Lord of the Hunt by Shona Husk

Author:Shona Husk [Husk, Shona]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal, Fiction
ISBN: 9781402280191
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
Published: 2014-01-07T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Finding Gwyn wasn’t difficult. He was spending more and more time in the Hall of Judgment, settling the more frequent disputes between fairies and the dealing with the influx of mortals’ souls. When he saw Verden, he signaled him over.

While it wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have, the King needed to be aware of the worsening situation—while Verden had promised not to mention the meeting with Felan and what was said, he hadn’t promised not to do his job.

Gwyn raised his hand before Verden could speak. “I know. I know what you have come to tell me.”

“It is my duty to report on the dire situation I’m finding across the veil.”

“Thank you for your loyalty. There are so few I can rely on.” Gwyn appeared calm, almost resigned to the fact that winter was going to smother Annwyn.

Annoyance bubbled in Verden’s blood like human soft drink but far more bitter. “Is there nothing you can do to fix the rift between you and Eyra?”

“It has gone too far. Shea’s death has sealed the fate of Annwyn and set her mood to violence.”

For a moment, Verden didn’t know what to say. Did Gwyn have any idea how bad it was beyond the castle? “There is frost on the trees by the river.”

“There is nothing I can do. It all rests with Felan.”

That was a lie. Gwyn could be doing more to slow the spread. Instead, he taunted the Queen.

“How does playing games with Taryn help?” She was his, not the King’s.

Gwyn stood, his pale eyes like chips of blue ice. Winter had already filled the old King. “You forget yourself, Hunter.”

Verden bowed low. He didn’t want to be exiled and face death when the power of the Court shifted from father to son. “Of course you may pursue whoever takes your fancy.” He kept his eyes on the floor, knowing that if he looked up, the man he’d once called a friend would see the deception on his face.

“Tell my son to hurry up and get his act together next time you roll dice with him.” That was as close as the King was ever going to come to admitting it was over and that he would step aside without battle.

While it was the best possible outcome, that he was even thinking it a good thing and feeling relieved was treason. What could Verden say? Nothing. So he stayed silent.

“While you are still my Hunter, I have one other request. Arrange a hunt. I want to ride my kingdom again.” Both men knew it was possibly for the last time. Did Felan even realize how close his coronation was? The Prince needed to find a wife more quickly.

“It would be my pleasure.” It had been too long between hunts. Maybe he’d get the chance to spend some time with Taryn. Verden bowed again, this time to hide the telltale curves of a smile that wanted to form at the corners of his lips. The King was right; he couldn’t trust anyone at the moment.

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