The little girl bit her lip, then softly replied, “I wanna go home, please.”
Guilt pricked at him. How many kidnappings had occurred over the last few years that he’d been unable to stop? He squatted in front of the little girl so she wouldn’t have to look up at him. “Your name is Eviana, right?”
When she nodded, he continued, “The sun will be setting soon, so it’s too late to take you home today. But I will take you tomorrow morning. Can you be brave and spend one night here?”
She frowned, jutting out her bottom lip. “I’ll miss the party then. It’s my buffday. Ewic’s, too. And my mama’s.”
Tonight the two moons were eclipsing, so that meant Eviana and her twin brother were Embraced. Silas had heard the rumor before from his spy at the Eberoni court. He’d also heard that all five of the adopted sisters were Embraced. What kind of gift had his sister, Sorcha, grown up with? And Lady Gwennore—what was her gift? “Is it Gwennore’s birthday, too? I know it must be Sorcha’s.”
Eviana’s eyes widened with surprise. “You know Aunt Sowcha?” When he nodded, she smiled. “It is her buffday. And King Ulfwid’s. That’s why they’re having a big party.” Her smile faded. “I’m gonna miss it.”
“I’m sure they’ll wait for you to get back. They won’t want to celebrate without you.”
“Weally?”
Silas smiled. “Really.” He straightened and addressed the servant in Norveshki. “It’s the child’s birthday today. Could you run to the kitchen and tell them I want a cake sent here tonight? And some party food.”
“Yes, my lord.” The servant dashed from the room.
Eviana’s lip trembled. “Is something wong?”
“No, she’ll be right back. Do you know where Lady Gwennore is?”
The little girl pointed toward the dressing room.
He refilled her cup with more apple juice. “I need to talk to Gwennore. Will you be all right here?”
She nodded. “I want to play with the dollies.”
“Excellent plan.” He headed toward the dressing room.
The door was cracked open, and he peeked inside. Empty. Gwennore had to be in the adjoining bedchamber. Just the thought of a bed made her naked image creep into his thoughts once again. Dammit, stop that. He slipped into the dressing room and froze when he heard a man’s voice.
What the hell? Gwennore was with a man in the bedchamber? Silas eased closer to the door.
“Hold on to the bedpost,” the man ordered.
What? Silas peered through the narrow opening of the door and spotted her at the foot of the bed with a man partially hidden behind her. With her gown loose and her hair disheveled, she looked like she’d just enjoyed a rough tussle in bed. Dammit. Stop thinking about her that way. But who the hell was this man?
“I believe the queen is being poisoned,” Gwennore said softly in Eberoni.
“What?” the man responded in the same language.
Silas’s breath caught. Did Gwennore believe, like him, that there was a logical reason for the queen’s illness?
“I might be able to use my gift to help her,” Gwennore continued.
Silas grew tense. Could she really help the queen? What was this gift she had? And who was this man she talking to? He eased the door open wider and his heart lurched. Dammit! The man was naked with a sheet tied around his waist.
A surge of anger blasted through Silas, but then the man shoved his shaggy black hair back from his brow, and Silas recognized him. Brody, shifter and spy for King Leofric.
Of course. Silas noted the open window. Gwennore must have let Brody in while he was in eagle form, and then he’d shifted. That explained why he was wearing a sheet.
“She’s the reason you and Eviana were kidnapped,” Brody grumbled, referring to the queen. “Why on Aerthlan would you want to help her?”
Gwennore stood still, her hands clasped around the bedpost as her mind raced with one thought after another.
Yes! Silas smiled to himself as he listened in. At last, he’d found someone who thought the same way he did.
After a few moments, she said, “If I can help the queen, she might stop having children kidnapped.”
“But if she’s being poisoned, something dangerous is going on,” Brody argued. “You shouldn’t get involved.”
She frowned. “But shouldn’t I use my gift—”
Silas barged into the room. “Can you really help?”
Gwennore gasped. Startled by his sudden entrance, she let go of the bedpost just as Brody gave her laces a sharp tug. She stumbled back against the shifter, but when he caught her, she trampled on the edge of his sheet, accidentally pulling it off his waist.
“Shit!” Brody dropped to the floor, scrambling to cover himself with the sheet.
“Ack!” Gwennore slapped a hand over her eyes. “I didn’t see anything!” She lurched forward, but her foot caught on the hem of her gown and she fell forward onto her knees. She caught herself, her hands planted on the floor.
It had all happened so fast, Silas was caught off guard and started to laugh. But then he noticed how Gwennore’s white-blond hair had swept forward, the ends trailing on the floor. When she shoved her hair back, her back arched and his mouth dropped open. Holy Light. This was how she would look in a moment of wild passion.
With her gown askew, her breasts were nearly spilling out of the bodice. He stared at her, entranced, and by the Light, he wanted to touch her. He wanted to cup her breasts in his palms, tug the bodice down till he could see her nipples, see them tighten into sweet little buds. Then he would tease them. Taste them.
Not again! Her thoughts screeched into his head, and his gaze jerked up to her face.
He’s staring at me so fiercely! He wants to squash me like a bug! Anger blazed in her eyes as she scrambled to her feet. “I am not an insect!”
Silas flinched. How could she think—
“Don’t ye dare give me that horrified look! I’m a woman and I have the exact same female parts as every other
