Stalling for Time

Adelia felt like she was choking, fear squeezing the air out of her lungs and then, hot on its heels, came anger, burning and protective all at once and fury rose within her, seething and dark enough to swallow the sun.

She was so sick and tired of Lord Emmertal and his terribleness. Of his influence and power and the king looking the other way because of it time and again. Of no one doing anything about him and she wanted his hand on her friend gone forever.

She wanted him gone forever.

Rowan beside her took a decisive step forward, a sudden sense of chilling danger and sharp anger radiating from him and Lord Emmertal let go of Katrina in that moment to remove his gloves.

A ring glinted on his middle finger, made of shiny gold and placed atop, appearing downright delicate, was a tiny stone that shone like the one Adelia had given to Lord Ivan.

Her grip immediately tightened on Rowan's arm, who stilled and she sensed his attention shift to her, all that cold, deadly danger halting like a held breath, waiting. Waiting for her to direct that lethality.

"Ring," she whispered, noting that Lord Emmertal wore none of the gold he usually preferred, aside from the ring. No, he was clad in frosty white and a shiny silver necklace and earrings, so polished it looked almost white in the shine of the lanterns.

The necklace was far larger than anything she had seen nobles wear, falling down half his chest and covering his fine clothing in armor-like, finely woven lattice-work.

A terrible feeling gripped her gut and she met Lord Emmertal's gaze again, his eyes darkly gleeful and smugly superior and she almost choked on the hatred that clawed up her throat like a vengeful ghost.

"You have to go," she whispered as Lord Emmertal gestured at them, speaking to Katrina again and then he approached, the smile on his face deepening into something mean and vengeful.

The stone might have the same power to hurt him as her stone did, Adelia had no idea if the size of the stone made a difference – likely not. Not when a stray beam of sunlight was enough to kill a vampire, unless they managed to escape its glow. Even then it left them heavily burned.

A sunstone on his hand and silver-chains covering his chest, there was no way any of that was a coincidence, which meant Adelia had no idea what else he had up his sleeves. Or who else Lord Emmertal had told of his suspicions about Rowan and others in his employ.

Adelia had no idea how Lord Emmertal knew what Rowan had hidden for so many years or how he had gotten his hand on that stone, but she couldn't risk revealing more. If Lord Emmertal saw his suspicions, saw whatever rumors had seen him so equipped, confirmed, it would not end well.

"Go, warn the others," Adelia whispered when Rowan hesitated beside her. She made herself look away from the enemy in her home, the vile creature that thought itself a predator, to look at her husband instead.

Rowan's eyes held a faintly red glow and she felt the flex of his fingers against her arm, the faint press of his claws that didn't even come close to scratching her. He seemed to search her gaze and face for a clue as to how she felt, though he never let Lord Emmertal fully out of his sight, either.

"Leave this to me," she whispered and something in his gaze shifted, something along his being settling. The trust and faith in her that she saw settled something within her in return and her determination firmed, her gnawing fear losing its teeth and she viciously stomped down on it.

There was no reason to be afraid, not here, not in her home.

"I leave your prey in your capable hands," he answered, taking her hand and raising it to press a faintly cool kiss to her knuckles. "And should you desire an aiding hand, never doubt that you will receive it without question."

The next moment he turned on his heels and vanished down the stairs.

She faced her unwelcome guest and friend, summoning one of her old smiles, perfectly sweet and moderated and lovely, crafted by her mother and her mother's mother. A smile befitting a lady of House Aria. No, she decided in that moment. It was her smile and she would use it to defend her home, to lure this monster into a false sense of security.

She would see her friend safe, even if she didn't yet know how to do it, her mind racing as she tried to figure out how to get Katrina away safely.

If she chased Lord Emmertal out now he would take Katrina with him, if only to spite her. If she called for an attacked or for him to be killed, much as she wished him dead, they would only risk a very likely war with King Harold.

King Harold had many faults in her eyes, but he took the murder of his lords very seriously. Not his ladies, of course, not all of them at least, evident by how many Lord Emmertal killed in marriage, but he did care if an outsider killed one of his own. If someone from the Wilds attacked, even if it was Rowan, he would not take kindly to that.

It wouldn't surprise her if King Harold was working on getting the Wilds under his control through Rowan and who knew how well their friendship held up to an excuse to go on the offense. To come here and ravage and try to force the warlords to their knees one after another, especially with all the monster rumors.

Reputation was flimsy if the right words tore it down, if the right person spoke to an army about liberation and ending tyranny and saving people from the looming doom of monsters and bloodthirsty rulers. Everyone liked a monster-slaying hero, after all and ever single child in the kingdoms had grown up on such stories.

On the heroic dragon slayer who bathed in its blood to make himself invincible, in the giant slayer and monster hunters defeating werewolves and other creatures of the night.

Furthermore, and perhaps even more importantly considering all the intrigues at court, Lord Emmertal had no heir. Under other circumstances, if he died of natural causes, either King Harold or Lord Ullion would lay claim to his money and land and connections, for they were the closest family still alive. The other lords would grumble and they would be far from happy, but they would have to accept things as they were.

But if Lord Emmertal was murdered those same lords now had a way to protest. They could question if the king or Lord Ullion hadn't orchestrated Lord Emmertal's death and therefore they should not have a claim on its power.

