Ahsan snatched up Nirah’s hand, enveloping it in his own, and turned to the attendant at Nirah’s left. Nervous beads of sweat popped up along the man’s forehead.
“Ensure Entu Tilhar is escorted out,” Ahsan ordered. He didn’t trust his voice to stay even for any more words than that.
The man’s face lightened and he snapped to attention, looking all too eager.
Ahsan stormed back into the body of the palace, hand in hand with Nirah at every step.
Fury turned his stomach. Already he had fought against his beast from showing itself this evening, had been absent from dinner to try and keep it in check, but as he reemerged into the palace halls he had found dinner cleared away and the High Priestess on her way out. And on her lips, words that only stoked the fire smoldering within him.
“Nira
