Panther's Bride by Kimberly A Rogers

Author:Kimberly A Rogers [Rogers, Kimberly A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2018-11-05T05:00:00+00:00

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Tendaji paced the length of the guest chamber provided by Vainlyn. The earl was a master at playing games. A little more than a fortnight had passed since he left his home, over a sennight since he had first crossed the threshold of Vainlyn’s keep, and still the man refused to see him. Always, there was the promise of a meeting that was merely an excuse to continue playing at cooperation even as he strove to avoid the actual meeting.

A low growl escaped him before he clamped it down once more. Athar looked up from where he was studying the scrolls of Shaddai and tapped the corner of his left eye. “Take care, your grace.”

Turning his back on the man, Tendaji closed his eyes. He had not dared to remove his mask or even speak of anything pertinent to his own estate. He could smell the changes in the drafts in the room and on occasion the wood smoke that clung to their appointed spy’s clothing. “Vainlyn will not see me.”

“He sent his excuses,” Abasi murmured from where he had stretched out on the settee, left arm draped over his eyes.

“An appropriate word,” Tendaji muttered under his breath. “Remain here.”

“What are you going to do?”

“It is time the Earl of Vainlyn recalled why I have come to see him.”

He strode from the room, black cloak billowing behind him. A moment later, footsteps caught up to him. He glanced back to see Athar and Abasi both following behind him. Why he expected father and son to listen to his orders now, he didn’t know. They might not have been shape changers, but they could still be extremely stubborn about when they would listen to his commands.

There was no guard posted outside of Vainlyn’s bookroom. He likely did not expect to need one. There was a scream when Tendaji thrust the door open and one of the serving girls scrambled to escape past the three newcomers, wimple clutched in one hand. He made no move to stop her as he focused on the man sitting behind the desk.

Vainlyn bore a striking resemblance to the queen’s consort but where Brand’s good humor and honor lurked behind his eyes, only self-indulgence and annoyance flickered behind Vainlyn’s brown eyes. He gave a little sniff of disdain as he removed the stopper from a crystal bottle and poured ruby red wine into a goblet. “Glenrowan, to what do I owe this disruption of my evening plans?”

“There are raiders trespassing into Glenrowan lands. Their tracks cross our shared border multiple times. Are you paying mercenaries to cause mischief again?”

Vainlyn set the bottle back down and replaced the stopper with deliberate care. “Now, I seem to recall the . . . queen forbidding all nobles from employing the service of sell swords. And given that my freedom rests on keeping her majesty happy, I do not see how anyone could believe me to take such a risk.”

“You may love your neck, but do you love it

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