Page 24 of Onyx Cage: Volume II
“Theo is asleep anyway, so I thought it would be a decent time to drop by and make sure you aren’t leading the women of my court on, what when all you have to offer them istemporary.”
Something precariously close to rage clouded my vision, pounding through my veins and reverberating with the sound of my own furious heartbeat. First, she confirmed that she had, indeed, come directly from Korhonan’s bed, then went on to imply that I had toyed with her when she was the one halfway to marrying someone else.
Words were spewing forth before I could stop them, coated in sarcasm and dripping with vitriol I couldn’t quite hide—wasn’t sure I wanted to.
“It’s noble of you to be so concerned about them, but you really shouldn’t trouble yourself. It’s only theclingy oneswho have a problem with that.”
Rowan froze, and for the first time since she traipsed uninvited into my room, I saw something besides anger and indignation on her features. Her green eyes widened in surprise before she tilted her head, allowing her curls to obscure most of my view.
It didn’t stop me from hearing the slight hitch in her breath when she spoke.
“I see.” Her tone was quieter now. Emptier. “Well then, by all means, do continue in your pursuits. I’ll just leave you to it.”
It was rare that I spoke without first considering my words, and rarer still that I regretted them, but a wave of remorse washed over me just the same. I closed my eyes againstthe unfamiliar sensation, trying to shut out the image of the shattered expression she hadn’t quite managed to hide.
The one I had put there.
“Lemmikki—” I began, not even sure what I was going to say next.
That I had no intentions of pursuing anyone?
That she had started this entire game when she came to my room?
That I hated her sometimes, but hated hurting her even more, even if I didn’t completely comprehend why?
In the end, it didn’t matter what I might have said because she cut me off.
“No.” She shook her head, turning to go. I might have tried to stop her until she muttered, “I should get back to Theo.”
Right. It always came back to Korhonan with her.
Even if something in her tone sounded curiously like a lie.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The Council Room was silent.
Then again, that was probably because its potentially loudest occupant was ostensibly missing.
I wasn’t exactly surprised that Rowan was late to a meeting about her own future, but I was slightly shocked to see the entire room taking it in stride. Well, for the most part.
One of the lairds pointedly cleared his throat in yet another obvious attempt to start discussions, but Princess Jocelyn stared him down. She didn’t remind him again that no discussions would begin until the princess arrived.
In fact, I suspected she never bothered to repeat herself. Nor that she ever had to, from the way the man was instantly cowed.
Korhonan’s eyes met mine with a bare echo of the same bafflement I felt, and I bit back a scowl at the unintentional moment of camaraderie. We were not comrades in anything, certainly not when I had to spend the morning wondering whether he had left Rowan in his bed or if she had already snuck back to her own by the time he left.
No, we were just two Socairans thrust into the chaotic kingdom to our east, only his clan was actively trying to take something from mine.
I still wasn’t sure I would be able to stop him on that front, having gleaned very little from the twenty minutes of quiet in this chamber, nor from my relentless thoughts the night before. But I damned well had to try.
That wasn’t to say I hadn’t figured out anything. I knew that Princess Jocelyn had strong feelings about autonomy, feelings that were shared by the queen, though the latter had said little this morning.
For Queen Charlotte’s part, I could tell that despite my concerns, she didn’t appear to hold the same resentment for me as her husband. There was more curiosity in her gaze, tinged with an edge of wariness.
Prince Oliver hid a great deal of scrutiny behind the easy smile with which he greeted the room, and the other lairds were giving small tells of their feelings toward my people in general, and me, specifically.
But none of that helped me with this morning’s problem.