There would have to be war to quell those rumors. There would have to be vengeance in Lord Emmertal's name and to also avoid any rumors of the king allowing wildlings to murder his vassals unimpeded and unpunished.

It would be a mess and a half at best.

One thing after another, Adelia reminded herself as she stepped forward with all the grace that had protected her from her father's wrath and kept her so demure and sweet. It made her appear pliant, a pretty doll on a shelf and she used it to hide her racing mind, flipping through options and their repercussions the way she flipped through books looking for answers.

First, she needed a way to separate Katrina from Lord Emmertal and keep her here, in the Grim Keep, if only for a night. He was not allowed to leave with her.

As they drew to a step before her, Lord Emmertal placed his free over Katrina's again, possessive and claiming, the sunlit ring glowing softly and this close Adelia noticed the faintest bit of warmth in the air.

Adelia's mind flashed to Alexzander for a moment, potential ideas forming in her head, before her focus locked in on Katrina, her friend's pale face and eyes full of fear and resignation.

Adelia tried to convey that she was figuring something out with her gaze alone and Katrina looked away, silent as a not-yet dug grave and she appeared even smaller than usual. Diminished and sunken in.

Her dress of pale purple and golden accents, in the colors of her father's house, which carried lilacs on its banner, was long and rose to cover her neck as well, making it impossible to see if Lord Emmertal had left any marks on her already.

Hopefully not, rumors said he saved those special attentions for his wives after they had gotten married, but she knew better than to fully trust in rumors. It was very possible he had, at the very least, terrified her friend with words if not with his actions as well.

Adelia no longer trusted in Katrina's parents to keep her safe, not when they had willingly signed her death certificate masquerading as a marriage proposal.

"I welcome you in our home," Adelia said, curtseying gracefully, while Lord Emmertal bowed barely deep enough to avoid looking insulting. The smile never wavered on his face, a gleam in his eyes like dancing flames eager for something to devour.

"It was so nice of you to invite my fiancé," Lord Emmertal said as they both straightened once more. "I have always wished to visit the Wilds, it is such a curious place." He glanced past them to the open door leading into the throne room, Lord Ivan laughing at something one of the staff members said. Adelia noticed that a number of the staff was missing, likely directed away by Rowan and the night guard. Good, they ought to be safe. "And you house such curious people."

Adelia felt protective of her guests and staff, as well as her friend and husband, rise within her. She wanted to keep Lord Emmertal from looking at them, from trying to hurt and mock people who had been nothing but kind to her. She was the lady of the keep, it was her duty to guard those under her care.

But she needed to play her cards right or she'd never succeed in keeping Katrina here, so she made sure her smile looked ever more sweet as she answered, "Then we hope to keep surprising you. Please, enter and make yourselves at home, we have prepared a great many delights for the evening."

She gracefully gestured at them to head towards the throne room and Lord Emmertal smiled at her, devoid of any warmth and pleasantness, "I do hope your husband will join us, in that case. Pray tell, what had him running away in such a hurry?"

There was such a fake innocence in his words that it utterly failed to concealed his knowing glee at chasing Rowan away. It was as good a confirmation as any that he knew about Rowan being a vampire and Adelia would be damned if he figured out what other beings existed among her people.

"He was kind enough to fetch a gift I made for Katrina," Adelia lied smoothly and turned to her friend. "My apologies, I did not expect you to arrive so early, or I would have brought it with me."

Katrina's smile looked waxy and wrong with how forced it was. "No need for apologies, my friend," Katrina answered, her voice a soft whisper that Adelia hated, for fear made her so quiet.

"I look forward to having a chat with him later, then," Lord Emmertal said and pulled Katrina along, who followed silent and folded in on herself.

Adelia caught her friends gaze once more for a moment and hoped to convey something reassuring and a silent promise to get her away from him, but her friend only looked away and down.

Back when Adelia had gotten betrothed to Lord Emmertal she had felt much the same way as her friend must now, only her terror had merely lasted a few hours before Rowan had swooped in to claim her instead. Adelia had no idea how long Katrina had been drowning in that fear, but it couldn't continue. It wouldn't. She would not let it.

She waited until Lord Emmertal had entered the throne room, far enough that his ring would not cause harm and she whispered, "Rowan?"

He appeared at her side so suddenly that she only barely swallowed down a surprised gasp. For all that she had seen hints of his vampiric nature here and there, she hadn't seen any of his abilities displayed before her.

His gaze glowed an ominous red as he stared into the throne room, lips slightly peeled back to reveal sharp fangs. He looked as though he wished for nothing more than to attack and she reached out, hesitated briefly, before she straightened her spine and reached up to cup his cheeks in her palms.

That deadly gaze snapped to her and he blinked before visibly softening, the glow dimming and his lips relaxing.

"Forgive me," he began quietly and she shook her head.

"I wish for fangs of my own right now," she whispered back and he leaned a little more into her touch, his face slowly relaxing and his eyes going half-lidded as he looked down at her.

"What do you need?" he asked quietly and there was a low rumble in his voice, something monstrous lacing through his words like a blood thirsty creature's as he added, "I can give you his head. I can bring you his heart on a plate, I can drink him dry and scatter him in the wind."

