Dawn of Cobalt Shadows (Burning Empire Book 2) by Emma Hamm (free novels to read TXT) 📗

This place had been her childhood.

Ducking her head as they walked past a servant, she tried to tell herself that this was different now. She wouldn’t be able to act as she had before. Certainly, she’d always been the leader of the Beastkin. But there hadn’t been any power in the name.

Matriarch’s came and went. They advised the king on what their people wanted, but they didn’t have a choice in what the kingdom did. Their role was to take care of their people, which hadn’t changed. But now she had a castle, a war, an army…

Her mind was whirling. What did he want from them? What would he ask for that she wasn’t going to be able to give?

How did she say no to the man who had helped raise her?

A hand slipped into hers, strong fingers squeezing in encouragement. Sigrid glanced over at Camilla, freely without her mask, easy-going and so confident it made Sigrid’s heart clench.

Her sister smiled. “Everything will be fine.”

“I just want to get this over with.”

“I don’t think he wants to wait.” Camilla nodded ahead of them. “He’s taking us to his private quarters. That means no one else is involved but us. Sounds like he’s going to ask a favor.”

“One I won’t be able to give.”

“We don’t know that yet.”

Sigrid snorted. “The Beastkin are many things, but forgiving they are not. Even our own sisters want to see this place torn down stone by stone. They aren’t going to help the Earthen folk.”

“I think you judge them too harshly. They’re angry right now, and they have a right to be. But they haven’t suddenly become heartless.”

It was the reminder Sigrid needed. Her people, although animalistic by nature, still saw the good in people. She should trust them to do the right thing when the opportunity arose.

Blowing out a breath, she nodded and squeezed Camilla’s hand in return. “Thank you. You always seem to have the answer I’m looking for.”

“Your head is so far in the sky; I can’t even imagine what you see up there. I’m happy to give you perspective from the ground level.” Camilla winked. “Or remind you when your head is getting too large, Matriarch.”

Laughing together, they entered Hallmar’s private chambers. The room was exactly as she remembered it. Warm, cozy, and filled with earth-tones that immediately set her at ease.

A large fireplace was inlaid in the wall. Cracking logs burned low. Embers scattered around them. Furs covered the four seats around a small table where someone had set tea and scones, while a thick tapestry hid the four poster bed from their sight.

Sigrid couldn’t remember Hallmar ever having someone who stayed in the room with him. He’d always been a king who ruled without a queen. Never entertained those who would have spent a night with him, as far as Sigrid knew.

The man in question strode to one of the chairs with antlers for a back, and poured himself a cup of tea. “Would you like one? I’m afraid I don’t remember how you take your tea.”

Camilla opened her mouth to direct him, but Sigrid couldn’t stand the sight.

She let out a frustrated sound, then took the teapot from Hallmar’s grasp.

“That’s hot—” he began, then shook his head with a laugh. “I forget so easily.”

Sigrid cupped the base of the teapot with her bare hand. It was likely hot and filled with boiling water, but that wasn’t something which could stop her. Her lips twisted into a wry grin, one he couldn’t see, and then she began to pour them all tea.

“It’s been a while since we’ve been here, and I’m certain there are more important things for you to do than think about the days when we roamed your halls.”

“But I have been thinking about it a great deal,” he replied. “This castle is far too quiet without your people. I regret to say that I miss them, even though I know you’re creating a life for yourself.”

Camilla dropped into one of the chairs, legs sweeping up over the arm as she dramatically hung off the other. “Why did you let us go so easily, anyway? The Beastkin have always been something of a security for you. And you just… let us go?”

“When a full-grown dragon lands in your castle yard demanding something of you, there isn’t much choice.” But his voice was filled with humor. He blew on his teacup and tried a sip before responding. “The Beastkin have always been a temporary addition to the castle. I knew this from the first moment I became king.”

Sigrid poured herself a cup and sank down gently next to him. “You were the first king to think that then.”

“Perhaps. My father always thought that a war would come from Bymere, and that we would need to use your people to protect ourselves. I thought it too cruel for a king to order people to fight for him when those people weren’t part of our kingdom at all.”

“Perhaps,” Sigrid mimicked his response. “But our kind was forced to fight before, and no one felt any regret.”

“No, I suppose they didn’t.” He lifted the tea to his lips and fell into a comfortable silence.

She’d missed this. Hallmar had been the one to first teach her about proper etiquette. He advised on how to hold her teacup, how to pour the tea in a way that wouldn’t insult anyone, even how to sit so that she was still viewed as demure but also powerful.

He hadn’t ever made her feel as though she were a pet. Perhaps that’s why she managed to capture so much time with him as a child. He’d always taken the time to make her feel like a person. To respect her as so few others did.

She sighed and put her teacup on its saucer. “I’m afraid we don’t have a lot of time for niceties, Your Majesty.”

“Please. You’ve long past earned the right to call me by name.” His eyes twinkled