Page 175 of Shadow Queen
That seemed to pacify her, and she turned and stepped into the side sitting room. He followed. She took a seat in the chair by the fire, where it appeared she’d been sitting before he’d arrived, and she picked up a mug of steaming tea from the small side table.
“Salar thinks you’ve ridden for the North,” he told her.
She took a drink of her tea.
He let out a breath as he sank into the chair on the opposite side of the fireplace. “This isn’t him, Salara. This man isn’t him.”
“I can’t live like this, Soren.”
A pit seeded itself in his stomach. “Are you thinking of leaving?”
She took another drink of tea from her cup. Her silence worried him.
“Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live a life in a place where no one knew your name?” she asked finally. “Where no one wanted anything from you. No expectations, no burdens. Where you could simply love and be loved.”
“No,” he said. He had never wanted any other life than the one he had now.
She smiled sadly. “I envy you,” she whispered.
“Are you going back to the North?” he pressed.
She stared into the flames of the fire.
The pit in his stomach grew. She couldn’t leave. She couldn’t go back to the North. It would destroy Mikael.
But she shook her head. “No, but I think I’ll stay here awhile.”
He let out a long breath. That, perhaps, was a wise idea. The hillside house was quiet, and safe. And it was not the North.
“Will you tell Mikael?” she asked.
He nodded.
“And have my maids come tomorrow? I’d like some company.” She bit her bottom lip, thinking. “No guards.”
“Salara,” he objected. “I can’t leave you in a house alone in the countryside, even if it is a safe house.”
“I have Cohen.”
That was true, and the boy was as good as two or three soldiers. But that still wasn’t enough. “Let me send Adrian and the girl.”
She pursed her lips together. “Fine.”
“And Bhastian,” he added.
“No one else.”
“Kiran?”
“I don’t need a whole army,” she argued.
He snorted. “They’re hardly the whole army.”
“I’ll think about it,” she said as she stood and turned toward the hall. “But for now, I’ll get some rest.” She looked back at him. “Are you staying through the night?”
He shook his head. He didn’t like the idea of leaving her alone, but he had to return to Mikael as soon as possible, and Cohen would keep her safe until he sent others. “No, I have to return to Salar tonight.”
“By the time you get back, it will be morning.”
