The Sorrow of Shadows (Crimson & Shadows #1)

Chapter 38

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

OPHELIA

I t’s nearly empty when we enter Luella’s tavern late into the evening. Breyla wanted to discuss the next steps, but no longer felt safe to do so in the castle. I’m not sure how a public tavern is any more secure, but here we are.

We take the furthest booth in the back corner, Aurelius, Elijah, Breyla, Jade, and I piling around the table. Luella drops off each of our preferred drinks, and Breyla slips her a few gold Remis to keep the other patrons seated far away from our dark corner. Breyla throws up a silencing shield, but it wouldn’t be impossible to read our lips if someone were close enough. Thus, the bribe to Luella.

Breyla relays the information from our conversation earlier today with Queen Genevieve to catch me and Jade up to speed.

“I don’t like this,” Jade comments. “I feel like we have more questions now than before.”

“I agree,” I say. Elijah is seated next to me, his thigh pressed against mine. His rich cinnamon and chocolate scent fills my nose, overwhelming my senses. Under the table, he rests his hand on my leg, lightly caressing my knee.

A slight flush creeps up my cheeks, and I see Elijah smirk next to me. My mind wanders to all the ways he has and could make me blush.

“—do we feel about Ayden?” Jade questions and I realize I’ve lost track of the conversation in my daydreaming.

Luckily, Breyla saves me and pipes in with, “As much as I hate to admit it, I don’t think Ayden is behind the attacks. Not that I trust him, necessarily.”

“What did I miss? Why are you suddenly doubting Ayden when you were yelling at me for doing just that days ago?” Aurelius asks.

Breyla sighs. “I forgot to mention that. I still don’t trust that he isn’t up to something, but Ayden doesn’t seem that malicious. There was something he did later that same night that showed another side to him.”

Aurelius drums his fingers along the tabletop and takes a generous drink of his ale. “What did he do that made you suddenly so fond of him?” he asks, tone even, but I can sense the underlying anger in his words.

“I couldn’t sleep, so I went to the kitchens for tea. When I arrived, he was there as well. There was a blood-curdling scream coming from Jade’s room.”

Jade stiffens, looking confused. “I don’t remember?—”

“You were having a night terror. I heard it, too,” Elijah answers before she can ask the question.

“Right. When we got to her room, he didn’t hesitate to make it...stop. You were thrashing and crying and couldn’t be woken, Jade.” Breyla’s eyes look apologetic, and Jade says nothing.

“When I asked him why I should trust him not to make it worse, he told me he would never intentionally make someone hurt worse than Jade already was. That there wasn’t much worse he could do than what she was already seeing in the nightmare. ”

“So, what? One good deed done, and you suddenly trust him?” Aurelius says, his tone accusatory.

Breyla bristles beside me and growls, “I just said I don’t trust him. I simply think there’s more to him than meets the eye. He’s up to something, I just don’t think that something is assassination attempts and murder.”

Jade takes that opportunity to point out, “You were literally the one who argued that Ayden wasn’t behind it when we talked two days ago, Aurelius.”

“He still believes that; he’s just being insecure about me possibly trusting the prince,” Breyla clarifies.

“Why would Prince Ayden make him feel insecure?” I ask mischievously.

“I’m not insecu—” Aurelius starts while Breyla says, “Because we’re fucking, and he’s possessive.”

I lock eyes with Jade across the table and blurt out, “Ha! I told you so. Pay up!”

Jade slaps a coin purse into my open palm and huffs.

“Wait, did you two have a bet going on if we were together or not?” Breyla asks.

“Maybe we did, maybe we already suspected and had a bet on who would be the first to admit it.”

“Why didn’t you let me in on this bet?” Elijah asks, offended.

“As if you didn’t already pry that secret out of Breyla,” Jade replies, shaking her head at him.

He smiles wickedly. “True. She lost a bet to me and had to give the memory over.”

“Gross,” Jade shudders.

Elijah raises his ale to his lips before muttering, “It was really hot. Our Aurelius here is hung like—” His description of Aurelius's male parts is muffled by his drink being dumped on his face thanks to Breyla’s shadows tipping the mug.

He wipes the ale off, and I catch Breyla staring daggers at him, her cheeks flaming. Aurelius is trying to hide a smile, pure male ego sparkling in his dark eyes.

