Page 130 of The Witch in the Dead of Night

“I’m alright now,” I assured him.

“I will see to it that the guilty parties are punished, mark my words.”

Nerves skittered down my spine. I didn’t want to see Ivor and Agnes punished, but I held my tongue as his anger pulsed from the skin beneath my fingertips.

We roamed the familiar corridors as I regaled him with stories from our travels, carefully omitting the incident with Luc, and Enhart’s revelations about Ophelia. Mordric’s guards trailed after us, the metal plates of their armor clinking together as they walked.

When I arrived at the story of the witches, his grip on my arm tightened.

“Savages,” he growled. “My Keeper of Secrets is already looking into it.”

I pictured Victoria on the only occasion I had met her, the solstice ball. She’d hovered on the periphery the entire night, a warning lurking behind her narrowed eyes. I’d hate to find myself on the other end of her knife. “Do you think you’ll find them?” I asked.

He scoffed. “I’m the King of Valen, Finn. Of course I will.”

He ushered me into his study, positioning himself behind the orderly stacks of parchment lining his desk. The ruby on his finger sparkled as he folded his hands together. I marveled at how little seemed to have changed in my time away. Except, perhaps, for the presence of the guards who had trailed us into the study.

Not guards, I realized, peering more closely at their uniforms as they settled against the wall to Mordric’s back. Each of them bore a crest on their chests, but instead of the familiar silhouette of Valnar Castle, they touted a sword and a banner.

Soldiers.

“So, you mastered the Ealdorfyre,” said Mordric, recapturing my attention. “I’m so proud of you.”

I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, my eyes trained on the smooth mahogany of the desk. “I don’t know what Ivor’s been telling you, but I haven’t exactly mastered it.”

“Ivor didn’t tell me that,” he corrected me. “Enhart did. He’s very proud of your progress. As am I.”

My cheeks warmed. “That’s very kind of him.”

“I can’t believe I ever let you leave,” he continued, leaning back in his seat. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too. Especially these last few nights.”

The sound of his laughter made my heart flutter. “How about we draw you a hot bath to soothe your aching bones? You’ve more than earned it.”

“I’d like nothing more.”

Mordric’s soldiers detached themselves from the wall as we rose. “Where are we going?” I asked as he pulled me to the left just outside the door to his study.

“I’ve had your things moved to the north wing of the castle.”

My brow creased. I hadn’t wandered into the north wing since I was a chambermaid. The windows pointed away from the city, and even on the brightest of days, there would be no sunlight to spill across the flagstones. Our footsteps were muffled against a worn carpet woven with a trellis of black and crimson.

Throughout the castle, one could often hear the excited babbling of the nobility, spurred by the latest scandal at court. But here, the only noise was the bored shuffling of the soldiers behind us. Even the air was stale, as if we were the only souls to pass through the winding corridors in an age. I wondered if he’d sent word of my return to Niamh and Vesper. Perhaps not, given the circumstances.

“The north wing?” I echoed. “Why?”

“Security,” he explained. “After everything that happened at Hollybrook, I would feel better if you slept here.”

I pulled him to a stop, my fingers wrapped around his wrist. My eyes skirted over the rivulets of red surrounding his irises. “You’re worried,” I observed.

He ducked his head. “I’m always a little worried about you,” he admitted, clasping my hand in his. “But now, even more so.”

“I’ll be alright,” I assured him. “I’m safe here.”

My breath caught in my throat as he pulled me to him, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. Sweeping his fingers under my chin, he tilted my face toward his. That strange emotion spilled out of him again, the one I couldn’t quite place. “Allow me to spoil you,” he implored. “If only for a few nights until I’m sure the witches won’t come crawling in through the windows.”

I chuckled. “If that’s what you want.”