Page 71 of Shadow Queen
She gave a small smile. “Itissmall. You know, if Adrian could choose to be like anyone, it would be you. He idolizes you.”
Alexander looked down at their hands clasped together and sighed, conceding.
“And I wish you’d try to understand the commander.” She glanced down at the dogs. “He’s not always what you think.”
But that, she knew, he’d never do.
Chapter twenty-one
Norahstoodinthedoorway of Mikael’s study, watching him. He sat at his desk, his eyes on a letter but not reading it.
“What troubles you?” she asked.
He looked up at her in surprise, and she gave a reassuring smile.
Mikael drew in a breath as he sat back against his chair. He seemed reluctant to answer as he folded the letter back and set it on the desk. “Gregor,” he said finally. “He arrives in two days’ time.”
“Japheth’s king? Why is he coming?” Norah knew a little history from what her grandmother had shared with her.
Japheth had once been part of the greater Aleon Empire ruled by Phillip’s father, but upon his death, the empire was split between his three sons. Feeling robbed of his birthright as the eldest, Gregor had killed his youngest brother, Aston, and absorbed Aston’s kingdom of Hetahl under Japheth. When he rose against Phillip to take the remaining Aleon kingdoms, Mercia stood as Phillip’s ally, prompting Gregor to seek an alliance with Kharav. Kharav, already motivated to go to war with Mercia, was quick to agree. This had been the start of the Great War.
Now that Norah and Mikael were wed, and Mercia and Kharav united, this no doubt left both their previous allies uneasy. She was surprised that Gregor would visit, especially with her presence at the castle.
Mikael gave a grumbled sigh, clearly annoyed by the news himself. “He comes to set new trade terms.”
“Trade terms you’re not pleased with?”
He cast her a hesitant eye. When it came to ruling Kharav, he still kept her at a distance. The ways of Kharav still bothered her—the harshness, the violence—and it was his way of sheltering her from them. But she didn’t want to be sheltered. She wanted him to share his burdens with her. She drew closer and reached out, putting her hand on his cheek. “Will you not tell me?” she asked softly.
He looked at her for a moment. “I’m not pleased,” he said finally. “I suspect he’s allied himself with another.” He stood. “His demands are outrageous. Something makes him bold.”
“Who could he join who is greater than you? Greater than Mercia and Aleon?”
Mikael shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“Maybe it’s a bluff.”
Mikael snorted. “Gregor’s a coward. He wouldn’t take the risk.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
He sighed. “I don’t know. I can agree to his demands and appear weak.”
“Or?”
“I can kill him.”
Norah frowned. She wasn’t sure why she’d expected anything different. “I’m glad to see we’ve covered options at both extreme ends of the spectrum.” She pushed out a breath. “What about something in between?”
“There is nothing in between.”
Her brow stitched down. “How about just refusing?”
“If Gregor leaves without an accord, it means he leaves as a potential enemy. And I can’t have another enemy. Not with the North and Aleon both poised against me.”
Her heart hardened. How could he say that? And to her… “Mercia is not against you.”
He snorted. “Even your lord justice confirms your council won’t stand with me. I need Japheth more than ever.”
