Page 9 of Queen of the Crimson Throne (Queen of Blood and Stardust #2)

9

LENNOX

I had to give it to Luka, I didn’t anticipate he’d go to such lengths to avoid me. The morning after my arrival when Krissa delivered my breakfast she had a note from Luka for me. The letter was short and to the point. He had business to attend to out of town, he would be back in a week or two. I was surprised after our conversation the night before. Well, conversation was a stretch, after he talked to me through the door, I thought he’d constantly try to get me to talk to him, to figure things out. I didn’t expect he’d leave so abruptly. It made things easy for me at least. All of the planning for our engagement ball was left to me. Not that I liked planning balls, but I was glad at least I didn’t have to do it with Luka by my side and pretend everything was fine between us.

And it gave me time to mull over King Arlo’s proposition.

He hadn’t had time to meet with me again, but he had sent word promising we would soon. He wanted me to spend some time with Luka first and figure out how I might go about things. He seemed as surprised by Luka’s last-minute trip as I was.

I spent my mornings training, before taking various meetings in the afternoons. Some days it was ball prep, other days I met with various members of the Blood Court. Although my trip here was for mine and Luka’s engagement party, I was using it as a political trip as well. If I was going to spend time in the Blood Court I was going to make connections. If I was going to be tied to this court I wanted to know everything. I had expected to get pushback but was met with little. Most were eager to accept my invitations. During my evenings I surveyed the libraries, scouring over books detailing the history of the Blood Court. Some days Nico pulled me from the library and forced me to have dinner with him. Occasionally, Declan joined us, but it felt weird when it was the three of us. The lack of a specific person was felt more when it was the three of us. It wasn’t as present when it was only me and Nico.

I hoped the arrival of Kara today would help ease that strain. Although with how things had been between Kara and I before I left, I doubted her arrival would ease any tensions. It would be a lot harder to avoid her here.

Last night when Nico had brought up Kara’s impending arrival he assumed I would be excited. Declan and I shared a strained look that confused Nico even further. Instead of explaining I promptly left.

I’m sure Declan filled him in after.

Now, we all stood awkwardly in the grand hall, surrounded by a group of vampires as we waited for my sister’s arrival.

Kara walked through the double doors, flanked by two guards on each side. She was dressed in her leathers, the fabric stretching around her full hips and thighs. Her golden hair was braided in a coronet with several pieces having ripped loose from riding.

“Your Highness!” Warren boomed, in the same way he had during my arrival, “Welcome to the Blood Court!”

“Thank you.” My sister smiled sweetly, her eyes roamed around the room until they locked on mine. Her eyes drifted to the males on either side of me, her brows pinching before she fixed her expression. “I’m happy to be here. ”

“Little Adair!” Nico boomed as he stepped toward my sister. When had he come up with these nicknames for everyone?

A full smile bloomed over her face as she moved to embrace Nico, wrapping her arms around him as he lifted her into the air. She squealed before he placed her back on the ground.

“Kara.” Declan’s voice had a joyful lit to it, causing my brows to lift slightly.

“Declan.” Kara smiled as she looked over the harpy before pulling him in for a hug. Declan stiffened as my sister wrapped her arms around him, his wings twitching before he gently put his arms around her.

“It’s good to see you,” he said.

“It’s good to see you too.” She bumped him gently on the shoulder, and he smiled as she turned towards me.

“Lennox.”

“Kara.” Both of our voices were strained as we appraised one another.

We reached for each other at the same time, moving awkwardly into a hug, our bodies stiff as we embraced. I’d never shared such an awkward hug with my sister.

Nico coughed as we pulled apart, sharing a look with Declan.

I glared at him in response.

He smirked at me before turning to Kara. “Shall we escort you to your rooms, little Adair?” He bowed dramatically as he held out his arm to Kara.

“Lead the way, little Nico.” She looped her arm through his.

Nico gasped. “ Little? ” He put a hand on his chest dramatically. “I assure you there is nothing little about me, Kara Adair.”

Declan and I followed behind Nico and Kara as we ascended the stairs to her room, a couple of hallways from my own .

We all followed inside, taking a spot in the sitting room that led out onto the balcony.

Kara looked around the room, the layout similar to my own only mirrored facing the opposite side of the palace.

“So what have I missed since I last saw you all? And since my sister’s arrival?”

“Not much,” Declan mumbled.

“You got that right,” Nico huffed. “Luka’s been looking for Astria’s spellbook non-stop, which kept the three of us busy until Lennox arrived last week, and then the bastard decided to go out on his own.”

Kara narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean? Luka’s not here?”

Declan shook his head. “He left the day after Lennox arrived.”

“He left?” she asked again. I shifted in my seat as she turned her attention to me. “Did you even see him at all before he left?”

I swallowed. “Yeah. We saw each other briefly.”

“How brief is briefly?” There was a vicious lilt to her tone that made me sit up straighter in my chair.

“That’s none of your business,”

“Maybe it’s not, but I want to know.” She looked at Nico and Declan. “I’ll find out one way or another.”

I glared at Nico. “Don’t you fucking dare.”

His eyes widened as he looked between me and my sister. “What the fuck happened between the two of you?”

Kara gave me a pointed look. “You’d have to ask her.” Her expression softened slightly. “We might not be speaking currently, but I am a good sister. I don’t spill my sister’s secrets.”

Nico opened his mouth but shut it, the room turning quiet as Kara and I stared at each other.

It was Kara who broke the silence. “So who’s going to tell me how brief was brief?”

Nico sighed. “They saw each other in the hallway. Lennox shut the door on him and he talked to her through the door. ”

Kara’s gaze swung to me, she opened her mouth but closed it, remaining quiet for several moments before finally deciding to speak. “So when is Your Highness returning?”