Dame of Owls by A.M. Belrose

Author:A.M. Belrose [Belrose, A.M.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2013-12-19T00:00:00+00:00

Part V

Sid was perturbed, and not because she’d just rounded a few more bases than she’d ever meant to with Chris. She couldn’t regret that, though she might have held off until they weren’t in the middle of the training grounds. Being at home had unsettled her in ways she hadn’t predicted, and everything felt uneasy. Everything except Chris. Maybe it wasn’t fair to him, but. It wasn’t as if he’d stick around, was it? He’d have his fill of them and go home, and they’d both be able to remember sex in stupid places with nostalgic fondness. Nothing more, nothing less.

She pushed away the nagging memories of his heat and concentrated on her certainty that she was missing something important. She’d distracted herself with Chris, with his training and the improvement of his biceps, to stay away from thoughts of the Lily Knight and his companion.

The queen’s decision had been made. Court justice would be brought to bear on the prisoners; a beheading and burning awaited them. A very circumspect beheading. The queen claimed it was a precaution to avoid panic, and Sid wanted to believe her. But that didn’t answer the question of how the Summer Court had gotten access to the House of Pines in the first place, whether this was being considered an act of open warfare, whether or not they would retaliate.

When Sid would be sent back to war.

Why this was all so focused on Chris.

The House of Cats could not possibly have offended the Summer Court so deeply. They had a colorful history of internal politics, but sent few children to battle. Capella was the most agreeable Lady they’d ever had, and her rule was going on three hundred years now. Sid couldn’t imagine her stirring up such trouble.

But the Summer queen had placed her soldiers inside Winter lands. For Chris. For one nearly mortal offshoot of a nearly inconsequential house. It didn’t add up. Time to go asking, and Sid hated asking.

She cleaned herself up, shunning both her usual gowns and her comfortable training gear. The trousers, shirt, and tunic she chose were those she wore under her armor: white and brown, the colors of her house, and embroidered with gold owls. The outfit made a statement, even without her mail. For the first time in too long, Sid lifted her sword off its rack and belted on her scabbard. In lieu of a shield, her sword would have to communicate her sentiments.

Sid’s mother had long ago retired to their estate, leaving Sid’s eldest sister as lady at Court. Sid didn’t have a problem with Ruby, per se, but they’d never really connected. One thousand years was something of a generation gap.

The House of Owls had their palace quarters nearest to the queen’s, above every other house in station. Sid was holding back on bringing Chris here, hoping to save him from swallowing his tongue. She only liked it when he swallowed hers.

Sid shook her head briskly to banish that thought and strode down the halls to her sister’s door.

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