His dark eyes regained their red glow, like ominous, bloody embers and his hands rose, his clawed fingers oh so gently curling around her wrists, his head tipping a bit more into her palms. His gaze was wholly fixed on her.

"I can gift you his death any way you like," he whispered and then he smiled, all sharp fangs and for the first time, he looked so far from human that she knew, down to the marrow of her bones, she cradled something supernatural between her hands. "Or do you want to hunt him? Unleash me and I will drag him to you begging and pleading and you get to decide his hand."

His fingertips slightly slid beneath her sleeves, an unexpected though far from unpleasant shiver gripping her for a moment as he continued, "I can get you a blade, I can drag him to the top of the tower for you to push him down, I can dig him a grave and you can bury him alive. I can offer you a thousand deaths for him, just say the word and you will get it."

This was the darkest Adelia had ever seen her husband and yet, for all his danger, the way he looked at her was utterly attentive and edged in softness and it made her feel like she held the very essence of deadly retribution at her fingertips. She truly could command him and she didn't know what to do with the heady sense of power that gripped her for a moment.

"I will protect Katrina first," she whispered and Rowan blinked as though coming more back to himself. She leaned forward and added, all deadly grace herself, "And we will protect our lands. Once we made sure of that, he will die."

"If he dies here, by our hand, there will be war," she murmured. "And we both know what that means. Ravaged country sides and burnt and salted fields. It means defenseless people slain and violated, villages and towns burning and entire herds of animals getting slaughtered to feed a marching army. They will destroy livelihoods and futures. We can't ask our people to pay that price."

His expression tightened, the ominous bloody glow in his eyes deepening. Adelia drew her husband closer and he easily, readily, trustingly followed until their foreheads pressed together.

"We will be cleverer than our enemies," she said. "And we will protect all we hold dear." There had to be other options, she just had to think.

"My brilliant wife," Rowan whispered and surprised her by pressing a faintly cool kiss to her cheek, his breath just as faintly cool as he murmured, "You have my full support whatever you choose to do."

He slowly drew back and Adelia took a deep breath, before squishing his cheeks together a little, making his mouth form a puckered sort of pout and he chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling and she found herself smiling briefly as well.

"It's best if you warn Lady Iris when she arrives," Adelia murmured. "This party is as good as ruined now, but I won't ask Lord Emmertal to leave until I got my friend away from him."

"I will let her know," Rowan answered. "The moon is full so her wolf will be close to the surface, but she has excellent control, if she can be of aid, she will do her best. At least until midnight, by then the moon will have risen too far for her to ignore its call."

Adelia nodded in understanding and found herself downright reluctant to let go, but she let her hands fall away, Rowan's fingertips brushing along the sensitive insides of her wrist as he let go, as well.

"I will remain close," he said. "As will the night guard." When she nodded, he vanished from sight again and Adelia took a deep breath, that thrum of power still filling her body and she turned to face the throne room.

She entered it will all the graceful decorum of a noble lady and she met Lord Emmertal's gaze and she noticed the same glint in his eyes she had seen all those months ago when he had told her they were betrothed now. It felt so long ago to her now, but it was clear he had never forgotten. He still wanted her.

She was the first one to escape him, she realized. Before her, he had gotten his hands on every young, beautiful woman he had wanted. Each and everyone had been soft and sweet and terrified and helpless to do anything but walk to their deaths dressed in white, holding a bouquet of flowers like it was their funeral wreath.

Lord Emmertal stood to gain nothing from a union with Katrina, she was of a lower ranked noble house and her family were no richer or better connected than others of their station. Their lands were decently sized but nothing to brag about and they ruled with a steady hand, taxes getting paid on time but there was not much of a surplus of coin.

While Lord Emmertal had been careful to leave the daughters of too-powerful families alone in the past, he had always gained something from the marriages he had agreed to. More land, more riches, a herd of fifteen horses so well-bred he had since been supplying the royal family and their knights with their mounts.

Katrina offered him nothing, all he gained was a wife to take his anger out on – and a way to get under Adelia's skin. Now that she entered the throne room his gaze was on her, not on his betrothed and Adelia knew too much of the darkness that lived in the hearts of some men to disregard that.

Lord Emmertal wanted her, not her friend, was likely seething inside that she had slipped away from him. A proud man like him didn't like loosing and that Rowan had frightened him, as well, must have been another blow to his overblown pride.

As a plan began to form in her mind, Lord Ivan sidled up to her, all sun-kissed skin, tattoos on display, his hair a tad too golden and shiny and his eyes a bit too blue, a clear show of his goddess's favor.

"I can't help but think we have an enemy among us," he said, smile as cheerful as ever, but there was a hard glint to his eyes, making them look more like chips of blue ice now than a clear sky-blue. "Need a hand in a bit of murdering before Ada serves those delightful little cakes of hers?"

His offer eased a knot of tension along her spine and it made Adelia truly realize that she was not alone in this room when faced against Lord Emmertal. She could tell that Lord Ivan meant it, too. He would offer her his power to destroy her enemy.

"It brings me no joy to decline," she answered, sighing softly. "And I need to get my friend away from him first before anything else."

