The Curse by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dianna Love Page B

for satellite television.”
    Don’t snap at her. “This isn’t about local human issues. We’ve found trolls involved in several of the attacks.”
    “I do read your briefings, so how is this news?”
    “The trolls alone aren’t news. But things changed tonight. We had a Rías shift and a Svart troll involved.” He watched her face for any sign of concern, because Brina knew how dangerous the Svarts were.
    She stilled, masking her thoughts until she finally asked softly, “Was anyone injured?”
    In the past she would have wanted to know that he was okay first. Tzader shrugged. “The usual, but no casualties on our side. Evalle fought the Rías and the Svart.”
    Unease slipped through Brina’s lack of expression before she contained it again. Lifting her chin and looking off at nothing in particular, she waved a casual hand. “Evalle would be best equipped for facin’ somethin’ so dangerous.”
    Where had the Brina he’d known gone?
    That Brina would want to face him at eye level, not sit there lounging like the princess she’d never wanted to be.
    His Brina would have been pacing the floor, rattling off questions to be assured that her warriors were all safe. Even Evalle. Brina would be demanding to know who did what and strategizing their next move.
    Tzader added, “I had to authorize Quinn to use extreme force on the Rías or it would have killed Evalle.”
    “Understood. An’ what of the Svart? Was Quinn able to retrieve information to shed light on these battles?”
    “He didn’t get a chance before the Svart died.”
    Brina nodded, speaking as much to herself as anyone else when she said, “Aye, a Svart will always take his own life before allowin’ himself to be captured or interrogated.”
    “Evalle actually ended up killing him.”
    “ Before Quinn could search his mind?” Brina sat up, fingers tense, gripping the cushions on each side of her. “What was she thinkin’?”
    “She was trying to survive,” Tzader said in a voice one bump louder than Brina’s. “The Svart had a chain wrapped around her neck.”
    “What about her powers?”
    “She was fighting the Rías, too. She did the best she could.”
    “Knowin’ Evalle, she didn’t wait for anyone to help an’ just kicked the Svart’s butt herself. You defend her no matter what she does.”
    “No, I don’t.”
    Brina lifted both hands in a moment of frustration, then slapped them down on the cushion again. “Is that all?”
    No, he wanted to yell that this was not all . That he missed her and expected her to miss him, but he’d made a deal with Macha that he would not encourage the relationship he and Brina had shared since their teens.
    His honor forced him to hold up his end of the agreement. “I guess that is all … to do with my report.”
    “What else can I be doin’ for you?” she asked in such a brisk tone that it grated his already shredded patience.
    “Nothing. Your Highness . Not. A. Thing.” Tzader ordered his essence to travel back to his body, which sat in a secure room at headquarters, halfway across the world.
    —
    “Come back in, Allyn,” Brina called out, standing up.
    “Yes, Your Highness.” The man she’d chosen to be her new personal guard strode back into the room with solid confidence that matched his physical appearance. Her royal guards were all well trained and strong, and his uniform was no different from that of the others, except in the way it fit Allyn’s spectacular body.
    Aye, she’d chosen a fine-lookin’ man for her purpose.
    His gaze tracked over to the empty spot where Tzader’s hologram had been. When Allyn drew close, he whispered, “How did it go?”
    “About as I was expectin’.” She kept her voice down and her senses alert for Macha, who tended to pop in unannounced.
    Allyn asked, “Then you’re pleased?”
    Brina crossed her arms. “For now.”
    She’d tested the waters with this visit. The next time, she’d put the first step of her plan into