AARYN
Something was wrong.
Where was his brash and bold best friend? Where was the Queen who'd dominated her own father through sheer will?
Elreth looked wrong, and smelled wrong, and it was obvious to anyone who was watching—and pretty much everyone was watching. He prayed this would be little more than a momentary hiccup. That she'd choose her Cohorts tomorrow evening and everyone would forget how uncertain she looked this evening.
It set his teeth on edge seeing her shaky like this. It was completely unlike her—and did not work in her favor as a newly dominant Queen. Change always made the people uncertain. They needed to see her at her best and strongest right now. And instead she was… wavering.
What was wrong?
He bolted his meal until even his mother raised her eyebrows and urged him to slow down. "No one will take your food, Son," she said with a soft laugh. "Did you skip lunch?"