Lord Ivan hummed thoughtfully, reaching up to brush his fingertips along the amulet of his goddess. "The light and I will be at your service," he answered. "Give me a signal and I can create a diversion." He gave her a toothy little grin. "It will be easy enough to overwhelm this stuck up little prick enough that he won't notice your pretty little friend getting whisked away."

That sounded like a good start, but Adelia needed to keep Katrina beyond that. "I will let you know, thank you, Lord Ivan," she said and he laughed softly, reaching out to place his hand on her shoulder.

"Just Ivan, my lady, I care not for my title among friends and someone with such a delightfully brilliant mind as yours," he said, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "I will keep my eyes on you, worry not."

With those words he sauntered away, calling out to one of the staff members still milling about, though there was a subtle tension among them now and a number of them darted gazes at Adelia, then at Lord Emmertal. She wondered how much they knew, but for now it might be for the best to leave them out of it as long as they continued to keep their distance.

There was a noticeably ring around Lord Emmertal and Katrina, no one seeking them out and he seemed just as fine with that, a little haughty sneer curling his upper lip as he watched the servants reach for the rich treats and foods and cakes that should, in his eyes, be reserved for nobility. They were only worth the leftovers in his mind, Adelia knew that much.

She took a step forward, just as the sound of the sea spilled past her, planks creaking softly and sails snapping in the wind and she felt an unexpected little sense of relief as she looked over her shoulder.

Lady Miriam entered the throne room behind her, dressed like a pirate queen, finery mixed with practical clothes and a long, sweeping cloak that had shimmering, opalescent buttons carved into the shapes of various seashells.

Lady Miriam tipped her head slightly in greeting, that otherworldly glow on her chest pulsing a little brighter and deepening the shine in her eyes. "Good evening, my dearest Adelia," she said, only for her to blink and her head tipped slightly to the side. "Is everything alright?"

Adelia took a step forward to greet her, a greeting falling from her lips, only to be surprised when Lady Miriam swept her into a strong hug. She smelled of salt and briny water and something slightly strange, like unfathomable depths, though it was far from unpleasant. Very unusual, though.

"My friend arrived with a terrible man, who came wearing silver and sunlight," she found herself whispering against Lady Miriam's neck, the warlord tensing slightly and the sound of rushing waves washed over them, something deep down coiling towards the surface, rising to surround them for a moment. "I might need your help later tonight."

"Want me to kill him?" Lady Miriam offered and Adelia smiled faintly and shook her head.

"If he dies here we will have war on our hands," she murmured. "Leave it to me, I'll come up with a plan."

Lady Miriam pulled back, a smile on her face that was as sharp and dangerous as the blade she carried even now, edged in the deep, dark magic that surrounded her, that was gifted to her by the Deep.

Briefly, Adelia thought about feeding Lord Emmertal to that very power, to let him get dragged down into lightless darkness where he drowned without aid and hope. With no way out.

She let go and caught Lady Miriam's hands instead, giving them a small squeeze. "My apologies that this won't be the party you expected."

Lady Miriam laughed. "Oh, with murder potentially being on the menu I will have a great evening."

She walked further into the room with a little wriggle of her fingers, heading directly for Lord Emmertal, a smile on her face that was neither pleasant nor friendly. Lord Ivan glanced up from the desert table, a wicked smile appearing on his face as he leaned back to watch Lady Miriam.

Though even with his eyes on that inevitable confrontation, he kept himself angled in a way that kept Adelia in his field of view the entire time.

The sound of steps made Adelia glance back yet again, very briefly cursing the fact that they had organized a party with so many invited people, when she saw Lady Iris approach.

Lady Iris was dress far more casually compared to last time, in comfortable, long black trousers and a yellow-golden shirt with billowing sleeves, complete with a black-and-gold vest.

There was no make-up on her and her hair was open and unadorned, long locks tumbling down her shoulders. There was a moonlight shimmer in her eyes, a glimmer of gold that reminded Adelia of a wolf's eyes glowing in the dark.

"Rowan told me," Lady Iris murmured as she reached Adelia, pulling her into a hug. "What's the plan? I have around two, maybe three hours before I need to step out."

"I might need to take you up on your offer to kidnap my friend," Adelia answered, letting go and placing a hand on Lady Iris's arm to angle them to where Lord Emmertal stood stiff and with lips pressed together into a thin line as he warily stared at Lady Miriam, who ignored him entirely while conversing with a very taken-aback and pale looking Katrina.

"Alb stayed behind just in case," Lady Iris murmured. "Bring me your friend or let me take her and I will whisk her away to my castle. She'll be safe there, guarded by me and my pack."

That sounded like a wonderful idea, even if Adelia knew her friend might be rather... startled, to put it mildly, should she suddenly find herself surrounded by werewolves and other monsters.

"Lord Ivan and Lady Miriam are also ready to help," Adelia whispered. "I will give you a signal or wave you over if I need you to grab my friend and run." Adelia briefly pressed her lips together. "But considering Lord Emmertal's choice of jewelry, please don't approach before then."

She knew that werewolves were even more susceptible to silver than vampires and she did not wish to risk her friend's safety and health if it could be avoided.

