Reign Queen L. Gibbs (best books to read for young adults TXT) 📖

her and much more to her tastethan the aged brown leather armchair beside it, stood by a packedshelf loaded with bound manuscripts. Her chair sported an oversizedround cushion and curved back, and was a soft pale-green material.The room had a separate balcony, which she had stood on for a fewminutes.

She had stared out at the maze. It was nolonger lit. Tomorrow she planned to take advantage of the view andlook for hidden pockets among the twists and turns where guardsmight lurk. Lurk was probably not the correct term. Where theymight stand sentry when important people roamed Konnelby’screation.

She wandered from the balcony to the landingabove the stairs and peered down to the unlit room below. The smallroom just past the stair entry had few furnishings, just a comfychair and a small dresser. It seemed deliberately incomplete. Theemptiness did not hold her interest, and she had returned to standat the top of the stairs. She’d perused all she could of the roomsoff their chambers.

Below she could pace through larger rooms andwork off the fury still rising in her chest. She felt choked withit. However long he’d been gone, it was enough time for her to getproperly annoyed at his repeated assumption that she needed to staybehind, waiting for him to fix whatever was going wrong. Her handsclenched, and she descended two steps in the stairwell, which stillcontained the lamp Russal had set aside when they had been headingup to their room.

Heading up to their room, that was aninaccurate description. Her face flushed with the memory of howmuch she had enjoyed going up those stairs with him.

But where was Russal now?

She stomped down the stairs, grabbing thelamp, and entered the dark room below.

Someone stirred on a chair to her left.“You’re far more patient than I am.”

Kambry swung the lamp toward the male voice,already recognizing Covey’s amused tones. “What are you doing here?How did you get past the guards?”

“Passageways,” he said, his half smile takinghold of her earlier frustration and using it as a jumping offpoint.

Instantly outraged, she yelled, “I want youout of here!”

“Where’s Russal?” He settled into the chairas if intending to remain until the king returned.

Kambry strode toward him. “Leave.”

Covey held out an object to her. The lamp’srays glinted on the dark shape.

“Where did you get that?” In his hand lay thewalnut panther Master Sazer had carved and finished for her. He hadalready damaged it once. Or had he acquired a copy?

“You repaired it.” His voice carried anassumption that made her eyes squint. “I’ll return it later.” Heslid it into an inside pocket. “I promise.”

So this was the original, and he’d taken itfrom the queen’s parlor. Had he broken it knowing she would useKavin magic to fuse the pieces back together?

“Even Russal has failed to realize what onecan do with Kavin magic at one’s fingertips. But you, you are anatural. Perhaps he knows that.” He tipped his head as if toconsider the impact of his words and patted the pocket.

She wanted to take the carving from him, butshe held herself back and worked to appear calm. She noted he nolonger dyed his hair brown. The strawberry blond shone even in theshadows he sat in. He’d had it cut back to the recent growth sothat only the tips still appeared a chestnut color. The curlsfringed his face and neck. So it couldn’t have been him in thethrone room. Was Kavin merely warning her he was here in thecastle?

Covey tapped his chin. “Could he have chosenyou for your potential? I do recall when he was quite young how hepored over the books regarding Kavin magic.”

“What are you talking about?” She shook herhead. “Never mind. Just leave.”

“But I came to talk, and it’s going to beawhile before Russal returns. He kept you fairly entertained whilehe was here, but Tomo interrupted.” For a moment, his jawtightened. It relaxed too quickly. “Fortunate. Leave with me, andyou won’t have to attach yourself any further to the falseking.”

He’d been watching them? No, he might haveheard them, but he couldn’t have been in the stairwell. As for thebedroom, Russal had said there was only one passageway. Of course,that had been months ago when he had not wanted her worried thatthere were several means to enter her room, what remained of themistress’s chambers. But she had been up there the entire time. Shewould have noticed Covey walk by and down the stairs. Unless he haddone so when she examined the training and scribing room. The lampin her hand shook, making the flame dance.

Was there another passageway leading to theirbedroom and Covey had stood inside it watching them? She shiveredwith embarrassment and anger.

He didn’t belong here, and there were guardsshe could call. They would bring Russal, and she hesitated beforeturning, only to find Covey behind her in an instant. His handclamped over her mouth, while the other yanked the lamp from hergrasp.

She folded her knees, and he went to thefloor with her, wrapping a leg around her and pinning her kneelinglegs beneath her. He set the lamp a couple feet away and claspedher to his chest. His cheek pressed hers, and he whispered.“Kambry, let me prove I’m the better man for you.”

She struggled and threw her weight againsthis chest, but he held fast. Frustration growled in her throat.

“My love.”

She tossed her head back, but he moved aside,and she failed to make contact. Hands free, she clenched hernightgown and railed at her stupidity. Why had she delayed callingout for help? Maybe Russal was right. She needed protection sinceshe had such poor instincts.

Breathing rapidly, she fought to twist herelbows along her sides. His arms held her tight across her biceps,but she could still bend and twist her arms.

Releasing her grip on her nightgown, sheclawed at his hip and waist. The fabric of his clothes was toothick, and her nails bent back in discomfort. It didn’t stop herfrom pushing against his weight on her thighs, her hands stillsearching for means to do him harm.

“Kambry, I’ve no intention of hurting you orforcing myself upon you. Have I even once stolen a kiss? HasRussal? Does he consider