27. Epilogue

Epilogue

E lwis suspected the boy of ulterior motives.

He sneered from his balcony-like platform built off the upper rooms that overlooked the rest of the inn where he oftentimes enjoyed sitting. And Natasya had brought this boy straight to the heart of his criminal empire, right to the inn where not even his assassins were allowed to visit.

True, not too long ago, Bronwyn brought in Wilder, but the difference was that Wilder he liked.

Out of all the men his darling girl could bring home, why would she bring in a necromancy hating, ghost hunting priest of all things?

If Elwis was a religious man, he would pray for patience, but since he wasn't anything of the sort he simply watched.

And waited.

And plotted.

He didn't know what this Evengi Ichabod was up to, but he doubted his motives were pure. Elwis saw the way he looked at his daughter, as if she was some princess in need of saving and he was her gallant knight who would sweep in and rescue her. But rescue her from what?

Why Elwis presumed from himself.

Elwis leaned over the railing watching Evengi put a log into the fire as he told Natasya a story. Whatever it was, it must be terribly amusing because her laughter rang up to where he was sitting. Whatever course of action he took, he would have to proceed carefully.

Because as much as he distrusted this Evengi he had never seen his daughter smile so wide. She has changed since he sent her to Sunder Hollow. She carried a weight of sadness now, but also a vibrant happiness.

And Evengi was responsible for the happiness at least. Elwis never wanted to be accused of taking his daughter's happiness from her. His girls were more important to him than the whole of Ruskhazar.

So, for now, he would simply have to tolerate this Evengi. Sleep with one eye open and wait to see what Evengi was up to. He would hope that Natasya would realize that she and the priest were simply not compatible.

Or …

Elwis smirked as he played a second option through his mind. Because while Evengi Ichabod may be nothing more than a pest to him, he could find a use for Ivan Fyodorov.

He had heard rumors that the Fyodorov girl had somehow survived the assassination attempt. Rumors that she was traveling with a guardsman under a special assignment from none other than the Eyes and the Ears of the King.

Oh, but that wasn't even the best part. Because the rumors also claimed that the guardsman was none other than the illegitimate son of the king. And if some tragedies were to befall the rest of the family… why this boy would be the rightful heir to the throne.

But of course… those were just rumors and speculation. There was no point in bringing them up for now. Not until he had succeeded in killing the current king.

Then it was up to the Eyes and the Ears of the King to put the guardsman on the throne. It was up to Alya Fyodorov to marry the guardsman.

And it was up to his sweet little Natasya to keep the man who will one day be the brother-in-law to the king caught in his snare.