Page 79 of The Rat King
I reached over and padded his wrist. “No need to worry, Leviticus. I won’t force you to disclose the king’s whereabouts to me. He will tell me when he returns.” I offered him a smile. His features visibly softened and his grip on his knife relaxed.
We finished eating, and then each took a page of requests. Leviticus passed out pens, and the three of us made quick work, approving or denying our guest’s wishes, and sorting them into categories so they could be delegated to the proper attendants.
After we finished, out of habit I found myself wondering in the direction of my old room. Nervous energy danced through me as I changed directions and went in search of the dark suite that belonged to my husband—us now.
The thought of slipping into his bed, surrounding myself with his glorious scent was delicious and as I used a soft cotton cloth to remove my this-plane makeup, I wondered if he would appear at some point in the night.
That was when I noticed what looked like a folded notecard propped against the mirror hanging above the vanity in the bathroom. In a scrawling script the name Samara Wrede was stamped on the outside of the elegant stationary. I suspected this letter arrived via her magic. How interesting. Had she always communicated with him this way? I couldn’t stop myself. I had it in my hands and was breaking the wax seal before I could think better of it.
My dearest Nighval,
Word has come to me that to celebrate your perseverance, you’ve planned an elaborate reception and nearly half of Ras alhague will be in attendance. I want to offer you my congratulations because I must assume that you’ve managed to win the witch’s heart once again. And in such a short time. When I informed you of her flight in the Wildwood, the hopeless stricken expression on your face was almost more than I could bear, but I knew you could do it.
My heart guttered as I read the words. The proof of the damage I’d done and in front of her of all people. The sudden overwhelming guilt made me nauseous, but I kept reading.
You have not mentioned this during our dinners, and I wish for you to know I welcome you to bring these troubles to your mother in the future. Or better yet, bring her. Please consider this my formal invitation. I’m already going to feel quite foolish meeting my daughter-in-law for the first time at your wedding reception. But I do understand the whirlwind of a new love.
Goddess, this woman was laying it on thick. If I didn’t know the history and that she was the bitch who’d cursed an entire plane, I’d have read this and thought she was a doting mother. Fortunately, I did understand her character and how ruthless she could be.
One final thing, son. I’m sure you can imagine my shock as with each passing day, I sort through my correspondence, and realize I’ve received none from you. I imagined as the architect of your love story, I’d have been at the top of your guest list, so I’ll make another assumption—and allow you to correct this oversight. I know you and your new bride would never dream of offending your mother.
With all my love, S.W.
I stood there clenching the note in my hand as dread sluiced through my mind. That was a threat. Samara wanted to come to the reception, expected an invite, and I knew what Nighval was going to say. Absolutely not. Apparently, he wisely had omitted it from any conversation during the few visits he’d had with her since we broke the curse.
As I folded the letter, I walked back into the bedroom and placed it on my nightstand, eyeing it warily in hopes that the magic that had deposited it in our bathroom wasn’t going to whisk it away in the same manner before I got a chance to show it to Nighval.
I crawled in bed, running through excuse after excuse. They all were some elaborate version of,No, you can’t come because you’re completely unhinged,which wasn’t really going to work. Eventually, with all the thinking, it seemed I’d tired myself out because I awoke sometime in the night to find the other half of our bed empty. In the sliver of moonlight creeping in through the break in the curtains, I made out the impression of the note still lying on the nightstand. I sank back into the covers, willing my thoughts to drift away from tomorrow’s problems as my husband’s scent surrounded me, lulling me into deep, fitful sleep.
Chapter 56
Avery
ByThursdayafternoon,Istill hadn’t seen my husband and his absence was becoming an acute ache in my chest. I only now realized that we hadn’t gone this long without seeing each other. Even when I had been upset with him and he with me, we had seen each other every day. Otherwise, every task this week had gone according to plan.
Well, except for the note burning a hole in my pocket as it had done the last several days. There was nothing for it. Even if I had known what to say, I had no idea how to get a message to her. I thought of bringing it up to Jetta, but I didn’t suspect she’d have more of a clue than I did, and I wasn’t sure how Nighval would feel about me sharing.
Leviticus was an advisor on the council, so I figured he was safe to tell, but with our history, I didn’t trust him completely yet. So, I resorted to carrying it on my person, in hopes that Nighval would return home or I’d bump into another warlock and they would get a message to him.
Moments earlier, Jetta escorted a team of florists out of the garden, leaving me with a rare break, which I took. Blushing roses were in full bloom, and their sweet scent wafted through the air as I walked down the rows. The sun was out and hanging in the sky-high overhead. Moisture beaded across my forehead, and I gathered my hair. Twisting it, I secured it with a clip I fished out of my pocket. I had become acclimated in the last year to the cool air, and it seems since the curse had been broken, it was becoming progressively warmer, which I loved. I missed the balmy air of Miami.
I lifted my arm, lamenting the faded gold of my skin. When I’d come here, it was a rich, warm color, but had faded somewhat being out of the sun and my usual tan lines I had year-round were nearly faded. I had half a mind to go back to my room, find something I could fashion into a makeshift bathing suit, slip it on and then go float in one of the fountains. I held my arms out to the sun, closing my eyes as I stared up at it, enjoying the warmth it gave me. I could only imagine the reputation I would get if I did such a thing. But I suppose I could play the role of a mad queen. It would probably amuse my husband.
I stood there like that for a long while until my skin became warm. That meant enough sun. The last thing I needed was to be a glowing terra-cotta for my reception. Or worse, get a funky tan line. I noted the little building where Nighval, and I sat and read one afternoon, what seemed to be a lifetime ago. The sun was at just the right angle that the bench would be in the shade right now, and I made a beeline to it.
I sat and leaned against the cool stone wall and enjoyed the passing bees and butterflies, and the birds chirping throughout the garden. It was so beautiful here, and as I watched Ravsted be transformed, knowing that I was a part of it, sent a warm wave of joy through my chest. I wondered what I would do when I finished my work. I mean, on the one hand, I would be living in one of those old castles that in my plane were no longer residences, but turned into museums, or art galleries. It was a far cry from my condo, and as I sat in the shade, I realized it was the first time that I didn’t mind it. Sure, there were some things here that were still circa 1800s, like the outdated modes of transportation, and the lack of modern plumbing in some of the inns that I had been to. At least the castle had been outfitted with that little bit of modernity.
But I wasn’t a scientist, or mechanic, or whatever other profession would be needed to bring Ras alhague into the future. I was queen though, and I knew what was possible. And somehow the warlocks were able to transfer things between planes occasionally, so perhaps there were things I could do to make this plane a better place. A sense of rightness flooded over me as I sat with my thoughts until gravel crunching somewhere behind me drew my awareness into the present.
Chapter 57
Nighval
Averyliftedherarmsand face to the sun to bask in its warmth, and I stood there for long moments, taking in her beauty. It had been a rough few weeks keeping myself away from her, then reconciling, and then having to be away so soon after.
When she moved behind the garden hut, I stepped to the corner, so I remained out of sight. “Do you remember the last time we were here?” I asked her.
“You didn’t want me to see you,” she said, her melodic voice drifting around the corner, and I followed it.
