“It must be how they knew to find you in Silver Sands,” Rua said, speaking to Lina. “As your personal healer, he’s probably closer to you than anyone.”

Lina’s eyes searched Rua’s and she nodded, her voice filling with menace. “Just let me know when they find him.”

“Come play a hand,” Rua offered, glancing at Bri. “We can break the news to Talhan together.”

Bri snickered. “How gracious, Your Majesty.”

“I’ll unsaddle the horse.” Aneryn held up a hand as Bri moved to step over the threshold. “Maybe you two should go freshen up first.”

Lina grimaced and Bri winked at Lina as she tried to contain her laugh. “Point taken.”

Chapter 36

Chapter Thirty-Six

Renwick’s study was as refined and well-appointed as Bri had expected . . . apart from the mob of drunken fae gathered around the large card table.

Renwick shuffled the cards in his hands. “Shall I deal you in?” he asked, nodding to the empty chairs between Talhan and Hale.

“Gods, it’s just like Saxbridge,” Lina said with a mocking grin, eyeing Remy sitting on Hale’s lap. “I should have known you two were Fated right then.”

Remy’s hand brushed across Hale’s neck as she shrugged. “I’m keeping him from losing all of the High Mountain Court’s gold.”

Rua sat beside her Fated, sweeping her wavy brown hair over her shoulder and placing her elbows on the table. “I’d make him give it back.”

Chuckling, Aneryn lifted Ehiris off her shoulder and placed the hawk on a perch nailed between two shelves.

“Have your guards found Cole yet?” Lina asked, pulling all eyes to her.

Renwick’s emerald gaze dropped from her to the cards in his hand. “Not yet.”

“They’ll find him,” Talhan reassured. “How far can a witch get in a storm?” He glanced at Aneryn. “No offense.”

She tsked. “I’m not the only one with witch blood in this room.”

“Ugh.” Talhan chortled, his deep laugh shaking through him. “Half of you have witch magic in some way or another. At this point, I can’t keep up.”

A knock sounded on the door, and they all turned to it, hoping for some news about Cole.

“Enter,” Renwick called, and a soldier clad in the new Northern Court uniform opened the door.

“There was a message from the fae fire, Your Majesty,” the guard said with a bow.

Everyone paused, leaning in.

“Word on Cole?” Bri asked.

“It was from the Western Court council checking on the Princess.” The guard glanced at Lina. “They asked Her Highness to call back at her nearest convenience.”

Bri bit the inside of her lip. When had Lina told her council that she had come to Murreneir? Did they know about what happened in Silver Sands? Had someone else in the palace notified the Western council?