Page 33 of Daughter of the Drowned Empire

The Imperator snorted, as if this was unnecessary and frivolous, but nodded. “Of course, the Lady Lyriana must uphold her upstanding reputation while in prison. But please do not pull yourbestsoturi off duty for such a small task.”

“All of my soturi are what I consider the best.” Aemon glared at the Imperator, who offered a banal smile. “For tonight, we’ll send in the guard we agreed upon.”

Guard? Someone from Ka Kormac? Ka Batavia? Not an actual Shadow, I hoped.

“Lyriana,” said my father. “Me bat.”

I could hear the unspoken words.Be strong. I nodded, willing no more tears to fall.

The corridor emptied, and I returned to the bed. It was hard against my back, and the blanket itched. My palm stung where Kolaya had cut me, but I refused to move until I heard a single set of footsteps outside my cell. My new guard had arrived. A male.

Fear slithered over me, but I sensed no malice in his aura. I didn’t see the silver armor of Ka Kormac nor the gold of Ka Batavia as he stepped out of the shadows. The soturion wore plain black armor and boots. His energy reached me first, not quite cold, but cool.

Rhyan.

CHAPTER NINE

THEBARSCUTshadowsacross Rhyan’s face. Moonlight crowned his head with bronzed curls and silvered the scar slicing through his left eye.

“Look at what trouble you’ve gotten us into now, partner.” He looked up and down the hall. “Not what I expected for the youngest Batavia’s Revelation Ceremony.” At my silence, he continued, “I saw Lord Grey rushing out of here.” He leaned in conspiratorially. “You might not know this, but he seemed quite upset.”

“Of course, he’s upset,” I snapped.

“Personally, I’d avoid assisting in the arrest of my almost-fiancée, but that’s me.”

“You would be joking at a time like this.Partner.” I shook my head. “Why the fuck did they send you?”

“Fuck? You must be serious. Well then let me assure you, none of this is a joke to me.” He examined his fingernails, flicking off a piece of dirt, and shrugged. “But as to why I’m here? Your father refused a guard from Ka Kormac. The Imperator denied a guard from Ka Batavia—fearing they’d attempt to free you or some other nonsense, since you refused to go home. Luckily, I was a neutral party.”

“Right, send the forsworn.”

He stiffened, his good eyebrow raised. “This may be a surprise to you, but forsworn these days are quite modern. We actually prefer it when you use our real names. It’s Rhyan.”

“Then stop calling me ‘partner.’ It’s Lady Lyriana! Or your grace.” I shook my head. “Why should I trust what you’re saying when you didn’t even swear?”

He stalked toward my bars. “Who said you should trust me?” he purred.

“Forget it, talking to you is a waste of breath.”

“Because I’m forsworn? Or do you hold some other grudge against me?”

I folded my arms across my chest, shaking. I was suddenly so cold.

“If you don’t tell me, I can’t apologize or make it right. And if you’re just prejudiced against forsworn, then you’re like everyone else in the Empire.”

I scoffed. “I took you with me today, didn’t I? So clearly I’m not prejudiced.”

“Aren’t you, though?” he asked.

“I’m not!” I snapped. “It’s you. You’re impossible. You have to make everything so much more difficult. And for the record,” I said, voice dripping with sarcasm, “you were a real prince today when I risked everything to pull you out of the street.”

“Lady Lyriana,” he said slowly, “your grace.” He held his hands up in surrender, ducking his head like I was a wild animal. “Just as I’m not a lord, I’m also not a prince.”

“If I could throw something at you, I would. Plus, you lied about calling me partner.”

He scratched his chin. “If memory serves, you lied. I assume for Lord Grey’s delicate feelings. I simply went along with it. You’re welcome.”

“Forget it. Forget I said anything. It doesn’t matter.” I turned away.