“We certainly do,” said Xanthe. “This is all so much more than I expected.”
Niniane said, “We wanted to make sure you had everything you needed, in case we were unable to return right away.”
Xanthe asked quickly, “There are problems?”
“There are complications,” Tiago said, stressing the last word. “None of it is anything we can’t handle, but we are busy. And Niniane and I have both agreed that no one else is to know that Aubrey is here. You will be on your own until we can return again.”
“Yes, sir.”
Aubrey clenched his fists and contemplated getting out of bed. He felt immensely better than he had even earlier that morning, and he could tell that he had turned a corner. He eased himself to a sitting position awkwardly. Any unwary movement made his back flare with fiery pain. Breathing deeply, he eased his legs over the edge of the bed.
“How is Aubrey?” Niniane asked.
Aubrey said hoarsely, “I’m awake.”
He listened to a symphony of footsteps, one quick, light patter, another light step with a longer stride, and a deeper, heavier tread. He checked to make sure that the sheet was wrapped around his hips as Niniane burst into the bedroom. She threw herself at him, pulling up just before she made contact to put her arms carefully around him.
“I cannot tell you how scared I was for you,” she whispered.
He hugged her as he looked over her head at Tiago and at Xanthe. He said gently, “The scare is all over with now.” He met Tiago’s black gaze. “What has happened since the attack?”
“We are not here to discuss details of the investigation,” Tiago said. “Your assailants will not get away unpunished. That’s all you need to know, until we come back for you and tell you that you can return home.”
Aubrey’s face hardened. He opened his mouth to argue, and Niniane put a hand to his cheek, turning him to look at her. Her face was sober, eyes still moist. “Aubrey, you nearly died.”
“I know that,” he snapped.
“Then listen to me, because I am very serious and I mean every word,” Niniane told him. “Your job is to get better. Rest, eat good food, soak up sunshine and heal. That’s all. You cannot work. You will not leave this place. This is your safe haven for now. Tiago will return with more food in a week. In the meantime, we will not stop until we have in custody everyone who is responsible for what happened to you. You will be able to come home soon enough, and then you’ll have your answers.”
He gritted his teeth as rage coursed through him. Not rage at Niniane, but at the people who had attacked him. It was hard to let go of it. After a moment he said, “I will stay until I am completely healed. Then I can ensure my own safety.”
“No, Aubrey.” The Queen’s gaze was adamant. “I am ordering you to stay until I say that you can leave.”
“Niniane,” he said.
“Oh, I know you’re mad at me now. Deal with it.” She hugged him again.
He set his teeth but put an arm around her. Looking at Tiago, he said, “At least do one thing for me. I want you to check on one of my staff. His name is Sebrin. I sent him to uncover what he could about the Ealduns’ lawsuit, and I hadn’t heard from him since.”
Tiago and Niniane shared a long, inscrutable look before Tiago promised, “I’ll look into it.”
Niniane stood. “I’m sorry our visit is so short, but we can’t stay any longer.” She looked at Xanthe. “Take care of him.”
“I will,” Xanthe promised.
She trailed behind Niniane and Tiago who left. Aubrey breathed evenly as he glared at the open window. He listened to their voices fade as they moved away from the cottage. If he thought he could stand without falling, he would have followed them to argue.
After a few minutes Xanthe returned. She moved around in the other room then appeared in his doorway carrying two large canvas bags on her shoulders. He glowered at her, which was a totally useless display of petulance as she did not look at him directly. She wore her perfect expressionless face again.
He had been amused by that smooth fa?ade of hers before, but now it was beginning to grate on him. Silence reigned in the room as she opened first one bag and pulled out a pile of folded clothes and boots. She set them on the bed beside him then opened the other bag and pulled out twenty books. Some of them were American paperbacks, and a few were Dark Fae. He glanced at the titles as she stacked them neatly on the small, simple bedside table. None of the books were nonfiction.
Xanthe returned to the pile of clothes on the bed and broke the silence. “Would you like a pair of trousers and a shirt?”
His hand shot out to circle her wrist. She stilled and looked down at his hand. “As soon as I am better, you will take me back to Adriyel.”
Her dark gaze lifted to meet his. “No, my lord.”