. Mehl’s hand settled on the dagger he’d hidden beneath his formal robe as he studied each face again, looking for signs of potential conflict. Most still appeared concerned or afraid, but a few had a hint of calculation in their eyes.

The power hungry always bore watching.

Feref stepped forward from his place beside the dais and unwound the long, traditional scroll used for formal announcements. But as the man began to read, Mehl found he couldn’t sink into his normal half-listening state. Something was building. The source of his uneasiness wasn’t likely to appear so soon, but he couldn’t cease searching.

Had he missed something? That itchy feeling between his shoulder blades increased until it crept up the back of his neck, and his hand twitched against his hidden dagger. Why? None of the courtiers appeared threatening.

But when the door opened and a messenger in Centoi livery stumbled through, he understood.

Chapter31

Mixed Messages

As the newcomer staggered into the room, his appearance sent a chill down Toren’s spine. The messenger’s livery was rumpled and dirty, and sweat trickled down his face in dusty lines. His stiff, awkward walk spoke of a hard ride—a sleepless one, if the dark circles beneath his eyes were any indication. It was highly unlikely that he’d been with the envoys who’d left the day before, for they were still too close for him to have ridden this hard.

Two guards stepped forward to block the messenger’s advance, but the nobles lining the carpet leading up to the throne shifted farther back. They’d apparently taken his words seriously. Perhaps too much so. Toren knew from long experience that the threat the messenger posed was far from physical.

Hismessageheld the real danger.

Toren beat back his own exhaustion, lest it ring in his voice. “Allow him forward.”

The guards parted, and the messenger shuffled his way up the carpet in what felt like an eternal march. Beside Toren, Mehl leaned forward ever so slightly, and if Toren wasn’t mistaken, his husband’s hand rested on the knife he’d strapped to his thigh before donning his robe. Though against tradition, Toren hadn’t said a word. Not after yesterday. With this new potential threat, he was doubly grateful.

When the messenger drew near enough, he lowered into a deep bow. His body swayed like a tree branch in the wind—but an insecure one. The slightest motion might send him toppling to the ground.

“Rise,” Toren said quickly.

The messenger straightened in ridiculously slow degrees, but Toren made no comment. Gratitude crossed the man’s face. “Forgive my intrusion, Your Majesties. I come bearing an urgent message.”

Toren tensed. “Then deliver it.”

Inclining his head, the messenger spoke. “King Ryenil Breren the Mighty, Sovereign of the Kingdom of Centoi requests the aid of all allies in this most difficult time, the abduction of his daughter, Princess Lora Etessa Breren, the Jewel of Centoi and Heir to King Ryenil of Centoi.”

“Her abduction?” The earlier chill settled into Toren’s bones. One way or another, Ber was almost certainly involved. “When and how was she taken?”

“Some three weeks prior, she disappeared from her chambers. The king ordered the entire kingdom searched, and when that yielded nothing, we messengers were sent forth. Both the king and her betrothed, Prince Ber, are distraught as they await her return.” The man paused, a flush returning color to his cheeks. “Announcements about that happy event had not yet been sent out, Your Majesty. Forgive me for the clumsily delivered news of your brother’s betrothal.”

He thought the betrothal hadn’t been announced? Something was very, very wrong. Toren exchanged a frowning glance with Mehl before focusing his gaze on the messenger.

“That is curious,” Toren drawled. “Just yesterday, a formal envoy from Centoi arrived, and word of Princess Lora’s and Prince Ber’s betrothal was delivered by Lord Aony. The group departed from here in the evening, but one of their contingent remained behind to attempt harm on the royal family. Yet you claim that no announcements have even been made? Someone is clearly lying.”

Fear etched lines on the messenger’s face, and he frantically shook his head. “It could not have been Lord Aony, Your Majesty. He’s in the north, preparing his estate for the impending winter. He sent an official missive in response to the king’s demand that his lands be searched. The magic of such a document could not be feigned.”

It was true that if the duke used a magical seal similar to Toren’s that the message was unlikely to have been forged—but did it have to be? If Ber and Princess Lora had drawn Lord Aony into some plot, he could have penned the note in advance of meeting with the “missing” princess. But why?

One possibility came immediately to mind—Ber wanted to frame Toren for the supposed abduction. It wouldn’t be difficult if the princess was discovered in his dungeon. Fortunately, no one else in the palace knew her identity. If that was discovered before they figured out what was going on, though…