The castle had been filled with uncountable visitors in the previous weeks, each offering support or resolving business that Miri’s counselors had seen to on her behalf. They’d left her to decide larger matters, and though she’d been taught as a child and schooled since by Nan and Thom, Miri leaned on the knowledge of those who’d remained in Stormskeep and understood how things had changed. As it was, only a few dozen members of court milled about the room, their presence a strange comfort—so like her memories as a child—and a stark reminder that she was no longer the girl she had been. Miri would be queen.
She swallowed the nervousness that swam up with the thought. She had time, two years to prepare. But it felt like a new vow she’d never meant to take. She did not want to do it alone.
The tall doors opened across the room, and Miri glanced over her shoulder absently at the newcomer. Her chest squeezed at the sight of Cass. His shoulders were straight beneath the fine black coat of the guard, his steps purposeful as he crossed the space to address Henry and the members of their council. He handed over a scroll, likely a report that detailed that their work was done, then his shoulders squared once more. Miri turned to face him, and as he approached, her bloodsworn gave a small bow. It was not required of his post. There was a moment of hesitation before his face rose again.
His eyes found hers, and he said, something tremulous beneath his tone, “You look well, Your Majesty.”
Miri felt the words more than heard them, somehow entirely too aware of the lavish gown she wore, the delicate curls a maid had tucked beneath her crown, and the thin gold band she’d left upon her finger. “Cassius.” She might have said more, could she only trust her voice.
“My duty as queensguard has been fulfilled. The lords of the realm no longer call themselves king.” He was being kind, because the lords of the realm could no longer call themselves anything. They were dead. Cass pressed his lips together, and Miri had the sensation he wanted to glance around the room, but his gaze did not leave hers. Despite the time they’d spent together, this was how court business was conducted. He’d no right to ask for an audience alone. “As such,” he said, “I am here to ask of you a favor.”
“Anything,” she started, but her response fell away at Cass’s expression.
His hair had been freshly cut, revealing a faint line that marred his brow from their fight with the kingsmen. He seemed otherwise in perfect order, but his finger twitched at his side. “I ask that you release me from my duty.”
The words were like a blow to the chest. Miri’s fingers clenched where they rested before her waist. He understood he never should have allowed her to kiss him, because he was bloodsworn. He could not do his duty to protect her—to be so near without breaking his vow again. His honor demanded it. There was no way to stop him, no other answer she could give. The words tasted of ash, and her voice was not her own when she finally uttered, “Of course.”
Cass’s brow shifted at her expression, his neck heating in a flush of red. His gaze darted momentarily sideways, but no one could see his face but Miri. They were as alone as they would get, and it felt strangely like Cass wanted to drag her away from the others. What is it? she wanted to whisper, but she couldn’t. So she waited, silent and still, until Cass spoke again.
He cleared his throat, but when he spoke again, his voice was low. But that didn’t matter, because all other discussions in the room had come to a halt. “It is not that I have any desire to acquit my duty, Myrina. Only that…” His throat bobbed, his hazel gaze seeming to beg for her understanding. “Henry has seen fit to offer me his name, officially, so that I might be welcome among the court.”
Miri’s breath seized in her chest as Cass’s confession fell so unexpectedly into place. A quiet murmur went through the room as people realized that something far more unusual had happened than a queensguard retiring from his duty. Miri’s gaze snapped to Henry, whose expression was serene aside from a small twitch at the corner of his mouth. Gods, they had played her. Henry gave her a wink and turned back to his fellows, and any outrage she felt was washed away by the utter disbelief that came with the impossible.
Miri’s hands slid to her sides. “Clear the hall!”
At her order, Henry stood, leaning heavily on one hip as he waved his cane at the stunned counselors. “Go,” Henry said. “All of you.”
As the bodies filed from the room, Cass’s discomfort seemed to increase tenfold. Miri did not know whether he was expecting a dressing-down or that she might rebuff him, but she had only one reason to get him alone, and it was nothing of the sort. Henry gave her a smile, one she remembered so well, before he turned to leave as well. Cass and Miri were truly alone, court gossip be damned, for the first time in weeks.
She faced him and said, her voice quiet in the massive room but steadier than it had ever been, “You were raised bloodsworn. Duty above all. You’re willing to sacrifice that to become a lord?”
Cass twitched as if he might move forward but was restraining himself. “My loyalty will not be diminished by the loss of those duties, Myrina. I will always be faithful—”
She raised a hand, cutting off his vow. “The question is, will you be satisfied instead with duties of state?”
He blanched. “I would never presume to ask for court favor.”
“Of a king, Cassius. Not a lord.” She stepped forward, close enough that she could touch him, should she only decide to do it. “In two years’ time, I will be queen.”
Cass had thought her angry and was clearly agitated his plan had gone nothing at all how he’d wanted, but suddenly those emotions fled from his face. Shock had replaced it instead. He had known she would be queen. He had only wanted to be near her, not to be a fisherman’s grandson who might someday be king. It was clear he’d thought nothing of the sort. A new emotion, one she could not quite identify and had not before seen, passed over his features, and Miri thought it was possibly hope.
Cass bowed low, his knee to the rich tile floor, his hand over his heart as his face rose to hers. “By my honor, by my soul, I swear to serve this realm with loyalty all the days that I live. May the gods grant me strength so that I may remain ever vigilant in my duty, the maiden wisdom so that I remain ever faithful in my cause. I vow to you, Myrina of Stormskeep, by my heart and my blood. I am yours.”
Miri swallowed back the urge to sob, a ridiculous hiccup of hysteria wanting to escape. She forced her emotions to steady and her voice not to tremble. “Then rise, Cassius of Stormskeep.” She felt her lip twitch into a smile. “A king of the realm will not be brought to his knees by anyone.”
Cass stood to face her, taking her trembling hands in his. His breath was a whisper over her skin, his eyes on nothing but her. His mouth had twisted into that lopsided grin, his expression one of wonder. “Only you, my queen.” He leaned closer to brush his lips against hers. “Only you.”
Thank you for Reading
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Read on for a preview of Between Ink and Shadows