Page 49 of Hollow Court

Gwyn followed half a second later, staring at me in disbelief.

“You’re just going to let her go?” she hissed when we were out of earshot.

“Of course not,” I assured her. “I saidfor now. I’ll write to the magistrate from the next village, strongly encouraging him to take a hard line with this.”

She nodded with a savage sort of satisfaction, but all I felt was the overwhelming anxiety that we were missing something. There were more of them. The assassin had made that clear.

Were they with Gallagher and Galina, even now?

Trying for a lighter tone, I elbowed my cousin. “Why don’t you use your woo woo twinsy senses to check in on Gal?”

“You laugh, but—”

I let the mask drop long enough for her to see the very real panic building up in my mind. She surveyed my features, her eyes softening.

“I would know if something had happened to him,” she told me. “I would feel it.”

I nodded my thanks. All my teasing aside, I believed her. I knew they had a connection that was only made stronger by their fae heritage. In the past, she had always known when Gallagher was in trouble.

And if he was safe, then Galina was, too.

That would have to be good enough for now.

NINETEEN

Galina

Davin’s fatherstood back from the door, granting me space to enter the hallway.

“Your Highness,” I greeted, dipping into a curtsy.

The movement was still strange, and I found myself wondering why the Lochlannians thought it was a sign of respect rather than an awkward dance move.

“Good morning, Lady Galina. I suspect if I told you not to worry about formalities, it would fall on deaf ears,” he said with a raised eyebrow.

The expression was so reminiscent of his son that I was grateful for the chance to look at the polished beams of the floor as I gave him a demure smile.

“I’ll certainly try, Prince Oliver,” I said smoothly.

“That’s better. We’ll be on to just Oliver in no time.” His tone was gently teasing. “I hope you don’t mind, but Gallagher went to assist the healer’s apprentice with treating an injury in the village, so I took it upon myself to escort you to breakfast. If you need more time, though, I’m happy to wait.”

Was this truly a world in which a lady would tell the king’s brother that she minded his personally escorting her somewhere, or better yet, that he could wait in the hallway until she had perfected her cosmetics?

Or were those merely formalities?

“I’m glad for your company,” I told him, stepping out into the hallway and closing the door behind me. “I hope everything is all right in the village.”

His smile was casual, but his gaze was scrutinizing as he offered his arm. “I’m sure Gallagher and Mistress Maisey will get them fixed up in no time. Breakfast isn’t far today, since it’s just down there on the other floor of the family wing.”

He gestured toward the smaller staircase down the hall, which meant that I was staying in the family wing as well, rather than the one reserved for guests. Was that normal for a betrothed here?

In Socair, betrothed couples were generally housed on opposite ends of the castle, for at least the appearance of propriety.

Prince Oliver led me down a set of stairs into another hallway.

“My and Jocelyn’s suites are just down here,” he told me.

Unlike the main part of the castle, this hallway was lined with portraits. Nearly all of them appeared to be by the same artist.