Kirin blinked in disbelief when Lenora's lips pressed hungrily against Valerien's. He took an unconscious step forward to pull her away, but the demon broke the kiss on his own.
"You are drunk," he told her sternly.
"That never bothered you before," she sulked, then smiled at Kirin. "Your friend can join in."
Kirin baulked at the very idea, his anger growing even more when he saw how amused she was by his reaction.
"What a spoilsport. Whose creation is he?" she asked Valerien.
"No one's."
Lenora squinted at Kirin, then reached out to touch the bruises Rhian had left on his wrists.
"A human? Your tastes are becoming ever more peculiar, darling," she commented.
Valerien stepped between them and took Lenora's extended hand into his.
"Don't touch him. He bites," he told her.
She laughed, and Kirin felt another stab to his heart. He realised he had no claims on this treacherous, lying demon, who played with people's affections so carelessly, but the humiliation was too much.
On an impulse, he turned to leave and almost bumped into Gerant, who rushed into the tent with a clay jug. The guard gave Kirin an apologetic look before he said, "I am sorry, my lady, but there is no wine left. I brought some more of this human drink called mead."
"That will have to do then. Take lord Valerien's human and lock it up with my little pet," she said.
"As you wish, my lady," Gerant said and filled her goblet.
"He stays here," Valerien said calmly.
His eyes drilled into Kirin's with urgency. The bard gritted his teeth and sat down at one of the chests next to the tent flap. A part of him was still tempted to storm out, but he knew he would stand no chance if he tried to free the child on his own.
Gerant glanced at his mistress, who frowned, but then just shrugged and dismissed him. She blindly reached for the goblet. Valerien took it from her hand.
"You've had enough, Lenora. We have serious matters to discuss."
She scoffed, but her voice trembled slightly when she asked, "I assume our engagement is dissolved?"
"The Queen has decreed so," Valerien informed her.
She nodded and leaned against the table, her palms pressed against it for support.
"I see. A traitor's daughter is not fit enough for her sister's son."
"It is worse than that. She put a Blood Ban on everyone who followed Princess Antha."
She closed her eyes for a moment, then asked, "Even Lioren?"
Valerien didn't answer for a moment. Lenora smiled mirthlessly.
"Of course. But whatever you promised to do for her so she would spare your precious brother, don't get your hopes up. He is not … himself anymore."
"Tell me what happened and I'll help you, too," Valerien said.
"He came to negotiate our surrender with my father and the princess. The next day, orders came to move camp. My father said we would get enough iron to beat the Queen's troops with ease despite our smaller numbers. He refused to explain anything else, and then Lioren led us here. I don't know what made him change sides so unexpectedly. I tried to speak to him before he disappeared with Antha, but he just looked through me. I could swear he didn't even recognise me," she said with a shudder.
"Do you know where they went?"
She shook her head. "Only my father knows. He didn't even tell Beneth. She is furious. With him, with me, with everyone."
A tear rolled down her cheek. Valerien wiped it away and cupped her cheek.
"Is that why she left you here all alone?" he asked with sympathy.
"Father sent her away. He told her to get more provisions and humans, but I think the real reason was that he got tired of arguing with her."
She sounded exhausted and leaned her forehead against Valerien's chest. Kirin averted his eyes from the scene, his hands clenched into fists. Her voice sounded like that of a child when she continued, "Can you just take me back through the Veil? I hate this stinking, uncivilised realm. I want to go home."
"It's not that simple, Lenora," Valerien said softly.
"I will throw myself at the Queen's mercy. She must know I had no choice in this," she insisted.
Against his will, a trace of pity stirred in Kirin. The girl sounded truly desperate. But when he looked up, jealousy raised its ugly head again. Valerien's fingers ran through Lenora's silver blonde hair in a sensual caress. His other hand tilted her chin up as he smiled down at her.
"It will be all right, little one. I promise I won't let her hurt you," he murmured.
The girl smiled back and closed her eyes. Her lips opened slightly as if in expectation of a kiss.
Valerien's hands moved so abruptly that Kirin could not even follow.
The sharp sound of a snapping neck still echoed in his ears when Lenora's dead body sank into Valerien's waiting arms.