“Iléana has been a family friend since we were young. She and Luther have been courting off and on for years.”
“Years?” I choked. Down the hall, Iléana brushed a stray lock of hair from Luther’s face. I couldn’t tear my eyes away.
“Everyone assumed they would marry so our Houses could formalize an alliance before he became…” She caught herself and winced. “If he became King.”
“So what happened?”
She shrugged, light glinting from the many hoops and studs that adorned her face. “I keep out of it. I only know he broke it off.”
I swallowed. “When?”
“Recently. A month ago, I think.”
The peal of Iléana’s laughter carried down the hall. She was shoved up against him now, preening as she smoothed the lapels of his jacket. Her fingers were inching up his chest, around his neck, snaking into his hair. Luther grasped her wrist, and she leaned up to him, eyes closed and lips parted.
I quickly turned away, heat flushing my cheeks.
The idea of Luther with a woman had my mind reeling, though I wasn’t sure why. I couldn’t deny he was an attractive man—fine, an extremely attractive man, if I was forced to be honest—and being the presumptive heir to the throne surely made him a prime target for any woman with dreams of becoming Queen Consort.
But he was so closed off, so reluctant to show any hint of emotion. It was hard to envision him as someone’s beloved, curled up naked in rumpled bedsheets, laughing and sharing dreams and fears. The thought of it had my stomach twisting in a way that made me feel ill.
I wondered what secrets of his Iléana knew. Did she know he never expected to be King? Did she know he’d helped my mother, or that he’d saved the half-mortal children? Did she know that we’d—
“Your Majesty?”
I blinked as Alixe’s voice cut into my thoughts. “Oh—apologies,” I stammered. “Please, call me Diem. And I’m sorry, by the way—about earlier.”
Her brows creased. “Earlier?”
“My question about the Royal Guard. I didn’t mean to insult your job.”
“You didn’t, not at all. The truth is, the Royal Guard does whatever the Crown tells us to do. Only Luther, as High General, really knows what all that includes.” She gave me a conspiratorial smile. “And the only reason Iléana isn’t on palace duty is because she’s not a Corbois.”
“All of the guards in the palace are Corbois?”
“Every last one.”
I dared another glimpse over my shoulder. Luther had both of Iléana’s wrists in his grip, his neck craned down toward her, their faces mere inches apart. Her eyes slid over and caught mine, and a smug smile unfurled across her lips. Luther followed her gaze to me.
I snapped forward. “It was good to see you again, Alixe,” I said quickly, moving to leave. “I hope we get the chance to talk soon.”
She bowed low. “As do I. I’ve heard so many stories about your father. I’d love to trade some, if you’re willing.”
Pride and pain rose at the thought of him. “Of course. Perhaps you can come home with me one day and meet him yourself.”
“I would be honored,” she said with a genuine smile.
I excused myself and darted down the nearest hallway. I had no idea where the meeting room was, and I cursed myself for my ill-thought-out exit. Just as I was about to succumb to the humiliation of doubling back, I heard the thump of jogging footsteps. Seconds later, Luther came to my side, his expression stormy.
“You should have waited.” Heat skittered down my spine at the darkness of his tone.
I shrugged. “I didn’t want to break up the lovers’ reunion.”
“She’s not my lover.”
“Does she know that?”
A low noise rumbled from his throat.
“I thought my not inheriting the Crown would finally put her off me for good,” he muttered.
“Maybe she thinks you’ll get another shot. She didn’t seem to have much confidence in me.”
“Then she’s even more foolish than I thought.”
I looked up at him. He wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“Well, she seems like a real peach,” I drawled. “You obviously have flawless taste.”
“You’re one to talk.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
His voice dropped to a hush. “Last I saw him, your betrothed was stomping around calling himself King. I could see the plans already forming in his head.”
“I’ve known Henri since I was a child,” I said defensively. “I trust him. And may I remind you, he proposed when I was just a plain mortal girl.”
Luther halted, whipping around to face me. “You were never just a plain mortal girl,” he snapped, his temper cracking. “And may I remind you, you weren’t sure he would still want you.”
I opened my mouth to retort, but he leaned closer and continued, his voice frosty.
“A Descended mate is forever. We do not give our heart away unless we are certain, beyond all doubt, that the person we choose will stand by our side no matter what fate the Kindred have in store for us, in this life and all that comes after.” Shards of his magic clashed in his gaze. “I will not presume to tell you who to choose, I can only hope that you have friends, as I did, who care about you enough to tell you when you’re being a blind fool.”
The sound of approaching voices wafted nearby. Luther’s focus flicked toward them, then he took my hand and tugged me back into step.
I let his words sink in as we walked, despising how disloyal they made me feel, the buried doubts they lured to the surface. Back in Mortal City, I didn’t have many friends. My strange eyes, rough edges, and tendency to break rules made me too much of a liability to keep around for very long.
“Is Eleanor trustworthy?” I asked.
“She’s your sole advisor, and you’re asking me if you can trust her?” he asked dryly.
“Don’t be jealous, Lu,” I said, earning a glare in response. “Answer the question. Could I tell her about Henri?”
“Yes. She is loyal to you.” He grunted irritably. “She’s stopped talking to me entirely because she thinks you don’t trust me.”
I beamed. “Really?”
“You could try to look a little less pleased with yourself every time you turn a new member of my family against me. Sorae used to adore me. Now when I use the front entrance, she tries to take a bite out of my arm.”
I burst out laughing. Luther watched me, and despite himself, his sour mood eased at the sound, though as my thoughts returned to Henri, my spirits came tumbling back down.
“Will Eleanor care that he’s mortal?”
“Every soul in the realm will care that he’s mortal.”
I let out a frustrated sigh. “And you… if you were my friend and nothing more, what would you tell me?”
His answer came without missing a beat. “That if a man made you doubt whether his love for you would survive anything, he does not deserve you.”
He dropped my hand and stopped abruptly at an open door, where Remis was already seated at a long table.