Shadow Heir

Dorian gave her a kind smile. “Easy, there. No one’s doubting Pagiel’s bravery or devotion. I’ve heard a little about his early years too and can understand why he’d have some of these beliefs. That doesn’t make them right, however.”

I shot Dorian a questioning look. I don’t know if he just didn’t see me or if he was ignoring me, but he kept his attention on Jasmine. Before, Dorian had been rather blasé about Pagiel’s raids, and I’d kind of expected more of the same this time. I let it go because honestly, it was kind of nice to have him on my side.

“Speaking of his family life,” I said, “that’s the place to start. We need to find him, and I have a feeling he’s lying low in whichever world he’s in. Ysabel and Edria might know where he’s at.”

“And I know where they’re at since I saw them just before I left,” replied Dorian. His forehead wrinkled with a frown. “Which brings up the disturbing realization that they’ve probably known about this and weren’t telling me.” Dorian’s seemingly carefree attitude often fooled people into thinking he was a lax ruler. He wasn’t. He didn’t like having his authority undermined or people keeping secrets from him.

“I’ll go back with you to talk to them,” I said. Leaving my kingdoms wasn’t easy, and the only reason I’d imagined doing it had been because of Isaac and Ivy. A trip to the Oak Land to investigate the return of Pagiel’s Robin Hood ways had never been on the table. I turned to Roland. “You want to go?”

He shook his head. “You two are better suited for that. I’ll go back and do damage control if they strike again. There’s no real predicting where they’ll be, though, and I’m usually too late. If I do find them ...” He hesitated and studied me carefully. “What would you like me to do?”

I grimaced, but it was a question that had to be addressed. “Ideally, banish them to this world. If something happens ... I mean, if there are innocent human lives in danger ...”

I couldn’t finish, but Roland gave a curt nod. “Understood. I’ll do what I can.”

We all made preparations to leave that day. My kingdoms were back in capable hands, and it was a relatively simple affair to head over to Dorian’s—especially now that I wasn’t under the constant threat of attack. Traveling to the Yew Land had made me a pro at horseback riding, and I felt pretty confident my body had returned to its former state. Thinking of that made me think of making out with Dorian earlier. Yeah. My body was definitely recovered. Watch it, Eugenie, an inner voice warned me. Look what happened the last time you did that. Besides, aren’t you mad at Dorian?

Watching him sidelong as we traveled, I really didn’t think I was anymore. My feelings for him were muddled, and I was glad that he was too preoccupied with Ysabel and Edria’s deceit to pay much attention to my pensiveness.

When we arrived, I saw that the Oak Land was well on its way to healing too. Most startling was how green everything was. It was the first time (aside from the blight) that I’d seen Dorian’s land not in the throes of a magical autumn. Instead, all the plants and trees bore the look of late summer, green and bursting with fruit.

I received a lot of curious glances from his staff as we entered the castle. I was well known to them, and the ups and downs of our alliance and romance had been a source of gossip that rivaled Hollywood starlets. People never knew what to expect when Dorian and I surfaced together. This was no exception.

He was all business and ordered his guards to bring Pagiel’s family to one of his receiving chambers immediately. Before Dorian left for his own rooms, he gave me a once-over. “Damn. Should have had you bring a dress.”

“What’s wrong with this?” I asked, gesturing to my jeans and Peter Frampton T-shirt.

“Nothing really,” he said with a small smile. “As always, I like the view of your legs. But I think it’d be better if we carried the weight of our full royal status when staring down Ysabel and Edria. You, come here.” A servant passed by and immediately came to a halt at Dorian’s command. “Take the Queen of Rowan and Thorn to someone who can dress her properly. Then bring her to the east room when she’s ready.”

“What about me?” grumbled Jasmine as she and I followed the servant. “He doesn’t care how I look, apparently.”

I patted her back. “You’re already in gentry clothes. Besides, if you want something nicer, I’m sure they can rustle a dress up.”

We were escorted to a group of maidservants who were all too eager to dress Jasmine and me. I didn’t know if they were in the service of some noblewoman in Dorian’s court or if he just always kept them on hand to beautify women passing through. I decided it wasn’t worth pondering too much.