Lady Iris made a face, a low growl briefly rumbling in her throat. "Ugh, silver. Will be worse now on the full moon, too. Alright, I'll stick with Ivan for now." With a pat to Adelia's shoulder, Lady Iris moved forward in a distinctly stalking way. Like a wolf silently padding along a snow-covered clearing, all deadly, hunting grace.

Adelia glanced back at Lord Emmertal, watching him and how he seemed strangely frozen stiff, not moving or speaking and she felt deeply appreciative of Lady Miriam in that moment.

The warlord must be near drowning him in the coiling presence of the Deep and Lord Emmertal never looked away from her, something like hidden fear in his eyes despite the disdainful curl that remained on his lips.

It gave Adelia a sense of vicious satisfaction and then she noticed that he had, ever so subtly, angled Katrina to stand between him and Miriam.

This was the moment her fear died as she understood something fundamental: Lord Emmertal was, in truth, a coward. An evil coward who had been born into power and knew how to pick on those who couldn't fight back.

He had never challenged anyone more powerful than he, though granted, there were only a handful of people who outranked him in both name and power in the first place, but still.

She had nothing to fear from a man like that, all she had to do was finish figuring out how to get Katrina away from him and, afterwards, how to kill him without inciting a war. Then no one else had to fear him ever again, either.

She was about to step forward and mingle, when there was a very familiar set of steps and Adelia turned around, her heart growing lighter when she saw her other dear friend again after so long.

Izabel was dressed in a warm winter dress of pale blue and white, horses rearing up the left and right side of her bodice. Izabel, too, was dressed in the colors of her father's house and right over her heart, pinned carefully in place and proudly on display, perched the clockwork bumblebee Adelia had made for her.

Izabel's smile was glad and warm and when she spotted her, her expression brightened as she quickened her steps. Adelia met her halfway, her tall friend immediately wrapping her arms around her and pulling her close. Izabel smelled, as always, faintly of roses, such a familiar and lovely scent that Adelia found herself relaxing a little despite the situation.

"Katrina is already here," she whispered before Izabel could say anything. "Lord Emmertal came with her."

Izabel inhaled sharply, flinching back a little to stare at Adelia with wide eyes, a pleading sort of fear blooming to life, hoping against hope that it was, somehow, a tasteless joke.

Her gaze flicked past Adelia then and she sucked in a sharper breath when she spotted Katrina and her vile betrothed. The same look of quiet despair and desperate grasping for a way out appeared in Izabel's eyes that Adelia had once seen months ago.

Adelia reached out to give her friend's arms a gentle squeeze, holding onto her and Izabel took a deeper, barely shaky breath.

"He will not have her," Adelia whispered, fiercely and intently and all at once the breath rushed out of Izabel, her hitched up shoulders lowering a little, hope flickering in her gaze, followed by determination.

"Let me know how I can help," her friend requested, half demanded, a spark of almost eager, grim determination in her eyes.

"When the time comes, a warlord called Lady Iris will lead Katrina away, help her with separating her from Lord Emmertal if necessary?" Adelia requested. "Though, don't be alarmed if two other warlords help out. This one, called Lord Ivan, Lady Iris is right beside him, and Lady Miriam is currently intimidating Lord Emmertal."

Adelia subtly pointed out the other warlords and Izabel stared at them, visibly appearing taken aback, before she blinked and focused back on the task at hands.

"I'll make sure to make my introductions to them," she murmured, only to swallow a little nervously. "Are they... nice? And where is your husband?"

Adelia felt herself soften a little, giving her friend's hands a squeeze. "They are very lovely, if quite unusual. I find them to be lovely company and Rowan is currently fetching something for me. Worry not, he isn't far."

Rowan was, without a doubt, lingering within earshot along with some of the night guard, ready to act should she call for them.

"Go to them," Adelia murmured reassuringly. "And if you feel worried or scared about anything, turn to literally anyone in here and they will aid you." Of this she had no doubt. "In the meantime, I'll try to figure out how to keep Katrina here."

With a last, faint little smile, Izabel stepped away from her, approaching the table Lord Ivan and Lady Iris leaned against with the sort of floating gracefulness of a courtly lady. All prim and proper, soft and demure and sweet, a perfect smile on her friend's face.

In time Izabel would learn, just as Adelia had, that there was no need for their courtly masks here. Not among friends, at least.

Adelia focused back on Katrina, finally getting a moment alone to truly think. She needed an excuse to keep Katrina here and her mind raced through the various options, that her friend had accidentally imbibed too much alcohol that had been stronger than she had expected, that she had felt ill after getting teleported and needed to rest, but it all fell flat when Adelia remembered that Lord Emmertal had a mage in his employ.

Mages, even if they were not masters of the healing arts, could still deal with minor ailments easily enough and could transport Katrina anywhere with the snap of their fingers. Using illness or drunkenness as an excuse wouldn't work.

Adelia blinked when a sudden idea found her, startlingly simple, so simple in fact that she hadn't even thought of it at first.

She approached the table with her milling friends, Izabel looking perfectly poised but Adelia knew her well enough that she felt a little wary, still, though she was relaxing a little bit.

Under the guise of getting herself a little cake, Adelia leaned close and whispered to Lady Iris, "I need Rowan to write Katrina's parents at once. Sorceress Iva needs to deliver the message to them in person and ask for an immediate response. They will have to comply because of Rowan's station." Especially as King Harold's favored friend.

