Present Day
As Yelena and Verina left the rose garden and stepped out into the main hallway, Elorshin was being turned away from her chamber door. He called out her name and hurried over, throwing his arms around her. “Can you free yourself of the mage, and come?” He breathed into her ear.
“No, she cannot,” Verina replied coolly. “The mage will accompany you on whatever it is that you seek the Lady Yelena to do.”
“F-k,” Elorshin muttered, flicking Verina a look through his eyelashes. He decided to change tactics and smiled charmingly at her. “The Lady Yelena and I are old, old friends. I promise, I will keep her safe… We will talk about music, take a walk through the garden, chat about old times…”
“No,” Verina’s lips curled slightly. “Where the Lady goes, so do I, by order of