“Temper, Princess,” he tsks and pulls her closer to him, laying a kiss on her cheek.

“He deserved it,” she mutters, relaxing into his hold. “Why do you always have to dampen my anger?”

“I don’t, but you’re incredibly easy to get worked up, and that won’t help us right now. You can be mad at me later,” he says with a suggestive wink.

She groans and throws her head back. “Anyway...what are our next steps?”

“I’ll see what I can find out about my father’s intentions and whereabouts over the last several months,” I offer, chewing my bottom lip. Elijah's eyes are locked on it, a heated look in his eyes, and I find myself wishing to be alone with him. “Good, but if it comes down to your safety or answers, you will choose your safety, Ophelia. Am I understood?” Breyla’s face is deadly serious.

I nod in understanding.

“Elijah, were you able to learn anything else about the servant we found in the river?”

“While you were gone, I was finally able to track down who she was. Her name was Delilah Howard. She had spent most of her time in the kitchen but had been recently reassigned to serve Lord Seamus Delencourt.” My leg bounces nervously under the table at how that sounds.

Breyla chokes on the ale she was drinking, the droplets spraying out of her mouth. “I can’t be the only one that thinks that’s more than a little suspicious.” She turns to me and asks, “Do you know anything about this?” Her tone isn’t accusatory, but my eyes widen at being put on the spot.

“No, I swear I’ve never heard of her before. My father rarely shares details with me about anything,” I say quickly, nearly tripping over my words .

“Calm down, Ophelia,” Breyla says softly, trying to assuage my nerves. “No one is accusing you of anything. I was just curious if you had seen her around your father before. You will always be safe with me, regardless of your father’s actions.”

My shoulders slump and I let out a sigh of relief. “No, I hadn’t ever seen her around my father, but I can see if there’s anything in his records that mentions her.”

“Thank you,” Breyla says, turning her attention back to me. “Is there anything else?”

“The last bit is just servant’s gossip, but you know how that is. It usually holds some truth. Word is her family was recently gifted a large sum of money from an unknown benefactor.”

Breyla nods, taking a sip of her drink. “I think it’s past time we paid her family a visit.”

“Consider it done, General.”

Breyla turns to Jade next. “We’re still missing something from Nolan’s death. Can you see what you can find out from the castle guards? Discreetly, of course. Try not to need your coercion, but if you must use it, you have my full support.”

“I can handle that. They’ll probably trust me more than the rest of you, anyway.” She’s not wrong.

“I will continue looking into Ayden’s movements, just in case we’re missing something. My mother plans to announce her engagement to Lord Seamus at a dinner in three days’ time. We must have something more to go off by then.”

It’s quiet by the time we return to the castle from Luella’s. Elijah is walking me back to my chambers when his restraint finally snaps. Right before we arrive, he grabs me by the hip and presses me back against the door before I can open it.

His large frame and hard muscles feel heavenly pressed against me. He stares down at me, brown eyes sparkling in the low light. My lips part slightly, and he seizes the opportunity, leaning down and capturing my mouth with his own.

The kiss is slow and exploring, his tongue tracing my lips and begging entrance. I open for him and let my tongue dance with his, tangling and tasting every inch of his mouth. I whimper softly when he presses himself against me, and I feel his hardness against my lower belly. I’ve wanted him alone all evening, and now I have him.

He breaks our kiss and trails his lips down my neck before asking, “How do you plan on looking into your father’s whereabouts and intentions, O?”

“Hmmm?” I hum, not totally processing his question in my lusty haze.

“Tell me your plan, Ophelia,” he demands as he nips my earlobe gently. I whimper softly, my back arching off the wall.

“I’m going to break into his study. He keeps meticulous records.” I wind my arms around the back of his neck and pull him closer, trying to direct his lips back to mine.

“Then I’m coming with you.” It’s a statement, not a question.

“Why?” I pant between the kisses he peppers down my throat.

“To keep you safe, of course.”

My body stills, and he pulls back to look me in the eyes. I'm filled with pure awe, surprised someone would care enough.

“I will never not keep you safe, Ophelia. Always,” he vows, stroking my cheek gently.

“Okay,” I agree quietly. “Now fucking kiss me, Elijah.”

He replies, “Yes, ma’am,” then takes my mouth again in a fevered kiss.

I melt like butter under his touch and savor every bit of his dark kiss before he bids me goodnight.