“I wouldn’t be so confident about that—not until after the equinox unveiling.”
“Oh, I have every confidence an unveiling will only increase the intrigue.”
I didn’t bother replying. Only time would tell which of us was right. A footman met us at the bottom of the stairs and proceeded to guide us through the myriad of lushly decorated halls until we came to an elegant silver and glass door situated toward the rear of the building.
“We’ve taken the liberty of supplying you with a range of food and drink. If you desire anything else, please ring the bell, my lord.” The footman opened the door and then stepped aside to allow us entry.
“Thank you,” Trey said. “But I think we shall be all right for the rest of the evening.”
“As you wish, my lord.” The footman bowed and retreated.
I walked inside. The suite was of a simple design, consisting of a large lounging area, a plush bathing area that could be curtained off or not, and the offset and partially walled bedding area. There were also several large glass doors that led onto a balcony. Beyond that lay the sea. I could hear her call through the whisper of the wind. The only other door in the area, aside from the entrance, was into what I presumed was the privy. There were a number of paintings and tapestries on the walls depicting scenery, and a multitude of colorful rugs on the stone floor.
That floor was warm against the soles of my feet, and contained an odd sense of power.
I frowned and walked across to the long, kneeling-height table that sat in the middle of the main room. It held trays of sweetmeats, breads, and cheeses, and there was also a decanter of wine and an ornate silver coffeepot set atop a heating pad.
Trey stripped off his belt and mask, tossing both onto one of the well-padded blue-velvet chairs as he headed for the coffeepot. “Drink?”
“Please.”
I took off my mask and stretched out on one of the fur-covered cloudsaks, crossing my legs at my ankles. It was a position that revealed the long length of my unstained leg and a good portion of my right buttock. Trey handed me a coffee then sat down on one of the hassocks to my left—an optimal position to view what was on show. If he noticed, there was no immediate evidence of it.
“So, what did the night and this celebration reveal to you?”
I took a drink, winced at the bitter taste, and then quickly updated him. “I guess the most intriguing is the fact that although Lord Marcus is hosting this event to celebrate the return of his lady, neither of them appeared.”
“A curious anomaly many commented on. Any theories?”
“No, but I did talk to Tavish briefly. Saska apparently keeps to her rooms and sees no one. I got the distinct impression Marcus isn’t pleased about her return.”
“Which is far more information than I managed,” he said. “Although I did learn Marcus has a hetaera who has given him three sons, one of them born long before he and Saska were committed.”
A hetaera was one step up from a mistress. It basically meant she was treated as the lady of the house by everyone within it, but wasn’t formally acknowledged as such. Saska’s return would have been a great blow to her hopes and her standing in this place. “Was she there tonight?”
“No, but she’ll apparently be in attendance tomorrow night.” He smiled. “Which is rather fitting, given it is the night of knives.”
“Really? Why?”
“It’s a symbolistic representation of the cutting of old ties and the forging of new. That knife you threatened to plunge into my heart will be a most appropriate adornment.”
“And an appropriate response if Lord Kiro decides to test the boundaries of my patience.”
His smile grew. “Did you glean anything else from young Tavish?”
“No, but only because Kiro intervened.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Did he indeed?”
“He seemed rather determined I should not flirt with that young man.”
“Perhaps that’s because he has designs on him.”
“No. There was nothing sexual in his interference.” I hesitated. “He did try to seduce me, however, even though he does not trust me.”
“Neither is surprising. He knows you keep secrets.”
“Everyone keeps secrets. Most are not worth worrying about.” I shrugged. “Besides, I’m not one of those women whose lips are loosened after a tumble, however exceptional it may be.”
“I’m guessing, then, you have not been bedded by a man such as Kiro?”
“No, and I have no desire to be, either. No matter how much his personal magic might push such onto me.”
Something glittered in his eyes, something that almost suggested satisfaction. But all he said was “Anything else?”
I hesitated. “I saw two women wearing bracelets similar to the ones Saska gifted to us.”
An eyebrow rose. “And this caught your attention because?”
I took another sip of coffee but it was far too strong for my palate. I wrinkled my nose and placed the cup back onto the table. “Because you said you’d not seen their like before.”
“That’s hardly surprising given I’ve been absent in any real capacity for just over seventeen years.”
“Seventeen?” I blinked. “How young were you when you went to Blacklake? You can’t possibly be more than a few years older than me.”
“I would wager I’m at least five years older,” he said. “As for the reasons—isn’t that part of our wager?”
“It is indeed.” Five years would make him thirty-three and that was a very young age to become commander. Given the respect he generated from his people, it wasn’t a position he’d been handed, either, but rather one earned.
He stretched his long legs out until his toes touched my lower thigh. It was little more than a light press of skin against skin, and yet it caused a reaction more intense than anything Lord Kiro, with all his sexual prowess and magic, could ever hope to achieve.
If Trey felt a similar reaction, he was doing a damn good job of concealing it.
“That’s not the only reason the bracelets caught my interest,” I said, in a vague attempt to concentrate on the reason I was here. “Out in the desert, when Saska asked me to remove them, she said they were a gift from the queen, and that she could be tracked through them.”
He leaned forward at that. “There haven’t been royals in Gallion for eons.”
“Precisely.”
“I suppose she might have been delusional. It’s possible she was out in the Tenterra sun for too long.”
“You saw her skin, Commander. Did it look like she’d been out in the sun to you?”
“No.” A smile briefly ghosted his lips. “Describe these women to me.”
I did so, and he frowned. “The older woman sounds like Lady Hedra Harken—”
“Who is?” I cut in.
“Saska’s mother.”
“Meaning it’s even odder Saska went on to deny seeing the bracelets before she woke in the desert when they’re identical to the ones her own mother wears.”
“Yes.” He rubbed his chin, expression thoughtful. “The other lady would probably be Pyra. I haven’t had much to do with her but I believe her to be the youngest of Brent’s five daughters.”
“She made some effort to seduce me.”
“Did she now?” Speculation lit his eyes. “And why is that, do you think? Because your tone makes it obvious you don’t believe it’s simple attraction.”
I smiled. “Oh, she was attracted. But her overtures were a little too deliberate, and I don’t believe she was there of her own volition.” I hesitated. “Is possible that Lord Kiro set her onto me?”
He laughed. “No. Kiro sees your resistance to his wiles as a challenge. He wouldn’t send others to do what he can’t.”
“Meaning you didn’t tell him to back off?”
“No.”
“Why not?” I picked up the waist belt and waved the green end of it lightly. “Is that not the purpose of this thing? You know Kiro is an unwanted suitor.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t apply in this case. Kiro believes someone within Winterborne’s ranks is responsible for both Saska’s disappearance and her mysterious reappearance. He has full approval from the Forum to do whatever might be necessary to uncover who that person—or persons—might be.”