Page 147 of Winds of Ruin
A new ache sprouted in my chest. If they didn’t know, then that meant El had protected him that night.
“They saved me,” I said. “The two of them got to me just in time. As for the part about their being wed, I only learned that at the start of our tour. Lark has known Dritan was the heir of the North Corridor for far longer. You’ll need to speak with her about it—when your heads are level.”
Krait slumped and sat on the edge of the stage. The castle had put half of the sconces out. I couldn’t tell if the shadows around him stemmed from the dim lighting or his turmoil.
“Who thought having a child at this age was wise?” he grumbled.
Sybilla smirked. “Did you think any child of ours was going to beeasyto raise?”
Krait glanced my way. “Send our daughter home. I suspect she’s holed up at the estate in Belray. We’ll speak with herandyour son... civilly in the morning. And tell El she’s got a lot of explaining to do.”
I flexed my hand at my side. “Do you know where she went?”
“No,” Sybilla said and winced. “But I fear El’s behavior tonight might have been my fault.”
Sources,what had she done? I knew something had happened between turning my wildflower to putty and watching her leave on the arm of another as if none of it had mattered at all.
Krait’s interest piqued. “What behavior?”
“You truly didn’t notice? She was out of sorts—acting like the old El,” she answered.
“Old El?” he questioned.
Syb rolled her eyes.
I swallowed hard—what Lark had said rang true. I’d suspected something had triggered El’s shift in mood. “What happened?” I asked, interrupting their bickering.
Sybilla sighed. “I made a comment that upset her, and she resorted to chugging my wine and quitting her role as your advisor, rather than fighting about it. I haven’t seen her that way in decades.”
I stilled.
Quitting her role as my advisor?
No.
“What did you say to her?” It came out harsher than I’d intended, and the room grew a touch darker. So the Shadowswerecoming from Krait. I wouldn’t be scared off by him—not when his wife had gone meddling in my business. Again.
Sybilla’s arms hung at her sides. “I simply told her I didn’t see the two of you together.And that she’d ‘eat your heart out.’”
Krait ran a hand down his face. “Sources, Sybilla.” His tone was laced with irritation. He was an unlikely ally in my exasperation.
The blood pumped hot in my veins, and my jaw tightened. I’d been mad at Sybilla Wymark plenty of times. She’d been dishonest with me for years, she’d lied to me about my lineage, she’d chosen another.
I could forgive her for most of it.
But if this ruined my chances of even vying for Elsedora’s love? She would find no forgiveness.
“Thatis not for you to judge. You do not get to weigh in on matters of my heart,” I growled out. “Do you understand?”
Sybilla nodded with wide eyes. For once, she actually looked sorry.
“What you do or don’t ‘see’ is not a concern of mine. You spoke out of line.” I clenched and unclenched my fists. “And you hurt her.”
The last part landed like a blow to Sybilla’s stomach. She hunched with a hand placed at her neck—a nervous tell. She knew she stood in the wrong here.
Krait sighed before he cut in, “Unfortunately, I can see it. The two of you.”
My head tilted as I tried to understand how the Sahlms’ King, who’d once loathed me, could imagine me and his dearest friend together when even Sybilla could not.