A husband's rights overruled those of a parent's back home, but Katrina and Lord Emmertal were not married yet. A part of her was loathe to contact the very people so willing to sell their daughter, people she had always thought loved Katrina too much to hurt her this way, but if it saved her friend, she would do whatever was necessary.

"What should he write?" Lady Iris whispered back.

"That I am so happy to see Katrina and I simply can't bear to part with her again after only one evening. I simply must demand that she stay with me a week and that surely, such a gesture of goodwill will foster a deeper bond between our houses," Adelia answered.

After a beat she added, "Sorceress Iva should ensure they explicitly allow Katrina's stay in their answering letter. In the meantime, I'll keep Lord Emmertal busy."

Power was a wonderful bargaining chip in the right moments and even though Adelia had no intentions of making true on the vague promise to allow better relations with Katrina's parents, they didn't know that. If they hoped to perhaps making a deal with Rowan in the future, they were almost guaranteed to accept.

Lady Iris nodded and gently clapped Adelia on the shoulder before leaving the throne room through a door at the side. The same door that their non-human staff members must have slipped out through upon Lord Emmertal's arrival.

Straightening and making sure she still had her perfect smile on her face, she approached Lord Emmertal, who was ever so subtly but still noticeably looking for a way to get Lady Miriam to move on.

Katrina remained at his side, hand on his arm and she looked as pale and folded in on herself as ever, Lord Emmertal still subtly keeping her between him and Lady Miriam.

When Adelia approached, Lady Miriam glanced up and Adelia felt just how much stronger her presence could be. Like a volatile sea with waves rising high, threatening to drag everyone under, winds howling and lightning cracking the sky apart.

It settled at her approach and Adelia said, "Lady Miriam, have you met my friend Izabel yet?" she asked, gesturing towards the table with the little cakes she had just left. "She would enjoy meeting more people and why don't you all join us in a moment?"

Lady Miriam's smile held a sharp edge as she inclined her head, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Certainly, my lady." She looked at Katrina, still ignoring Lord Emmertal, though Adelia got the distinct impression that Lady Miriam did so to avoid drowning him in his own blood. "I will bring your friend over in a moment."

As soon as Lady Miriam stepped away, Lord Emmertal took a step forward, leaving his cowardly spot from half behind his wife. "Is your husband still absent?" he asked, that subtle unsettled look vanishing from his eyes as he drew up a tad taller. He took another step forward, as though to make himself her entire focus, as though to tower over her.

What a joke this man was, Adelia thought. Thinking himself invincible the second he thought he was the most powerful one in the group again.

"My husband should arrive any moment, worry not," she answered, making sure her sweet smile stayed on her face, to let her eyes widen slightly like she was unsettled at his proximity, at speaking with him without the protection of her husband.

As if she wasn't standing in her own home, surrounded by her own allies, three of which had already promised to present her with his dead body. As if she wouldn't bloody her own hands without hesitation to keep safe what and who she loved.

She had failed to protect what she loved in the past, had failed so very painfully, the blacksmith banished and her dear, sweet horse murdered. All that was left now was grief, the last testament of her love. Never again would she make the same mistake.

"Let's hope it will indeed be soon," Lord Emmertal said, a secretive, cold twist to his smile, like he thought he had the upper hand with his sunlit ring and silver jewelry. As though he wanted her to know that he knew she was trying to plot against him and thought her cute for it.

Like a bird trying to fly with its leg tied to the ground, flapping fruitlessly while a hunting cat approached. He'd soon realize he was the bird, not she.

His smile got a colder, crueler edge as he added, "I trust married life is treating you well?"

Adelia was about to answer with all the decorum and carefully chosen words that her parents had instilled within her, feeling a defensive sharpness rising within her at the mere insinuation that her husband would be anything but utterly and completely good to her.

But then she saw the gleam in his eyes, that dark, terrible desire, hurt pride giving it all a steely edge. They might be able to keep Katrina here for some days, but before long, Lord Emmertal would return to reclaim her.

Katrina's parents couldn't refuse him that, not with his power at court and having the king's favor despite his atrocities. Not when he was her betrothed.

Adelia could whisk Katrina away for a few days, but she knew she needed a more permanent solution. Lord Emmertal wanted her, he made no secret of that the way he looked at her, disgust crawling through her belly at his gaze, but she could use that. She would do whatever it took to protect her friends and home and husband.

She thought about that gaze, about what lords like Lord Emmertal valued, about the divorce papers up in her rooms and enough of a plan formed that she knew which direction to take things, what lies to tell.

So she paused just the faintest bit, just enough to let him notice her hesitation and she made sure her smile didn't fit as sweetly onto her mouth before, letting it look a little stiff.

"Lord Morrow has been very curteous," she answered, using the very words other ladies had whispered around her at times when their husbands had no interest in the marriage bed and they tried to keep such a thing a secret while asking for advice from other ladies. Not that they had succeeded much, rumors had always spread sooner or later.

Just like she had hoped, like she had calculated, Lord Emmertal's eyes gleamed with cold darkness and biting hunger, like a winter blizzard that had gained teeth and it only liked to devour helpless young women.

