Though he knew little about such matters, it was clear even to him that the princess’s staff must have worked long hours to transform the cold stone. Old tapestries covered the walls, and the sweet herbs burned here as well. Winter woodcraft wreaths graced every table, and Eldritch workers were still scurrying, even as they stepped in.
“I don’t know if the food will be up to par,” she said softly. “But we weren’t expecting to push the schedule forward so much, so please understand that my people have done their best.”
“Are you asking me to be gracious?” Amusement flickered through him.
Raff headed for the table with the largest centerpiece and a placard that marked it as ‘RESERVED’. If that was wrong, she’d surely correctly him. Since the princess maintained her courteous hold on his arm, he trusted this was where he ought to be. He pulled out her chair and seated himself once she was settled. There was room at the table for his four guards, two more seats as well. At that moment he realized he had no idea who might sit with them as Thalia’s family.
Soon, Lileth took her place on the other side, but the final chair remained empty. Until a lean, foxy-faced Eldritch woman slipped into the spot five minutes later. She had darker hair than most of her people, a burnished gold instead of white or silver, and her eyes were a piercing green, hard as agate, and intensely watchful. She smelled…strange, a tang of something chemical and unfamiliar. He had seen her before—and not just while wandering Daruvar. A bit later, it came to him.
I encountered her first at Ash Valley.
Which meant she had been among Gavriel’s people who survived after Lord Talfayen turned. Raff’s attention sharpened, and sure enough, she was wearing twin daggers that marked her as a Noxblade. Is she protection or close kin? The only way to find out was to ask.
Raff tried a charming smile. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure.”
Unlike Gavriel, this Noxblade didn’t scowl like it was part of her training, but he noticed that while her mouth curved, her eyes were still as cold as a mossy pond. “We haven’t been introduced, though I did see you at Ash Valley. I’m Tirael.”
“She’s my…cousin,” the princess said.
“You’re being generous.” With an expression as blank as that white linen, Tirael smoothed a napkin across her lap. “It would be wrong of me to rely on our distant connection, so it’s a privilege to be included at the head table.”
Lileth chose that moment to rise with her glass in hand. “It’s time for the wedding toasts and then we can finally eat. Thank you all for your patience.”
Surprisingly, Janek stood as well, possibly in response to a prior arrangement. Raff hadn’t been informed how the wedding would go; just as well, he wasn’t interested. His stomach rumbled, reminding him how long it had been since breakfast. Plus, they didn’t serve protein-dense fare like he was used to. Unless we do some hunting, living here will kill me. Even the princess’s white vedda beast was starting to look delicious.
But there should be red hart somewhere in these hills. If we take one down, the venison will last a while.
Come to it, he needed to decide who to keep with him for his three-month tenure. Probably not Bibi, Pine Ridge needs her. Janek would be an asset here…
The old wolf cut into his thoughts by tapping a small spoon against his glass to quiet the room. “May you be poor in misfortune and rich in blessings. This day we saw two shadows become one, a single thread binding you to the other’s fate.”
Still, why does that sound so…ominous?
Lileth continued the toast. Despite his general antipathy for formal nonsense, Raff had to admire how smoothly they’d orchestrated the occasion. “From this day forward, neither of you is alone. May you always have walls for the wind, a roof for the rain, a hearth with a merrily crackling fire, and everything that your heart desires. Raise your glass and drink to our fair princess and the wolf lord.”
The elder Eldritch woman lifted her goblet high, so it caught the morning light, refracting sunbeams, then she drained it, likely showing her commitment to the marital alliance her princess had chosen. Reflexively, Raff brought his glass up and it smelled strange, bitter and—
“Stop!” he shouted. “The wine’s been poisoned!”
10.
That was impossible, it couldn’t be true. We had security. The fortress is secure—
Can’t breathe. Thalia’s throat tightened as fear became a vise on her neck, rising, rising, floodwater that would choke and drown her. “No!” The word burst free before she could lock down her panic.
A queen is always—oh, fuck that. Fuck being calm.
Nothing could happen to Lileth, who had been like a mother to her for so long. She leapt from her chair as the older woman collapsed. Janek’s reflexes were fast enough, even at his age, that the old wolf didn’t let her hit the floor. Instead, he swung Lileth up in his arms and moved toward the exit.
“Don’t eat or drink anything,” she called to the guests, rushing after him to bark more orders. “Take samples from each plate and bottle, then discard the rest. I need to know how broad the attack was.”
Tirael nodded. “I’ll get Ferith. She can supervise the investigation.”
Since Raff had been treated after the disastrous hunt, Janek must know the way to the infirmary. He proved this was true with his sure but hurried footfalls. Thalia called Dr. Wyeth as she ran, the rest of the wolves close behind. “We have an emergency. I need you right away.”
“What’s happened?” He’d been one of the few exempted from the festivities, given permission to keep watch on a couple of patients instead.
“I’ll tell you when I
