my wet vision. Storme's words made it clear that Kardri had been meeting him in secret—seeing his ex-lover behind my back. Maybe it had started as a way to keep Storme from hurting me and interfering in our relationship, but there was a clear increase of romantic intensity in Storme's letters that told me things had progressed. All those times when I was training, and he left so I could “concentrate,” he'd one to Storme. Then he had come back to me and played the adoring lover.
Kardri had betrayed me.
I stood up, leaving the letters scattered across the floor, and went into my suite, straight to my dressing room. I packed a bag, taking just enough to last me until I could buy my own clothes, then strapped my sword on my waist. I left the jacket Storme had bought. It had been a symbol of our triumph over him before, but now I only saw Kar's betrayal. It made me sick to even look at it. I turned and went straight to the elevator.
“Where are you going?” Ry'zaran asked warily.
“I don't know,” I whispered. “Away from here. Maybe I'll walk back to Stalana.”
“Don't be so dramatic.” He rolled his eyes. “You own a palace, remember?”
I blinked. “Shit. I completely forgot.”
“Ask Ames. He'll know where it is.” Then Ry'zaran vanished.
I grimaced at the space he'd been standing in. “Thanks for staying to help me through this. You're a real pal.”
I headed downstairs to speak to Ames.
Chapter Forty-Four
My palace was fucking amazing.
After unlocking the gate with a giant key, I strolled up the winding drive, gawking at the exotic plants arranged artfully around the front lawn. Do you even call it a lawn when it's in front of a palace? It's probably called the gardens or the grounds or something fancy like that. Whatever you called it, the lush landscape was a mini paradise beneath the fae sun, and in the center of it rose a pale green edifice of grace, strength, and beauty. My palace was slimmer than Kardri's home, almost columnar, with all its towers gathered close. Terraces topped the central building but also connected the towers, softening the sharp shapes.
If only I could truly appreciate it.
I felt ill as I trudged up the steps to the front door—a huge golden thing. I set my bag down and fumbled with the keyring Ames had grudgingly given me. The steward had begged me not to leave without speaking to Kardri first. I told him that Kar would understand as soon as he got upstairs. Ames had shut up after that cryptic announcement and handed over a deed, directions, and this keyring. He even had one of the servants drive me to my palace in Kardri's second carriage. Who the fuck has a spare carriage anyway? Shit, who was I kidding? I was in a city of palaces; most people probably had several spares.
I found the right key and went inside. The palace was furnished sparsely, but that was fine with me. This would just be a place for me to lick my wounds before I found a way back to Stalana. Regardless of what happened with Kardri, I knew I would be needed to end the war. Maybe the King would help me get back if I explained the situation. Since it was his son who my warlord was cheating on me with, His Majesty should be sympathetic. Or I could always go in my leopard form. I'd been practicing shifting, and it had become second-nature for me to slip into that powerful body. I'd probably enjoy the run. At the moment, I felt caged and twitchy.
I shut the door and locked it. “Hello?”
Ames had said there would be a caretaker in residence.
“Hello?”
No response. I shrugged and walked across the huge, useless entry hall. There had to be an elevator somewhere; I'd take it upstairs and search every floor until I found a room with a bed.
I was halfway across the hall when I smelled another Leopard. My leopard senses had emerged in full force when my forms aligned. Kell had expounded on Kardri's explanation; he said that the magic of my leopard had settled into my Sidhe body so that they were connected. Any injury that happened to me in one form would follow me into the other. The plus side was that my enhanced leopard senses could be accessed in my Sidhe form too. And they told me that there were several Red Caps and another Leopard faerie