Page 160 of Dance of Kings and Thieves

Bracken sighed. “Then, the only other punishment I can think of is the deadly kind.”

Saga’s face blanched, but so did Ari’s.

He was being cornered. True, this might be a game to Bracken, but even if the fae king did not realize it, he was manipulating the ambassador. I knew Ari enough to know he would not watch a woman be slaughtered if he could stop it, even if he disliked her.

No mistake, Bracken knew the same thing.

After a moment, all Ari could manage was, “Fine. Do it.”

Before anyone could say another word, the old wrinkled fae went to Saga’s side and performed an incantation, binding Saga Korsson to Ari.

Another game. Another jest.

Ari was furious. The playful man I knew was barely keeping rage buried beneath the surface. Valen went to his ambassador and whispered something.

Ari glared at Saga. She glared back at him in return.

“Doesn’t seem fair,” Malin said. “The way Ari looks, it’s like this is a punishment for him too.”

“If he wishes it, we’ll work with Niklas. Perhaps we can find a way to sever the connection.”

Malin seemed appeased at that. I studied Saga, eyes narrowed. Like Astrid, she kept hidden fears inside. But more than anything, fear of Ari Sekundär was there. Why?

Silently, I marked her too. I’d keep watch, shadowed sentinels for Ari. I might be viewed as a king now, but I never lost sight of my marks.

* * *

Alone at long last,I held Malin to my chest in our bed. We did not plan to reside entirely at the Black Palace. Already plans were being made to restore Felstad.

I wanted the haven to remain open for the Kryv, for Falkyns. A trade post and fort of sorts. We could return often, but it would be a place where Niklas could have his books and goods transferred. It could be a place where Alvers and thieves could go, unafraid.

Hob and Inge had already agreed to be the lord and lady of the trade. They would live in the trees, raising their littles, and haggling with traders as they’d always done.

“I can’t believe we’re here,” Malin whispered. She drew small circles on my bare chest. “It seems like this has always been my dream, but I was too afraid to truly dream it.”

I cupped a hand around her face, pulling her lips close to mine. “We can dream any dream, Mallie. Of good kings and gods’ magic.”

She smiled. “Of places where we are not hunted or afraid.”

“You have always been my dream, Malin,” I said. “You have always been my light in the darkness. No one will take it from us now.”

“To the Otherworld and back, Kase.” She closed her eyes. “I will love you to the Otherworld and back.”

I pulled her mouth to mine. A rush of heated emotion took me as I clung to her body. No scheme on the horizon. No bribe or trick. From the girl in the hayloft who stole my boyish heart, to the queen who owned my very soul.

She was mine.

She always would be, and I would certainly always be hers.

THE AMBASSADOR

The Eastern Kingdomwas packed from shore to shore with folk I valued, respected, and considered my family. My people.

Even still, I could not pack my bags to leave this bleeding place fast enough.

There was a constant thrum of fire in my blood. A need to move. To speak. The few nights we’d spent drinking ourselves dumb had been pleasant. A revel I would store away in my mind and cling to when days were dull. But as always, the fire returned. There was more to do, more tasks to accomplish, more protections to secure around the people I loved most. I grew uneasy when I was stagnate.

But now the usual excitement, the typical burn of new adventure was absent.