Page 15 of Kingdom of Spirits
She hadn’t planned to fall for Marius, and Ophelia had done her best to keep Tahlia from the order. Ophelia was probably the one who had poisoned her, though Tahlia had zero proof of that. Plus, Ophelia had been cruel to her dragon. Anyone who treated animals poorly deserved to die in Tahlia’s not-so-humble opinion.
“I accept your apology,” Gaius said to Marius, “but I request that you two keep yourselves, how should I say this… I request that you hold off on your potential mating bond until Ophelia has had time to work through this difficult time.”
Potential mating bond. Tahlia wanted to jump in the air and sing a song. But did Marius feel that way toward the idea of their future?
It was silly that Gaius was asking her and Marius to keep a distance. Ophelia was no delicate flower. Was she truly struggling? Tahlia couldn’t imagine the proud full Fae female who rode one of the most terrifying creatures in the world being broken by anything.
“Of course, sir,” Marius said.
“As you wish, Commander,” Tahlia said.
“I must ask,” Marius started, “have you gleaned any information about who poisoned Lady Tahlia from your informants?” His nostrils flared, his quiet rage trying to burst through his disciplined exterior. He didn’t seem to be too keen on Gaius’s request either.
Gaius pressed a fist against his mouth, then let his hand fall as he gazed at Tahlia. “I thought we had a lead on who meant you harm, Lady Tahlia, but I’m afraid I don’t yet know. I will send you any information I gather the moment it arrives.”
“Thank you,” Tahlia said.
“I appreciate this. Both of you, thank you very much,” Gaius said.
They nodded in unison, then left the chamber and entered the now empty platform shaft.
“Oh, wait,” Tahlia said, recalling her gladius. “Hold on. I forgot my sword.”
“I’ll go on.” Marius studied her face like he was gauging how she would respond to the order they had been given.
“How long do you think he will ask us to stay apart?”
Marius lifted a hand like he wanted to reach for her, but he let his arm fall. “Not an extensive period, I’m sure.”
“All right. Fine. I’ll see you later, then, I guess.”
“Tahlia, you are the light in my day. We will get through this to whatever waits for us on the other side.” He took her hand and rubbed the back of it with his thumb.
A smile tugged at Tahlia’s frown and a shiver danced over the place where he touched her. “And you’re the storm I like to rouse just to see the lightning, High Captain.”
He smiled in full, rang the bell for the guards below to work the pulley, and disappeared.
Tahlia returned to the commander’s chamber, hoping to slip in and out without notice. She didn’t want any more awkward chats with Gaius about Marius or Ophelia. The guards nodded to her and permitted entry.
Inside the front entrance, she bent to retrieve her gladius. A shadow flickered in her periphery. She glanced up to see Ophelia emerge from another room, blue-green hair tightly woven around her head. Ophelia headed toward the back corridor of the apartment. She didn’t seem to have noticed Tahlia, thank the Old Ones. Dark swirls and star-white sparks spun along Ophelia’s left hand, and an odd floral scent wafted through the chambers. Tahlia blinked and rubbed her eyes. When she looked again, the swirls and sparks were gone. Had she just hit her head too hard in training yesterday? Surely. There wasn’t any magic that appeared like that, was there?
She attached the sheathed gladius to her belt and took her turn on the platform, her mind whirling with thoughts of Ophelia, poison, and the fact that she wouldn’t get her hands on Marius anytime soon. Gritting her teeth, she headed toward the dragon stables to find Fara and update her on all the goings-on before they had to start on their laundry.
Maiwenn caught her at the entrance to the stables. “Since we are free today, you’re going to train with me.”
Damn it. She had hoped Maiwenn had forgotten. “Unfortunately, I have laundry to do. I know, so domestic.”
Unblinking, Maiwenn didn’t crack a smile. “We aren’t doing the cliff climbing. I have something else in mind. Meet me in the arena. Now.”
Ugh. And this day had started so nicely…
Chapter 7
Tahlia
Tahlia climbed onto her Seabreak’s shoulder, holding the edges of the dragon’s scales as she moved toward the saddle.
Maiwenn was already mounted on her male Seabreak, Donan. He flapped his four wings, a larger version of the female’s set, and huffed into the air. The show of dominance was wasted on Tahlia’s dragon. She pranced past him, head high and wings extended like she didn’t see him as any sort of leader.