Sylph’s eyes went wide. “Oh.” She stared at nothing for severalmoments. Thana took the opportunity to dress, not wanting to interrupt herthinking. This had to be her decision, and Thana honestly did not know whichpath she would choose if their situations were reversed.
By the stricken look on Sylph’s face as she also dressed, shehadn’t made up her mind. Reading someone’s mind against their will was not onlyillegal, it was considered immoral by most as the ultimate invasion of privacy.The idea made Thana’s skin crawl, but this was for Sylph.
“I can do it if you don’t want to,” Thana said quietly. “I’lltell you whatever I see.”
Sylph took her hands and kissed her forehead. “I won’t let yousacrifice your principles for love, though I’m happy I’ll never have to wonderhow you feelabout me.”
Thana’s heart warmed, and she led the way into her office. Shepeeked out the door to see servants bustling up and down the hall. Everyone wasno doubt awake, and Earnhilt would send for Sylph before too much longer.
“I need to see him,” Sylph said. “I’ve been putting it off, but…”
Thana nodded. Without prompting, she grabbed a mind pyramid andstuck it in her pocket before leading the way out. When Sylph gave her aquestioning look, Thana said, “Oh, I’m coming with you. I can stay by yourside, or you can speak to him alone, but I’ll be right outside for whatever youneed.” Lending Sylph her mind pyramid or delivering a swift kick to Felix’sbackside, it didn’t matter to her. Most likely, hers would be a shoulder to cryon, and that was okay, too, even if Sylph’s tears would make her want to kickFelix even harder.
* * *
Sylph stood outside the guest room that served as her father’scell. Thana waited beside her, but she felt as alone as she had before thiswhole adventure started. It was fitting. No amount of kindness, love, orsupport would help now. Afterward, perhaps, but in order to deal with theproblem of her father, her heart needed to dwell in the past.
“I’ll take the mind pyramid,” she said, noting Thana’s lack ofexpression as she handed it over. It was difficult for her not to emote, andSylph kissed her cheek to show the effort was appreciated. She put the mindpyramid in the opposite pocket from her stone pyramid, not certain if she’d useeither, but they both provided comfort.
She knocked since they were still civilized people, but Thanacaught her arm as her father called to come in. “Remember, I’m just a few stepsaway.”
Sylph smiled. Yes, the future was always just a few steps fromthe past.
Her father stood as she entered, and his shoulders seemed torelax a fraction at the sight of her before he clasped his hands behind hisback, and all emotion disappeared as if behind a wall. “Sylph.” He bowedslightly, a little shallower than a duchess deserved, but it could beconsidered acceptable since he was her father. She wondered how many times he’dpracticed it.
His outfit was perfectly pressed, dark blue trousers and coatwith slashes in the sleeves showing glimpses of white that shone like lightthrough bars. And it was close enough to black to be seen as mourning, thoughno doubt more for his position than for anyone who’d died. His golden hair wasimmaculately combed. A single red line on his right cheek was the only mark onhis freshly shaven face.
Sylph tilted her head, desperately trying not to go to a place ofanxiety or fear. She considered touching her pyramid for comfort, but he wouldhave a thousand recriminations for such a sign of nerves. She forced herself tostill until she seemed to hear Thana’s voice saying, “Who cares? You have allthe power here.”
True enough. She put her hand in her pocket, and his gaze flickedto the movement, but she wasn’t going to let him start anything. “Da,” she saidbefore he could comment.
He blinked. He’d always hated that familiar term, and to throwhim further off guard, she sat without returning his bow or being invited, eventhough she was a guest.
He tsked,a disapproving noise he hadn’t aimed at her since she was a girl.
It nearly made her grin. “Oh, where are my manners?” she asked,holding out a hand. “Have a seat.”
He obeyed without remarking that she shouldn’t issue suchinvitations when it wasn’t her room. Well, it wasn’t really his, either, mightnot be his palace or even his kingdom if she said so. He had to at leastsuspect that. She supposed she ought to be glad he didn’t grovel. She mighthave thought him an imposter.
“What do you want of me?” she asked.
He sat up a little straighter. “Is it not supposed to be measking that question upon receiving a visitor?”
Finally, a response. She smiled, and he seemed even moreconfused. How long had it been since she’d smiled at him, really smiled?“You’ve lost your title,” she said. “You already know that, but the fate ofyour person remains to be determined, and soon, the queen will ask my opinion.”She crossed her legs and leaned back. Her hands still wanted to shake, but shecould pretend that wasn’t the case.
He mimicked her posture, never one to be thrown and stay down.“And what will you say? Or are you asking me to plead for an option?”
In a way, she was happy he didn’t know her well. It made thiseasier, even if it caused a hollow feeling inside her. “Why did you save mylife, and why did you volunteer to bear a Fiend?”
His hand moved slightly toward his chest where his new anti-Fiendpyramid hid beneath his clothes, but he turned the motion into pluckingimaginary lint from his coat.
The hollow in Sylph’s chest began to burn. “Be honest with me.You know what I am now. You know what I can do. Do not force me to do it.”
He looked a little horrified to hear her talk of magic openly, ifobliquely, and her stomach began to churn
