Arren scoffed. “Branok and Lynx probably murdered him and left him behind a pub.”
Jaik regarded him skeptically. “That seems oddly specific. As if you have a particular scenario in mind.”
Arren just shrugged.
“When did you last see him?” Jaik drummed his fingertips on the table. He was staring off to one side, so it took me a moment to realize he was talking to me. Someone was jealous.
“Ah.” My mind rattled along like a carriage on a steep track, trying to think of what I needed to say to set the stage for Lucien’s return. I hadn’t had a lot of time since waking up to process everything that had happened and how I was going to get out of this sticky situation.
“Was he with you when you were taken?” Jaik’s gaze flared with jealousy, but just like that, he had given me the answer.
“Yes.” I had to make sure that Caldren found out my story before the guys had the chance to get the truth from him, so he could write Lucien into his own version of events. “He came with me when I went to my stepmother’s house.”
“Why did you go?” he demanded.
“Well, at the time I didn’t know I was going to be tortured,” I said, “or I probably would have taken a pass. But my sister was in trouble. Henrick and Alis said that they were going to punish her, to hurt her, and I stepped in. But it was just a trap. They always wanted me.”
“Why exactly is that?” Arren’s gaze and tone was curious but disconnected. His lack of empathy, the focus on the practical, was oddly soothing when my two men were obviously still taut with rage.
“Alis claimed there were secrets locked away in my head, that I’d been enchanted so I wouldn’t remember them, and that the only way to start to break the enchantment was to recreate the experiences from before I was enchanted.”
“You’d been tortured like that when you were just a child.” Jaik’s voice was deadly.
I nodded. “Henrick had been there. I remember his voice, asking me questions, the same questions. They thought I knew where this treasure was hidden.”
Jaik drummed his fingers on the table faster, his face otherwise an impassive mask.
“I’m worried Hanna will think that what happened was her fault,” I said, “but it was never about her, truly, it was always a setup for me.”
“Do you think that’s why Henrick and Alis were together?” Jaik shook his head. “This is why the nobles all need to get permission from the king to marry. To prevent alliances and conspiracies. But where do you fit in?”
“I don’t know.” I rubbed my hand across my face, agitated that I couldn’t access my own memories. “We have to figure out how to break my father’s enchantment. I need my brain back.”
“We’ll figure it out,” Talisyn promised. “I’m willing to bet Pend wanted Alis in custody for a reason.”
“Do you think he knows something about Honor’s past?” Jaik demanded.
“I think that line of thought’s a dangerous one. We don’t have the resources to go up against your father.” Talisyn spoke as if he were reminding Jaik, as if they’d had this conversation before.
“Isn’t that going to be a problem when you said Pend would come for me, sooner or later, if you didn’t stay away from me? You’re definitely not staying away from me, Jaik.” It felt strange, almost blasphemous to use the king’s first name so casually. But that was what my royals did.
“It doesn’t seem to matter if I stay away from you,” Jaik said, “given that you seem to find plenty of trouble on your own.”
“Rude. But, for the record, I’m glad you’re not staying away from me, Jaik.” I reached out to touch his leg, and he shifted away.
“Not until you’re better,” he said,
But I had to wonder if he didn’t want me right now, because he was worried about my health, or because he was furious that I’d been with ‘Lucien.’ Jaik was obviously vibrating between jealousy and protectiveness,
“Are you sure you want me around now, here at the retreat?”
“Of course I do,” he said,
“Even though I was with Lucien when I was taken?” I said the words in a rush.
Jaik frowned. “I guess it’s no surprise that asshole couldn’t keep you safe. I’m only sorry I wasn’t there to protect you. And then Caldren failed you as well.”
“Caldren didn’t fail me. He couldn’t help it.”
“Those two things are not mutually exclusive.”
I rolled my eyes. I couldn’t deal with him right now.
“I want to go where you go.” I needed to be Lucien. But also, I couldn’t imagine staying in this sterile retreat, no matter how beautiful it was, without them. It would feel cold and lonely without my dragons.
“You’re safer here,” he disagreed.
I tried to shrug, but it hurt, and I bit down on my lower lip to stifle my gasp. Jaik’s gaze instantly softened. He’d probably give in to me far more readily now. But the way he’d just softened made me feel a rush of guilt at the thought of exploiting his weakness.
“If you didn’t want me to go back, you should have brought Cal here,” I said.
Jaik said wryly, “Apparently I should’ve brought Cal here, because otherwise all you’ll do is talk about him. Perhaps I’ll drop him off to you and he can entertain you while you’re here and safe.”
His words conjured an image in my mind of him in dragon form, with Cal clutched in his claws before dropping him none too gently on the roof. And sure, the two of us were just bantering at the moment, but perhaps he really would face his jealousy of Cal if he thought it would keep me safe.
“I feel safe when I’m with you, Jaik. I want to know you’re nearby. That no one can hurt me again.”
I was now officially exploiting his vulnerabilities. Jaik’s face seemed to be at war with himself, one side of his protector nature warring with the other protector. He wanted to be the one to watch over me, even as he tried to be logical.
I held my breath, waiting for an answer. I didn’t like to fight with him, not that it ever stopped me.
“Fine,” he gritted out. “But, you sleep in my room where I can keep an eye on you.”
Talisyn raised an eyebrow, but decided not to protest for the moment.
Arren scoffed.
“Do you want the tour of the grounds?” Tal asked.
“She needs to rest,” Jaik said sternly. He still seemed to be vibrating with jealousy, no matter how much he was trying to be calm and rational.
It’s cute how men always seem to think that they’re far more calm and rational than they really are, even though everyone around them can see right through them.
“I’ll help Honor back to her room,” Arren offered. I gave him a suspicious look, and the big angry rock managed to look innocent in response.
“I’ll take her,” Jaik began.
“No, I want a moment to talk to Arren,” I interrupted, which made Jaik look about as thrilled as a cat in the rain. “I still need to thank everyone for coming to my rescue.”