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“You know you can’t protect me from everything,” she said softly.

Ber cupped her face in his hands. “You can at least wait until we know your father is out of the secret passages.”

“I’m worried about the undertones of that note.” And she truly was.One that must cause my retreat, the note had said. If Selesta was being literal about leaving, there wasn’t time to waste. “You can’t deny that we have to investigate her meaning. I’ll be careful to follow the little-known paths.”

His palms slid down to her shoulders as he shook his head. “Stay in our bedroom. You can lock the door in case any of the king’s maids attempt to enter without permission again. Then when I’ve verified that your father is safely at dinner…”

“We can’t let her disappear,” Tes said. “Where will I hide if he’s tearing the palace apart for—”

Ber’s lips covered hers, cutting off her words, and his fingers clenched over her shoulders as though to hold her in place. Tes gripped his tunic and lifted onto her toes. Though she returnedthe kiss, she pushed at him, too, trying to force him back. He only pressed her against the wall more firmly with his hips, drawing a moan from her at the feel of his hardness.

No. I can’t let him distract me this time.

His thumbs slid down, tweaking her hardened nipples almost roughly. She yelped at the pleasure-pain that flashed through her at the touch—and her cry must have indicated the mix, for Ber jerked back to study her. “What’s wrong?”

“With my milk drying up, I’m sensitive.” As if summoned by the thought, wetness dampened the fabric as a tiny bit of milk released. Her face heated, and she swatted his hands away. “Now see what you’ve done?”

His eyes flashed with emotion as he stared at the damp cloth. “You should be nursing our child at your leisure, not worrying over a madman.”

Tes longed to soften against him, but it wasn’t what either of them needed. “Unfortunately, I don’t have that luxury. And now, I need to clean up, so I suppose you’ll get your way. At least temporarily. As soon as I’ve fixed my dress, I’ll go.”

“I wasn’t—”

The crash of the door slamming into the wall smothered his words. Before Tes could get a glimpse of what had happened, Ber had her tucked against his chest until all she could see was his tunic—and the frantic leap of his pulse at the base of his neck. But she didn’t have to question why. Ryenil’s energy swept in only moments before his voice reached them.

“Unhand her at once, or die,” the king snarled. “If you’ve dared to defile Lady Selesta, your torment will be unending.”

Ber glanced over his shoulder. “Selesta isn’t here.”

“You dare—” Ryenil’s voice cut off sharply at the exact moment his energy collided with Tes’s. “No. Impossible.”

Tes pushed at her husband again, finally catching him unaware enough to force him back. With a warning glare, sheslipped from his hold and stepped around him. His muttered curse was buried beneath the gasps from the guards and the clank of armor as most sank to one knee. She eyed the remaining two bodyguards until they lowered with the others.

“Hello, Father,” Tes said.

The color leached from his skin as he stared at her. With horror, of course. No amazement or joy. No love. He’d formed a new plan with Lady Selesta, and he would see his daughter as a threat to that. Tes ignored the little twist of pain in her heart.

“No,” Ryenil said again. “Aony delivered your corpse here. There was a funeral.”

Naturally, he sounded disappointed. What else had she expected? “I know nothing about that. I was abandoned in Llyalia without resources, and I’ve spent months making my way back here. I surprised Ber, I’m afraid.”

Ryenil strode closer. “Where’s the babe?”

Another response she should have expected. “Lost in my distress.”

“Sad news, indeed,” Ber said, his hand closing around hers as he shifted to stand beside her. “But my wife’s survival is the greatest miracle.”

“You’ve plotted against me,” the king snarled. “Is that it?”

Would he kill her now, and Ber, too? Tes wiped her damp palm against her skirt. “Of course not, Father. I wanted to share the news about our child in private. Before we came to find you.”

Her father’s gaze scoured her, his fury burning like a flame as he inspected her. She held her breath. There was no way he could deny her identity, not after examining her energy. But he appeared to be more concerned with her physical state—for reasons that became obvious when his attention locked on her bodice.

“You’re lying.”

Tes bit the inside of her cheek to stop the angry curse screaming through her. Those two tell-tale milk stains could be her undoing. “It was late term, and my milk still—”

“Silence,” Ryenil shouted. Before she could react, his hand darted up, closing around her throat. “Where is the child?”