Page 81 of Winds of Darkness

When no silver-haired beauty followed her.

The silver hawk swooped into the room through the balcony doors, gliding to the back of a chair where she perched. Large, round eyes stared at him, her beak clicking in admonition. As if he should already be somewhere else.

He took a step closer, reaching out a hand to slide his fingers over soft feathers. “Where is she?”

Her head tipped to the side, examining him, and even after allthis time, he still had to force himself not to fidget under the spirit animal’s scrutiny.

“Is she with the winds?” He paused for a beat, then added, “Or at the Citadel?”

Nasima let out a screech at that, her wings flaring out before nestling against her body once more.

It was all he needed.

“Thank you,” he said with a small bow of his head.

He moved to grab a cloak, the northern part of the continent experiencing the harsh winter months right now, as he debated where to portal to. Her rooms were where he usually went, but he doubted she was there. It was late, so there shouldn’t be many roaming the Citadel, but their relationship was still a secret. If anyone other than Sion, Renly, or Ermir spotted him, he would need to explain the presence of another Court’s prince sneaking around in the midnight hours.

He was still debating when Nasima let out another loud screech, the cry grating to his ears. Clearly, the time for weighing his options was over.

Summoning a water portal, he stepped into Ashtine’s quarters, finding them empty as expected. He moved quietly through the bedchamber, pausing to listen for a beat, before continuing to the sitting room.

Renly quickly pushed to his feet from where he’d been seated in an armchair, relief visible as he took in the prince. “Nasima found you then,” he greeted.

The worry Briar had been feeling increased tenfold at the words. It had been ages since they’d had to intervene and send Nasima to him. “What is wrong? Where is she?”

“Nothing is wrong yet,” Renly said. “But it is a pattern we recognize.”

“Where is she?” he repeated again, unable to keep the low growl from his voice.

“In the catacombs. Her usual room. Take the back stairs. You won’t be seen,” Renly answered. “Sion will meet you there to admit you into the libraries.”

Briar was already moving, having traversed the hidden stairwells with Ashtine numerous times at this point.

“Prince Drayce,” Renly called after him, and Briar paused, looking over his shoulder. “Noelle reported she has not eaten today.”

Godsdammit.

“Send food down. I’ll see to it,” Briar replied, already moving once more.

His steps were quick as he descended the stairs all the way to the catacombs, and he found Sion in the hall, just as Renly had said. Not even the usual sentinels stood their guard at this door tonight.

“Prince,” Sion said with a nod of his head. “Everyone is in bed. You shouldn’t encounter anyone else,” he continued, letting his magic identify him as he pushed open the heavy doors to allow him entry.

“Thank you, Sion,” Briar replied. “Renly is having food prepared and sent.”

“Noted.”

Then he was rushing through the shelves and stacks of books until he came to the nondescript door. He knocked twice before pushing it open, Ashtine having murmured a distracted response.

And there she was, sitting on the edge of that worn plush sofa, books and scrolls scattered around her. Feet in wool socks. A cold cup of tea off to the side and an uneaten meal in the corner. She didn’t even look up as she turned the page of a book, and then seemed to compare it to something on the scroll.

“It’s cold here, my dear,” he said, leaning back against the closed door and smiling as she jumped at the sound of his voice. “It’s why we agreed to meet in my Court tonight.”

“Briar,” she breathed, rushing to stand, then stilling to look helplessly around at all the texts scattered about. “I am late?”

“Only by a few hours,” he replied with a wink.

“That cannot be true.”