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She nodded. “For what it’s worth, I truly thought I was helping.”

He believed her. Even so, he glanced toward Mehl. “The oathbinding?”

“There is no strain on the spell,” Mehl replied. “She told the truth.”

It should have been a relief, but like Ria’s touch on his shoulders, it did nothing to ease the ragged stone lodged in his gut. Would the painful weight ever be lifted? He didn’t dare hope for it.

“I suppose we need only settle on a way to interject you into the household, at the very least until your child is safely born,” Toren said.

“Yes,” Tes agreed. The hard gleam in her eyes suggested that her revenge would follow that blessed event with remarkable swiftness.

Toren would be more than willing to help her.

Chapter38

Clarification

The walk back to their bedroom seemed to drag on forever—or perhaps it was Mehl’s mood. He’d expected some sense of closure after learning Tes’s story, but in a way, it was almost the opposite. Rather than settled, matters felt incomplete, and overriding it all was a looming sense of foreboding. Ber wasn’t through with them, challenge or no.

Of that Mehl had no doubt.

The princess needed to be secured quickly—but carefully. As such, Toren had ordered the healer to escort Tes back to her cell in the dungeon. It hadn’t felt right to Mehl to house the princess there, but if Tes disappeared from their prison right before Ria gained a companion, the truth would be obvious to anyone with sense—and no few without it.

Once Toren had made an afternoon appointment with the head of the palace mages and Mehl had given Feref several orders to carry out, they’d decided to get some rest. Gods knew they deserved an hour or two of sleep after such an intense morning. Ria shuffled along on Toren’s other side, her steps dragging, and for once, Toren’s energy was merely annoying rather than borderline dangerous despite so much turmoil.

Even a couple of the courtiers they passed showed a glimmer of worry at the sad sight they made.

At least Feref would see some of their plans put into action while they rested. Once Tes—in the guise of Ria’s kinswoman—penned a letter to Ria, Feref would ensure it was anonymously delivered to the tailor’s shop. The guards stationed there to protect Ria’s store would forward it to the castle without knowing the origin, lending authenticity. Within hours of their rest, she should be able to read and respond.

Tomorrow would bring the feigned execution that would allow them to smuggle Tes from the castle to a safe location. Sir Macoe and two trusted bodyguards would see to the task with the aid of an illusion spell. Then after a week or two, she could reappear as Ria’s relative, a genteel merchant’s widow seeking companionship during her confinement. It wasn’t a perfect plan, but with luck, there wouldn’t be any problems.

Maybe that was the source of his uneasiness—the need for luck.

“Mehl?”

At the sound of Toren’s voice, Mehl pushed his musings aside. “Yes?”

“You seem…distracted.” Toren’s brows lowered. “It isn’t like you, at least not when we’re outside the safety of our rooms.”

Ria glanced at Toren. “We’re all tired. A little distraction sounds normal.”

Mehl smiled at her automatic defense, unnecessary though it was. “I was deep in thought, but I was still aware of our surroundings. We’re one turn from the family wing. Our bodyguard is trailing at a respectable distance, and approximately fifteen courtiers have gawked at us since we’ve left your office.”

Ria’s eyes widened, but Toren chuckled softly. “I see I was mistaken, love.”

“Not entirely,” Mehl countered. “I didn’t get an exact count of the courtiers.”

As they turned down their private corridor, his husband’s chuckle deepened into a laugh loud enough to startle the guard stationed beside the wall. Mehl’s heart melted at the sound, as welcome as rain falling on water-starved ground. Truly, there hadn’t been enough cause for humor of late.

When they reached Ria’s door, she halted, her hand settling gently against the wood. Her solemn expression suggested that their moment of happiness was about to come to an abrupt end. At Mehl’s side, Toren fell quiet.

“I’m sorry to ask, but now that our intruder has been soundly caught and the mystery of her solved…” Ria’s words trailed off. Then she licked her lips nervously before squaring her shoulders. “Would you prefer I sleep in my own room now? I will understand if that is the case.”

Mehl caught a low, quickly stifled growl from Toren, but his husband didn’t speak. He appeared to be too busy grinding his teeth together. “Is thatyourpreference?” Mehl asked for them both.

Ria’s gaze shifted to the floor, and this time, it was her teeth that worried her lip. “You are the kings here, and married at that. I’m mostly a temporary necessity for you, easily forgotten. Maybe it isn’t wise for me to consider my own desires.”

Mehl’s chest squeezed. To think that she believed them so cold toward her….