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Chapter Sixteen

TANYL

A s I’d promised Sylvie, the sun rose the next morning. And we both slipped into our roles, crowns on our heads and duty like weights around our necks.

But I fulfilled an unspoken promise too. When Crispin called a Council meeting to discuss the Scarrok attack, I asked Sylvie to accompany me.

“Are you serious?” she breathed, her expression girlish and heartbreaking in its mix of shock, disbelief, and excitement.

I tucked her arm in mine. “Very. But your brother is even more obnoxious in meetings than he is over dinner. You’ve been warned.”

She smothered a laugh. “You never eat dinner with Crispin.”

“Because I’d stab him.” I leaned close and pecked her cheek. “We don’t keep knives in the Council chamber. The temptation is too great. You’ll see soon enough.”

The meeting was as boring and tedious as any other, but Sylvie thrived, even offering her opinion a time or two. I took her to the next meeting. And the next.

And a rift between us healed. I wasn’t going to think too hard about what happened the next time the Scarrok attacked.

But they didn’t, and Storm’s Hollow quickly settled back into a routine, everyone resuming their duties.

Briar was the most dutiful of all, returning to his bed and his prayers. He took his meals in his chamber, said the Hours in the temple, and ventured to the stable once a day to look after his horse. If he was aware I’d given an order to stop him from saddling it, he kept it to himself.

He became a ghost in the castle, visible only in glimpses and flashes. When I sought him in his chamber, the guards said he’d gone to the river. When I went to the river, he’d already returned to the castle. It was as if the sex never happened.

“He’s avoiding us,” Sylvie said one night as we lay tangled in the sheets. She’d pillowed her head on my chest, and she traced the edge of my sigils with her fingertip. “You don’t think he’s planning to leave, do you?”

“I posted guards. He won’t get far if he tries.”

She propped herself on one elbow, her hair silver in the moonlight. “You need to talk to him, Tanyl.”

I sighed, closing my eyes against the truth in her words. And I ignored the worry that had plagued me since Briar walked away at the River Gate.

What if he leaves?

Sylvie touched my jaw, forcing my gaze to hers. “Talk to him.”

“I don’t know what to say,” I said honestly.

She smiled. “I’m not sure I believe that. I’ve never known you to be at a loss for words, especially when you want something.”

And just like that, my gorgeous, forgiving wife put an idea in my head. Rolling her under me, I slid a knee between her thighs, and I kissed her with the curtain of my hair around us. When I pulled back, we were both breathless.

“This is an unjust world. Do you know how I know?”

She frowned. “How?”

“Because I don’t deserve you. But the gods gave you to me anyway.” Reaching down, I notched my dick against her entrance, and we both groaned as I pushed inside her. “And you better believe I’m keeping you.”

The next morning, I followed Sylvie’s advice. It took a few days to put my plan in motion, but I was patient, maneuvering servants and supplies. And three days after I spoke with Sylvie, a small army of servants knocked on Briar’s door just before Eura and announced they were there to clean.

Be thorough, I’d told them.

The commotion reached me as I sipped lyssop by the fire in my apartments. Smiling, I waited ten minutes and then made my way to the temple.

Briar hovered on the threshold, his shoulders tight as he watched Sylvie kneeling in prayer before the altar. The first rays of sunlight gilded the thick, pearl-colored braids that wreathed her head. She was alone.

Also my doing. Father Aegor had looked skeptical when I said I wanted privacy to ask Perun for a special blessing, but he’d brightened when I suggested he use the time to explore my father’s wine cellar.

Briar turned as I stepped behind him and leaned against the doorway. If he was surprised to see me, he didn’t show it.

“Your Grace,” he said quietly.

“Good morning,” I said. “Perun protect you, Sir Briar.” I touched my forehead and lips in a lazy motion.

His mouth tightened. Which, of course, tightened my dick.

Sylvie turned from the altar, and her soft gasp echoed through the space. Rising, she moved toward us in a rustle of silk.

“I’m glad you’re both here,” I said, raising my voice as I kept my gaze on Briar. “The horses are ready. We’ll leave at once.”

A frown formed between Briar’s eyes. “What are you talking about?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“Tanyl?” Sylvie reached my side, her expression mirroring Briar’s. “What kind of surprise?”

I made my voice patient. “If I told you, Beauty, that would ruin the surprise.”

Pink tinged her cheeks, and she darted a look around the temple like she worried someone might overhear us. Stepping closer, she gave me a stern look. “What do you mean, we’re leaving at once?”

“Did you not hear what I just said about surprises?”

Briar shook his head. “I don’t know what this is about, but?—”

“You’re going,” I said, straightening from the doorway. “And if you fight me on this, I’ll throw you in the dungeon.”

He attempted a glower, but it didn’t quite land. I hid a smile as I took Sylvie’s elbow and guided her to him. Some of his bravado faded when I brushed a knuckle over his cheek.

“You were right,” I said softly. “At Storm’s Hollow, the three of us are king, queen, and priest. So we’ll go somewhere else. Just for today.” I looked at Sylvie, who watched me with a mix of wariness and wonder in her eyes. “We’ll be someone else.”

“Who?” Briar asked.

I turned back to him. And this time, I didn’t hide my smile. “No one.”