She didn't fail to notice the way Katrina's gaze darted up at her, eyes widening and suddenly beseeching, a silent plea to not do this. To stay out of this. To not offer her own neck to the chopping block just so that Katrina could remove hers.

Adelia's heart ached for her friend but she ignored her all the same, keeping her attention fully on the man in front of her, tall and courtly and excellently dressed and a monster in human skin.

"Is that so, my condolences," Lord Emmertal said, voice soft enough that anyone else would have missed the sharpness of him. A vicious, ugly satisfaction that made the tilt of his chin all the more haughty for it. "How terribly awful for a beautiful young lady to be denied her husband's affections."

Adelia made sure her expression looked momentarily startled and scared, eyes widening and mouth falling slightly open as she tucked her hands a little closer, as though she hadn't intended to give so much away. She biting down on the anger and stirrings of hatred in her chest and noticed his smile widen ever so faintly.

It was so easy to lie to haughty men, Adelia realized. His own ego so easily let him believe he had the upper hand against her, that she couldn't possibly hide things from him, that she was clumsy and fumbling and just a foolish little girl.

"Oh, no, Lord Rowan is ever so good to me," she was quick to answer, all demure and sweet as would be expected of a noble lady. "I fear the fault is entirely my own."

"Surely not," Lord Emmertal answered, reaching out to her with his free hand, completely forgetting the equally beautiful lady on his arm, who looked like she had gotten frozen in place, looking even more pale than before.

He gripped Adelia's chin with a gentleness that made her skin crawl, knowing what truly laid beneath it. The cruelty that this man was capable of with the same ease that others breathed. That he likely already imagined her with bruises on her skin, with tears in her eyes. Broken and cowering at his feet, letting him drink his fill of his hand-made terror.

And once she was used up, once she had broken too much to be any more fun, well, he would just discard her and move on to the next pretty little bird. There was no shortage of victims for a powerful man like Lord Emmertal.

She didn't dare think what his servants had to go through, who had no protections at all, not even those of noble houses, their parents either not caring about their fates or not holding enough power to cause trouble if their daughter died too quickly and too suddenly in Lord Emmertal's home.

But with a soft exhale, Adelia made herself go pliant in his grip, watched his gaze darken, the way he swallowed as he lifted her chin a little further, exposing her throat, his grip tightening the faintest bit. His sunlit ring emitted warmth like a gentle hearth, casting a gentle golden glow against her neck.

"What a shame that King Harold is so fond of your fool of a husband," Lord Emmertal muttered. "You would not have suffered such callous disregard under my care."

It took everything within her to not bare her teeth at him, to not laugh the ugliest, hardest laugh that had ever escaped her lips, to not snarl at him with all the rage and hatred that clouded her heart.

He could try the rest of his pitiful life and never even come close to holding a candle up to Rowan, who was caring and lovely and laid his deadly self into her hands with complete and utter trust. Who looked at her like she was something special.

But she just blinked up at Lord Emmertal, giving him the same look that sometimes, ever so rarely, had made her father exhale and dismiss her instead of demanding a harsh correction. It was a look made of nothing but softness and helplessness and sweetness. A bird perching lightly and prettily in his hand, acting as though she didn't know he'd break her wings first chance he got.

"Perhaps... oh, but you are getting married," she murmured, pulling back from his grip just slowly enough that his fingertips dragged along her jaw, forcing her to bite down on a shiver of disgust.

Plans, half formed but solid enough to work if she ironed out the kinks, came together in her mind. She bit her lip as his hand fell back to his side and she glanced at Katrina, ignoring her friend's horrified look and then she blinked back up at Lord Emmertal, giving him a look of big-eyed, helpless innocence.

He swallowed, stare unblinkingly fixed on her so Adelia averted her gaze with pretend shyness.

"I shouldn't even consider such a thing. Forgive me, dearest Katrina, for speaking like this with your soon to be husband," she said, giving her friend a beseeching look, hoping to convey something beyond the act she had put on. She wished she had flowers somewhere on herself to subtly tap to let her friend know that all would be well.

That she wasn't going to marry Lord Emmertal, that no one would if Adelia had a say in things. If she succeeded with her plan.

"Adelia," Katrina spoke up for the first time, a tremor in her voice, but Lord Emmertal cut her off, making her fall silent with the tiniest of flinches that made all the dark rage boil all the hotter within Adelia's veins.

"Perhaps we can speak more once your guests are suitably entertained and distracted," Lord Emmertal said. There was a quiet suggestion to his words that made her wish she had her husband's fangs to sink into his throat. He wanted her alone and all to himself.

"The bards will soon start a performance, inviting everyone to dance," Adelia said. "We can steal away for a moment then." She lightly gestured at the refreshments placed around the throne room on various tables. "In the meantime, why don't I introduce you to other warlords and show you the delicacies of Lord Morrow's home."

Lord Emmertal scoffed softly beneath his breath. "What delicacies could the Wilds possibly offer. Eel fermented in goat's piss?" He smiled at her like he thought his mean-spirited joke was ever so funny and Adelia made herself chuckle softly.

It was hardly the first time she laughed at unfunny things just to satisfy a man's ego.

