A Court of Schemes and Secrets: Shadowguard Trials Book Two by Britt Samantha

Author:Britt, Samantha
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 3

Impeccable spatial awareness and common sense leads me to the west wing of Queen Ulla’s palace without any assistance. I passed the dining hall on my way here. Based on the boisterous conversation and clanking of dishes, the meal was still underwear. With any luck, Thalore will be there, and I’ll be able to take in my new living accommodations without him hovering nearby.

Now that I’m in the west wing, however, I have no way of identifying which room is Thalore’s. There aren’t exactly name plates on the doors, indicating which noble family lives behind their heavy wood structures.

I am contemplating the merits of wandering the halls on the first floor until I run into a palace maid or royal guard when I hear a familiar, musical voice call, “Guardian Loftin?”

I follow the sound of Julley’s formal address and smile at her friendly face as she descends the wide staircase. “May I lead you to your rooms?”

I nod and meet her halfway up the stairs. She leads me to the third floor—the highest level in the palace. My old rooms were also on this level, but they were in the royal wing to account for my need to be close to Princess Alora.

I wonder if I will be prohibited from acting as her body decoy now that I am no longer allowed to work with the royal guard. If so, it would be an incredible waste. Though the majority of my time in Avedon was spent dealing with the betrothal contest, I did not forget there’s an unknown danger hovering over the fae royals’ heads. Elini, the youngest princess, was kidnapped from her bed. I found her in a blood laboratory in my realm. It’s what kicked off my involvement with the fae in the first place.

Just because I focused on surviving the betrothal contest doesn’t mean protecting the princesses shouldn’t be a priority. Maybe Queen Ulla will make an exception for me working as Alora’s decoy.

“Here we are.” Julley stops in front of the widest double set door on the third floor. In fact, I realize it is one of only three doors in the hall. The other two are smaller and subtle. They look like linen closets.

Julley confirms my suspicions when she says, “The Evergreen family is the only family that lives on this level of the west wing.”

The noble family must be very valuable to the queen to warrant such exclusive accommodations.

I lock that information away for later. Maybe I’ll be able to convince the illustrious family to dissolve the mating between me and Thalore. They can’t want him to be with a human. Or half-fae, if they subscribe to that narrative about my family.

Julley withdraws a bronze key and unlocks the door. She hands it to me. “Lord Thalore instructed I give this to you.”

I pocket the key and follow her inside.

My first impression of Thalore’s rooms is they have a distinctively masculine touch. Dark furniture with green, blue, and gold cushions, carpet, and drapes. I stand in the middle of a sitting room.

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