Griffin does his best not to laugh—fails—and I kick him under the table.
Kaia bounces in her seat. “Tell us about the Lost Princess of Fisa.”
We just started the main course, and I nearly spit out my moussaka. I swallow and clear my throat. “There’s not much to tell. She’s gone, and unless she’s found, or killed, the Fisan royal line after the current Alpha can always be called into question.”
“But how can she just disappear?” Kaia asks.
I shrug. “Maybe she went to the Ice Plains.”
“Then isn’t it likely she’s already dead?” Piers asks.
“Not everyone who goes to the Ice Plains dies there. I have a friend, Aetos, who survived.”
“She could have gone to the Lake Oracles,” Griffin says.
My heart kicks me in the ribs even as I shake my head. “I don’t think so.”
“Why not? An Oracle could help her escape.”
“That’s assuming she needed help.”
He swirls the wine in his glass, frowning. “Doesn’t everyone?”
“Do you?” The question pops out before I realize I’ve trapped myself.
“Yes.” Griffin faces me, his one softly spoken word settling deep inside me. But I see more than need in his eyes. I see desire, and care, and possessiveness, and a whole mess of things I refuse to deal with.
I swallow the lump rising in my throat. “I don’t.” Denial works. Always has.
Sort of.
“What about fangs?” he asks. “And giant hands?”
Eh…
“What about fangs and giant hands?” Kaia asks.
“Nothing!” Carver and I say at once.
“Well, that’s intriguing.” Egeria eyes us in a way that makes her look exactly like her mother.
“We’ll start curtsy lessons after dinner,” I announce.
“Subtle,” Griffin whispers in my ear.
I swivel my head to give him the evil eye, find us so close our breath mingles, and can’t quite manage it.
“Excellent idea,” Egeria says. “Especially with the nobles coming soon.”
What? “When?”
Her hands flutter nervously above her plate. “In a month’s time. Invitations have already gone out for our first realm dinner.”
It’s a smart move. Fast. “That will be an important evening.”
Egeria and Griffin exchange a glance. “It will likely determine whether Sintan Magoi back us, leave us alone, or plot to overthrow us,” she says.
I nod. “If you really want change, you’re going to have to strike a delicate balance no one has tried before. You’ve got the Hoi Polloi heart of the realm, but Magoi nobles are still the blood, pumping all over the northern half of Sinta to their little fiefdoms where they rule, just like warlords do in the south. Gain their respect, and they may turn into valuable tools. At the very least, gain their indifference to keep them from actively thwarting you. Anything else, and they’ll all be wondering why they aren’t on the throne.”
“There’s so much to learn,” Egeria frets. “Who they are. What they can do… And then there’s court etiquette. How to greet. How to bow. Who can talk to whom. Everything’s so different in the north and among Magoi.” Her eyes widen in her pale face, and she looks at Griffin like he has all the answers. “What if we’re not ready?”
“A month is plenty of time to get ready,” he says reassuringly.
I attempt an encouraging smile. “It’s true. And I can’t wait for you to prove to them that southern Hoi Polloi aren’t complete heathens after all. Half the nobles will probably die of apoplexy on the spot.”
Egeria turns to me, two splotches of pink washing across her cheeks. My stomach drops. My version of supportive clearly needs work.
“I’ll make study scrolls about the nobles and their magic,” I offer. “All you’ll have to do is memorize them, and by the party, your court manners will be the best in the realms. I promise.”
Magic zings through me with the vow. I look at Griffin. “A lot will be riding on you, on your welcoming the nobles with a wolf’s smile. They need to know you’ll rip their throats out if they cross you.” I can’t help adding, “It shouldn’t be too hard. Just act like usual.”
“Like this?” He gives me a ferocious grin that’s all teeth.
I roll my eyes. “Yes, exactly like that.”
Everyone laughs, and I realize what he just did. He put his entire family at ease when they were on the verge of panicking. Mother would have reveled in the fear and fanned the flames of panic until we were all crashing into each other like frightened goats.