Lord Emmertal followed her, Katrina drifting at his side silently as a wraith and Adelia showed them a few things she recommend they try, Katrina touching nothing and Lord Emmertal sneering at the offered food. Which was just as well, he didn't deserve to taste even a morsel of the deliciousness of her home.

She made her rounds towards Lord Ivan, who had a quiet air of predatory eagerness about him, as though he couldn't wait to get a turn unsettling Lord Emmertal.

"Please meet Lord Ivan," Adelia introduced before Lord Emmertal could steer them away from the other man, already gesturing at a table across the room. "A warlord of the Wilds."

"What an honor to meet a lovely lady like yourself," Lord Ivan said towards Katrina, offering his hand.

She took it and he bowed over it and Adelia noticed the brief, small flicker of magic shimmering through his tattoos, Katrina's eyes widening for a moment and she lost some of her ghostly paleness, a little bit of color returning to her cheeks.

"And you look like a kingdom lord," Lord Ivan said as he straightened, holding his hand out to Lord Emmertal, who stared down at it with that haughty curl tugging at his lips again. "Lord Emmentaler, correct?"

"Emmental," he corrected sharply, reaching out to grab Lord Ivan's hand with what was clearly meant to be too much force and Lord Ivan only smiled a little wider, a little sharper.

"What a shame, what am I supposed to do with all my cheese jokes now?" Lord Ivan said, holding on to Lord Emmertal's hand a moment longer, raising his other to clasp it between both of his. "Well, no matter, why don't you tell me a bit about yourselves? I've never met a kingdom lord before."

It was obvious Lord Emmertal didn't consider his current company particularly intelligent or deserving of better manners, his answers lackluster and rather sneering. His mask was nowhere near as firmly in place as it was around his peers.

Lord Ivan was a force of sunshine nature and Lord Emmertal was clearly less than pleased about that as they conversed, his attempts to extract himself from the conversation thwarted a truly astonishing number of times, before he finally moved on, demanding Katrina to follow and for Adelia to show him to the refreshments.

As Adelia moved on, she briefly glanced back, meeting Lord Ivan's gaze and he winked at her, wriggling his fingers and her eyes widened as she watched the flash of gold and sunshine glow as he made Lord Emmertal's ring dance across his knuckles, before he made it vanish in a tiny shower of sunshine sparks that faded to nothing.

She glanced at Lord Emmertal's hand, finding his fingers bare. She felt a flush of relief and fierce gratitude and she silently vowed that she was going to create whatever clockwork thing Lord Ivan asked for, no matter how big and impossible.

A subtle knot of tension within her released with the threat to her husband and night guard gone and she grandly talked up the wine and ale on the drink table, pretending to become quietly ashamed when Lord Emmertal remarked upon the lack of brandy. No proper noble house back home would have forgotten to set out tumblers of the amber colored alcohol, after all.

Just as Lord Emmertal sighed in mock indulgence, reaching for a glass of wine, while glancing towards the bards to check if they would start performing soon, Adelia noticed Lady Iris slipping back into the throne room.

Her new friend grinned wide and fanged, reaching into her vest to pull out a neatly folded letter, the wax-seal already broken and she waved it smugly.

Adelia exhaled softly and straightened. Now she needed to separate Katrina from Lord Emmertal. Trusting in Lady Iris's superior wolf hearing, she whispered beneath her breath, "I will signal to the bards to start performing and I will step aside with Lord Emmertal. Please slip me the letter and when we're gone, lead Katrina out of here so she can be hidden away."

Lady Iris nodded, expression turning serious and focused, that golden gleam going through her eyes again for a split second. It was quite lovely to be friends with monsters, Adelia decided. Quite lovely indeed.

Glancing towards the band playing a soft, drifting melody, she caught the gaze of the lead of the band, giving the signal to begin the rousing dance songs. Briefly her brows rose in surprise, for it was rather early to get started on such festivities, but she inclined her head.

The bard motioned at her bandmates to get ready before she clapped her hands clearly, drawing the attention of the gathered staff, though none of the warlords looked at her. No, Adelia's friends kept their attention firmly on her.

Adelia made herself reach out, letting her fingertips brush Lord Emmertal's hand. "If I might have a word, my lord?"

He inclined his head, for the first time releasing Katrina's hand and he stepped to the side with her, stepping around the gathering cloud. Adelia passed Lady Iris on her way out of the throne room, feeling the letter getting pressed into her hand and she swiftly slipped it into her dress pocket. Her heart, which had been beating a little faster all evening, finally settled the littlest bit.

She subtly glanced over her shoulder as she reached the door to see Lady Iris speaking with Katrina, Izabel beside her already, clutching onto Katrina's hand.

Lady Miriam and Lord Ivan caught Adelia's gaze next, a question in their eyes and Adelia faintly inclined her head at them, thanking them silently for all they had done. She looked up at Lord Emmertal, making sure she looked the picture of wide-eyed, innocent little noble lady.

Helpless and eager to be rescued by a dashing lord as she murmured, "Please, this way."

They left the party, the door falling shut quietly and the noise of music and dancing getting cut off, the entrance hall feeling chillier than the warm throne room had been.

The entrance hall stood empty and silent and Lord Emmertal stepped closer, gaze darkly hungry as he reached out towards her, "Now, what did you wish to discuss, my lady?"