She raised her head, pulling back her hood, and Athol gasped before he could stop himself.

“My gods, Keita.”

She fell into his arms then, clinging to him. “My own family did this to me, Athol. Even now they look for me. Can I stay here? Just for a little while?”

“Of course.” He helped her in, motioned to his guards to close the gates. “You’ll be safe here, my lady. I promise.” Elder Gillivray caught up with Elder Lailoken. They were both in human form and were heading toward a paid carriage that would take them the rest of the way to the Outerplains. From there, they’d get another transport to Quintilian Provinces.

Together they’d left Dark Plains nearly two days ago, fleeing when word had spread about the attack on Princess Keita. She’d also disappeared, the princess’s Northland lover and his kin sent packing, and the queen in a rage few had seen before. So, for their own safety, worried that the Cadwaladrs would turn their attacks on them, the pair had headed off.

Overlord Thracius had guaranteed their safety, and they would take him up on it.

They hurried around a corner but froze, the light flooding from the open back door of a pub glinting off a battle ax resting on broad shoulders.

“My lords.”

“Who in all the hells are you?”

“Name’s Vigholf. The bloke behind ya is me cousin, Meinhard.” And the one behind them was bigger than the one in front. “Lord Bercelak asked us to do a favor.”

“And we love doing favors.”

“I’m surprised Ren’s not with you.”

Keita took the cup of tea Athol’s assistant handed her, but she didn’t drink from it, simply held it in a shaking hand.

“I don’t know where he is. Things have become so awful.”

“And Gwenvael?” The siblings had never been to his castle at the same time, but Athol knew they were related. He also knew what they were.

He knew what everything was that entered his domain.

“Angry with me. They’re all angry with me. They think I betrayed my mother.”

Athol sat back. “Did you?”

“Of course not. I’d never take such a risk. You know well how she feels about me as it is.”

“True.” She stared into her cup, and Athol asked, “Why did you come here before?”

“I was looking for my aunt. I’d heard my mother was searching for her and…”

“You wanted to make sure she was safe.”

Keita suddenly placed her cup of tea on the side table, allowing her to begin wringing her hands. “You need to understand…I would never hurt Esyld. I simply needed to ensure that she’d say nothing to my mother that could create problems for me.” She licked her lips. “I just would have sent her someplace safe, where my mother couldn’t find her.” Keita winced, touched the wounds on her beautiful face gingerly. “Now I need to find someplace safe.”

“There’s no one who can help you?”

“The two Elders who were my allies in my mother’s court have gone missing.”

“You mean Gillivray and Lailoken?”

Keita’s head snapped up, her eyes wide in panic. “Gods!” she nearly screamed, jumping up, her chair falling backward and crashing to the floor.

“You’re working with my mother!”

“No, no.” Athol quickly stood and caught her hands. “I promise you I’m not. Ease yourself.”

“Then how did you know about—”

“It’s all right. I promise.”

Athol closed his eyes, a voice calling to him. Bring her to me, Athol.

Putting his arm around Keita’s shoulders, he said, “Come, Keita. I want you to meet someone.”

Athol took her through a door in the back of his private rooms that led to a staircase. With his assistant behind him, he escorted Keita to the fourth floor—and to another set of rooms that she’d never been to during her time at Castle Moor.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked.

“These are my private chambers for special guests.”

“I am in no mood for any of that, Athol,” Keita said, trying to pull away.

“Of course you’re not. That’s not what’s here.” He led her through several rooms until he reached glass doors in the very back. He knocked once and opened them, stepping inside.

“Keita, it is my pleasure to introduce you to your mother’s cousin and Overlord Thracius’s wife—Lady Franseza.”

Keita had heard about Franseza. She, like many who’d feared Rhiannon’s reign, had fled when Keita’s mother took power. But no one had any idea Franseza had joined forces with Thracius and become his wife.

Then again, no one had really cared about Franseza at the time.

“My mother’s cousin?” she asked, making sure to sound appropriately confused.

“Hello, my dear.”

Franseza was dressed in the Quintilian fashion of a long, sleeveless tunic draped around her human frame, gold bangles on her wrists, gold earrings dangling from her ears, and a thick gold necklace around her throat.

“I have waited so long to meet you, dearest cousin.”

“Meet me? Why?”

“We can discuss all that later.” Franseza held her arms out. “Come.

Let me get a better look at you.”

Keita stepped forward, moving around a large bed. But she stopped, her gaze catching sight of the naked female lying on the floor, a thick collar around her neck, and the chain attached to it locking her to the bed.