For some stupid reason, I hated the thought of this man feeling despair. “Do you want to tell me what you’re looking for? Maybe I can help you find it.”
Lorian slowly lifted his head, his gaze pinning me in place. He showed me his teeth, taking a single step closer. Cold fury poured off him in waves.
I froze, and my mind flashed me back to Kreilor in the bakery, trapping me with his bulk and his threats. To the hunter, approaching me slowly, ready to cut me down.
Lorian wasn’t either of those men. But my fear had already slithered through every muscle of my body, settled in my chest, tightened my throat.
I took a deep breath. If Lorian’s search wasn’t successful, at least we could leave this place.
Forcing my expression to go blank, I yanked on the thread of my magic, stalking out of the cavern and up the stairs. Lorian shadowed my every step. His rage felt as if it was sucking up all the oxygen in an already tiny space, and my breaths turned shallow as the walls seemed to squeeze closer and closer with my every step.
Trust him to make this even more awful.
Halfway up, I yanked that thread tighter, focusing on the brute lumbering behind me.
He froze. Now that I knew he couldn’t chide me for my terror, I scampered up the remaining stairs. As soon as I got to the top, I allowed time to resume for him once more. My head pounded until it took everything in me not to vomit.
Lorian let out a low hiss that made me want to slam the door and shove the bookcase in front of it. Within moments, he was standing behind me, pushing me through the open door.
“You dare to use your powers on me without permission?” he crooned.
I shivered at his tone. At the strange way he angled his head. Something told me I was closer to death than I’d ever been, even in the river.
Whatever it was that Lorian had been looking for, he’d expected to find it in the king’s hidden rooms. And not finding it had pushed him over the edge. I’d wanted to see beyond the expressionless mask he so often wore.
Now I was. And it was terrifying.
But I refused to be cowed by him.
Leaning close, I gave him a nasty little smile. “I suggest you get yourself back to your room yourself, impostor prince.”
“Don’t you dare—”
I froze time for him once more. Then I sprinted past the guards and down the hall, back toward the servants’ quarters, my nose dripping blood.
I didn’t have long. My power seemed to be tied to my fury, and while I was angry, it was hurt that bubbled beneath that anger.
Thankfully, the fact that I even felt hurt was so distasteful, I managed to get back to my room before time resumed once more.
I pictured Lorian attempting to move the bookcase back into place without drawing the attention of the guards. A hint of regret slid through me, and I ruthlessly shoved it away.
I fell asleep with a frown on my face and vengeance in my heart.
CHAPTER TWENTY
I woke with my stomach churning with regret, my chest heavy. I needed Lorian to help Asinia, and yet I’d left him in danger. Technically, he’d only asked me to help him get into the king’s chambers, but he’d been furious enough that a part of me wondered if he’d choose not to help her out of spite.
If Asinia died because of him…because of me…
No. Somehow, I’d find the medicine Asinia needed. If not through Vicer, then somewhere else. I’d beg and borrow and steal if I had to.
An hour later, I followed the queen on her walk among the castle grounds. The other ladies spoke quietly, conscious of the queen’s bad mood. Hopefully she would decide she needed rest later this afternoon.
I’d taken to wandering the servants’ halls while the queen was napping each day. They stretched through almost every inch of the castle, allowing servants to appear in sitting rooms and bedrooms without disturbing the nobility with their existence. The amount of court gossip I’d learned was incredible. Unfortunately, none of it had given me anything I needed.
“Is something wrong, Your Majesty?” I asked. I couldn’t have cared less. But I needed to know everything about my enemies.
Everyone went quiet. Perhaps I wasn’t supposed to address her when she was so clearly upset.
She frowned at me. After a long moment, she heaved a sigh. “The king insists I attend another dinner tonight.” Turning away, she continued her stroll.
Dinner meant feeling Lorian’s venomous gaze on the back of my neck. But it also meant it was less risky for Tibris and me to get down to Asinia since the guards would be drinking and enjoying the distraction.
Since I hadn’t heard any whispers about the Gromalian prince being arrested, he’d obviously managed to get himself back to his room last night.