Kings: Chaos Book 5.5 by Claire Farrell

Author:Claire Farrell [Farrell, Claire]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fantasy
Published: 2015-09-08T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Drake

A sharp rap at his bedroom door disturbed Drake from his breakfast. He wiped his mouth, dropped the napkin on the plate, then answered the door. A servant he had noticed being enthralled by Donella’s stories on more than one occasion stood at the door, his red-rimmed eyes insolent and sullen.

His slouched stance immediately sent Drake on edge. “Did you want something?” he barked.

“You’re wanted by that healer.” The servant sniffed. “It’s important.”

“Get back to work,” Drake snapped, slamming the door shut. He had only spoken to the Miacha earlier that morning. If Blue Eyes wanted to see him again already, it had to mean bad news.

He strapped a sword to his waist and hid daggers in a number of places. The casual clothing styles worn in the other courts were more comfortable, but the pretentious, formal modes of dress his court preferred made it easier for him to conceal his weapons. His hand hovered over a dagger; easier for an assassin, too.

Fully armed, he left his room to visit his wife’s quarters in the next hallway.

He nodded at his male bodyguard, a large daoine sídhe whom Dymphna enthusiastically vouched for. Dymphna herself had vowed to spend as long as it took looking for the culprit. Painting a bloody X on the bedroom door of one’s sovereign wasn’t a pledge of loyalty. Drake sighed as he realised he would have to put yet another subject to death. Perhaps the sacrifice would give Sorcha some vitality. He could have sworn her eyes looked brighter after the old man was hanged two weeks previously.

The halls were conspicuously empty. The absence of staff made Drake nervous. He changed his mind, instead intending to make one other stop before he reached Sorcha’s quarters. He hesitated outside Donella’s room. The smart choice would be to bed her and convince her of his loyalty to her. The smart choice would be to allow her to remove Sorcha so she could step into the queen’s throne, and he would keep his own.

He had never been smart.

He didn’t knock. He violently pushed open the door. Donella, sitting at a dressing table in just a corset, turned to look at him. Her hands were stained as she smeared crimson liquid from a jug onto her skin.

Shocked, he almost took a step back. “Is that blood?”

She gestured toward the jug. “Is Sorcha in need of a skincare treatment?”

“Sorcha doesn’t need anything you’re selling.”

She let out a scoffing laugh and turned back to her mirror. “That’s not what I hear.”

“Maybe stop listening to gossip and start considering your precarious position in his court,” he said coldly. “If there’s one more incident, you’re gone, Donella. I won’t tolerate anything else from you.”

“You’d banish me?” Her voice was mocking. “Whatever would my friends do?” She turned in her seat and sucked her thumb clean. “I suppose they could always come with me.”

“Last chance,” he spat before leaving and slamming the door behind him. Dealing with Donella left his skin crawling on a regular basis.

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