19

The guard narrowed his eyes. “The king specifically requested a private meeting.”

I wasn’t just a guest in King Draugar’s palace, though. I was the Queen of Frasia. I could make a few demands of my own. “I understand,” I said. “But I must have my attendants with me. I’m happy to meet with the king as long as my attendants are welcome.”

The guard kept his tight gaze fixed on me. I matched it with a kind smile, eyes wide and expression pleasant. He couldn’t force me to attend, and he knew it.

“Fine,” he said. “If they must.” He sneered at Fina and Adora, clearly expecting them to excuse themselves, but they only smiled just as pleasantly. I suppressed a real smile of my own. I could always count on those two to back me up.

Defeated, the guard finally nodded and muttered, “Follow me.”

He led us out of the guest annex and through the main foyer, past the ornate golden throne room doors - I realized I still hadn’t seen the inside - and toward the western wing. The guard stopped in front of a plain wooden door just off the throne room, which was so unremarkable against the stone wall that I would’ve walked right by if he hadn’t pointed it out. He knocked briskly once, then opened it.

This was evidently a study, small but intimate, with a deep desk and built-in shelves lining the walls, bursting with books of all shades and sizes. The hardwood floor was covered with colored woven rugs layered over each other. They were soft, even luxurious under my feet. There were no windows, but instead of a ceiling there was an immense skylight, and the sun’s rays made the room feel warm.

King Draunar was leaning over his desk, reviewing some documents, and then turned with a smile when he heard the door open. He’d replaced his ceremonial golden robe with an elegant but slightly less intense outfit: an ivory-colored shirt and pants, which made his tan skin look like it glowed. The effect was only heightened by the jewelry still dripping off him. His green eyes flickered to Fina and Adora, and a scowl briefly crossed his face before it melted back into his welcoming smile. But I saw it happen. The fact that he was furious upon seeing the two only assured me that I’d made the right decision by inviting them.

“Good afternoon, Your Highness,” I said politely. “You requested a meeting?”

“Queen Reyna,” King Draunar said. “It’s so kind of you to meet me on such short notice.”

He stepped closer and took my hand delicately in his own, then lifted my knuckles to his lips and brushed them with a kiss. The contact made my wolf raise her hackles again, and I fought back the urge to bare my teeth when his eyes met mine. He beamed, revealing his golden fangs.

I tugged myself out of his grasp and folded both hands neatly behind my back. Then I took a delicate step back, putting some distance between us. “Certainly,” I said. “How can I help you?”

“Oh, Queen Reyna, it’s not your help I’m after.” He turned back to his desk and opened one of the lower drawers, then pulled out a faded tube. With a smile, he held it out toward me. “Consider it a wedding gift.”

The leather felt supple against my fingers. I pulled the top of it off and peered inside.

“Be careful removing it,” King Draunar said. “It’s quite delicate.”

I could smell the age of the paper, strong and dusty from being packed away. The smell thrilled me—it was a library smell, a beloved one for me: the promise of mysteries and knowledge right at my fingertips.

“What is this?” I asked.

“Take a look,” he said. He looked pleased at my reaction, his smile even wider as he gestured toward his desk.

Behind me, Fina sighed with the knowledge that we all might be here a little longer than I had initially expected. She and Adora took a seat on the small settee by the door. My curiosity about whatever was inside the leather tube quickly won out over my nerves about being here in Draunar’s study. I carefully tapped the document out of the tube and unfurled it gently onto the desk. The sensory feeling was stronger now, as if an entire library was in one document, the familiar scent of dust and ink surrounding me.

“Gods above,” I murmured as I drank it in.

It was a map of Frasia—ancient Frasia. Perhaps even from before it was officially a state. Pack territories were noted on the map, but without any of our hard borders, and the cities were recorded as villages and townships. The forests were larger, the dammed rivers still winding, and the coastlines slightly differently shaped. South of Efra, the territory marked was almost entirely Fae. And the Fae controlled the entire northeast peninsula, too. I hadn’t even realized the Fae had history at all in the northeast.

“Where did you get this?” I asked.

“Oh, it’s from my private archives.” King Draunar’s voice was so close to my ear, it was nearly a whisper. I started; I’d been so absorbed in the map I hadn’t notice him creep up behind me, close as a shadow. I jumped and knocked myself back into his chest. But he steadied me with a hand on the upper arm.

From the settee, Adora coughed delicately.

I shifted to the side, putting more distance between us, but we were still close at the desk, enough that I could smell the amber-leather scent of his cologne under my beloved old-paper smell. I cleared my throat. “Do you know when it was drawn? I’m quite curious about the changing territories.”

“I know quite a lot about it.” King Draunar said. “I’m happy to share my knowledge with you, Queen Reyna.”

“When did the Fae territories begin to shrink in the south?” I asked as I tapped my finger delicately against their realm on the map. “And for that matter, how long were they in the northeast? I have no record of that.”