“Oh boy,” I muttered and Tor’s hand moved, his fingers curling around my own.
“You found your mate in the other world?” King Ludlum asked, his brows rising.
“Yes! She,” she pointed at me, “is the destiny of Prince Noctorno but I am destined for the Noctorno of the other world!” she announced.
“Oh boy,” I repeated and Tor squeezed my fingers.
“My Noctorno is perfect!” She kept going. “My Noctorno is beautiful. He suits me!”
My body locked and I whispered, “Um… hell no.”
“Still, love,” Tor ordered and I did as he asked. It was hard but I did it.
“Send me back to the other world so I can be with my mate!” she demanded. “That is fair! That is just! And in the end, all will be well for everybody!”
This was a mistake. I knew it when I felt the air in the room get heavy; I felt Tor’s body tense and peered around Tor to see King Ludlum’s face was hard as granite.
“I believe, my dear, that I am your king and I decide what is fair and just,” he said quietly and I looked back to Cora to see her grinding her teeth to keep her mouth shut but her eyes were flashing.
“It pains me,” King Ludlum went on, “to see you do not struggle with the consequences of your actions, that you do not wish to atone for the decisions you made which caused harm to others, that you do not understand that conspiring with Minerva…” he shook his head, “Cora, that alone is an act of high treason.”
“And I do not, your grace, because Prince Noctorno is bound to his true mate and my sister weds hers this very day. If not for me, the former would never have happened and everything, in the end, is as it should be,” she retorted.
Tor’s fingers squeezed mine and I drew in breath. I did this because, it sucked, but this was true
“It also pains me,” King Ludlum stated, “to agree that this is true.”
My head snapped around to look at the king again but I didn’t miss Cora’s face brightening with hope.
King Ludlum looked at me. “Cora, the Gracious,” jeez, I totally loved that, “it is my understanding you came to know my son of the other world.”
“Yes, your grace,” I replied.
“Is it his wish to be bound to this Cora?” he asked, tipping his head at Cora.
Oh dear.
“Um…” I avoided looking at the other Cora’s parents and then said honestly, “No. He’s not that into her.”
I felt Tor move and I looked up to see his head tilted slightly back but I could also see him fighting a smile.
“Not that that into her?” King Ludlum asked, taking my attention back to him.
“He doesn’t like her much,” I explained.
“He loves me!” Cora exclaimed. “He’s devoted to me! Totally devoted to me.”
I looked at her. “Uh… not so much,” I muttered and I heard Orlando stifle a chuckle.
“She lies!” Cora shrieked, my body got tight but not as tight as Tor’s.
“Careful, Cora,” he warned low.
She wasn’t careful. “She does not know and you do not know what we shared.”
“I’m afraid we do. He was a member of their city guard. He was investigating illegal gaming and using you to do it,” Tor told her and she gasped. “When my Cora returned and broke things off with the other me, he said nary a word and explained later to my Cora that he was relieved to walk away. He said you were not very bright, you were lazy and he held disdain for your incessant gaming…” Tor’s eyes swept her pointedly, “amongst other things.”
Her face had paled before she whispered, “That cannot be.”
Oh dear. She was into Noc. She did try. And she failed.
Poor Cora.
Tor didn’t reply.
“That can’t be,” she repeated softly, her eyes searching Tor’s face.
Then she saw the truth, dropped her head and her shoulders slumped as she looked to the floor.
“Cora, your king demands your eyes,” King Ludlum commanded and, slowly, she looked at him. “You will be sequestered in solitude, except for your guard, at Merrygate for the rest of your days.”
The air in the room changed again. Both of the Goodes, I noted, looked relieved at this announcement. Orlando sent a dark look to Tor who was also glancing at his brother so I couldn’t see his reaction. After I caught Orlando’s look, I turned to Cora to see she was about as happy as Orlando.
“Merrygate?” she whispered.
“It is a lovely property with vast gardens. You will be happy there.”
“It’s a five day ride from anything!” she cried.
“Indeed, and also surrounded by sacred land which means it will be difficult for you to find trouble,” King Ludlum replied.
“But –”
“I could give you a choice,” King Ludlum interrupted. “You can live your days in Merrygate or you can live them in the dungeons of Castle Tristrom. Your choice.”
She snapped her mouth shut.
Well, with that reaction, I guessed Castle Tristrom wasn’t Club Med.
Then she forced out, “Merrygate, your grace.”
“Excellent, it is decided,” King Ludlum started to stand but Cora spoke again.
“Will I be allowed to see my parents and Rosa?”
King Ludlum settled back in his seat. “They have a new daughter and sister now.” My body jerked at this announcement, Cora’s face froze and he went on, “But they care about their old one, although it still astounds me my future daughter-in-law holds any regard for you after your heinous deeds. Nevertheless, she did no wrong, nor did your parents so I do not see any reason to punish them. They will visit you but as your existence will be held in deepest secret, these visits will be rare so I will advise you to make the most of them when you have them.”
Her mouth thinned but she said not a word.
King Ludlum continued and he did it with quiet warning, “And I will remind you, Cora, that your existence is to be held in deepest secret. If you connive in any way to reveal that secret to anyone, it will be considered treason against the crown, your second such offense, and that one will not be handled with the generosity I am bestowing on you today. Is that understood?”
She stared at him, fear plain on her face.
I guess treason didn’t buy her a trip to Castle Tristrom but something a lot less fun.
Oh dear.
“Cora, is that understood?” the king prompted.
She stared at him some more. Then she gave in with a soft, “Yes, your grace.”
He nodded, then, pushing to standing, he declared, “We’re done here.”
Once he was on his feet, he flicked a wrist at the four guards standing at the opposite end of the room. They advanced forward and the king’s eyes went to the Goodes.
“Say your farewells, my good people, then we will move on from this sad business to the celebration.”
The Goodes nodded, Forrest bowed, Dara bobbed a quick curtsy then they rushed to their daughter and crowded her as she was led out of the room.
Cora didn’t look back. Cora had no words for Tor or for me. Cora had no words for Orlando, who put his neck out and expended considerable energy saving her sister. Cora was thinking about Cora.
Stupid cow.
Sliding an arm around my waist, Tor turned me to face him and I looked up into his eyes.
“It is done, my love,” he murmured. “Go to your sister, share this news, it will bring her relief so she can put it aside and focus on her wedding day.”
“Your Dad made a compassionate decision, I gather,” I murmured back.
“It is his way.”
Yeah, I was noticing that. King Ludlum was a decent guy.
I nodded. Then remarked, “Orlando didn’t seem happy about it.”
“Orlando rescued a drawn, terrified Rosa from Minerva’s clutches. Orlando was also called upon by Algernon to assume my rule while I was in your world, making it so those who witnessed our disappearance did not speak of it, taking on all my responsibilities while I was away at the same time trying to discover the powers that were at work that took me away. Orlando cannot call up much compassion for Cora, the Exquisite.”