Page 74

“You do not,” Toren said tightly, “But interrogating a prisoner is no simple, everyday matter.”

Ria shrugged. “I’m the one she abducted. Who else has more right?”

Toren’s mouth pinched closed at that.

“She has a point,” Mehl finally said.

“Indeed?” Toren’s eyes narrowed. “And who was it who threw off their overrobe and charged out of here like a madman?”

The question was delivered like it was supposed to be a revelation, but Ria wasn’t at all surprised. It was exactly the kind of thing Mehl would do.

“I didn’t know if she was properly guarded,” Mehl said, defensiveness creeping into his tone.

Silence fell around them, only her sigh disturbing it. Did she really have the right to be upset? Discovering Tes’s secrets was important, but it wasn’t Ria’s job. Perhaps her annoyance was born of her desire to prove useful. To do something besides wait to produce an heir. She hardly minded the latter, but the former might grant her more…permanence?

A foolish hope.

With a shake of her head, Ria turned back to Toren. She was merely exhausted, and that turned every annoyance into a life-changing problem. As the rest of her anger drained away, she lowered her arms to her sides. Maybe she simply needed time to herself—if she could manage it. The kings hadn’t wanted to let her out of their sight earlier.

“We need to figure out some solution to this.” Ria gestured between them with the words. “I can’t stay with you every moment of every day, and neither of you need to be charging after me constantly. Surely, you don’t have to chase me down each time I leave your presence.”

Toren cleared his throat. “As Mehl said, we didn’t know you were properly guarded at first. And after last night… Even after I’d checked with Macoe, I needed to see for myself that you were safe.”

Tenderness squeezed her heart, but Ria couldn’t bear for him to consider her so imprudent. “I’m not a fool. My entire life has been one of caution, and I have no plans to forget that now. In fact, I’ll probably keep my new toy with me,” she said, tapping her hand on the hilt of the dagger she’d stuck in her belt.

Eyes flashing, Toren strode toward her, only stopping when he was in arm’s reach. “I do not consider you foolish.”

“Then assign me bodyguards, but grant me enough respect to choose where I go.” Her hand itched to rest against his chest, but his visible anger kept her from moving closer. “After Tes’s little trick, I’ll be cautious around nearly everyone.”

Toren eased closer until she could feel the warmth radiating from his skin, and when he bent down, his breath caressed her lips. “I vow to see you so safe here that you never need think about knives or bodyguards. It is galling that I have failed to do so already.”

She gave into temptation and lifted her hand to his chest. “Is there true safety anywhere?”

“Maybe not.” Toren’s nostrils flared. “But Mehl and I will do our best to provide it to you and our children.”

Our children.

He had to mean his and Mehl’s with whatever consorts they might choose to take over the coming centuries. She didn’t dare to hope otherwise. Ria was hardly special—not to anyone.

Mehl approached, stopping beside her and Toren. “That is so. You know I would see the both of you safe above all, and I will do no less for any children.”

Why was her mouth so dry? Her tongue felt too thick to function, and her mind scrambled to find words. Her fingers flexed helplessly against Toren’s chest. Why couldn’t she think of something to say?

“We are too intense,” Mehl said softly.

“No,” Ria managed. They were perfect—so why would they have such tender protectiveness towardher?“I…”

Toren’s eyes went unfocused for a moment. Then his muscles went rigid beneath her hand a moment before he cursed. Ria’s heart skipped a beat.

“What is it?” Mehl asked.

“I just heard from Macoe.” The barest shiver vibrated from him into her palm. “Lord Aony was already on his way back to the palace before our orders reached the soldiers trailing his group. They have a body tied to one of the horses, and one of our warriors heard them mentioning the princess. Unfortunately, he couldn’t make out enough to say why without breaking his cover.”

Ria gasped. “Could they have encountered another messenger? Oh, but a body…”

Pulling away from her and Mehl, Toren began to pace. Ria stood frozen, uncertain whether she should try to soothe him or leave altogether. Neither king would blame her for returning to her room to sleep while they dealt with the crisis. She was consort, not queen. But her feet wouldn’t budge.

As she straightened her spine, Ria caught Mehl’s gaze on her. “What can I do?” she asked.