A number of heads—though decidedly not all—dipped in response.
“Thank you for having me,” I said. “And please, call me Diem—unless you’ve been instructed otherwise.” I glanced at Luther, and we shared the hint of a smile.
Aemonn offered his hand and led me to the table. “Ellie told me she invited you. I held a seat open in the hopes you’d join us.”
I stiffened. The chair beside Aemonn’s was surrounded by unfamiliar faces. I would have no allies to save me if the conversation took a turn for the worse. Only Eleanor was close enough to speak with, though not with any level of secrecy. Taran and Alixe were further down, just in earshot but too far to comfortably converse, and further still sat Luther.
My gaze met his again. His eyes had lost none of their passion, but his features were now sharp, his expression guarded. His jaw muscles feathered as he watched Aemonn lean into my ear.
“I’m afraid your chaperone chose other company tonight,” Aemonn murmured.
Sure enough, Iléana sat at Luther’s side. She looked predictably stunning, her golden waves swept into a graceful updo, her ample cleavage bursting from a saffron-colored corset streaked with twisting black vines. She glanced up from her conversation with Alixe to see me watching her. Her lips, full and stained blood red, curved into a satisfied smile as she took Luther’s hand and wove her fingers with his.
My gut felt as if I had been stabbed clean through. I reminded myself again and again that I was a betrothed woman with no right to care, but hard as I tried, I couldn’t stop the hurt that constricted my throat.
I gave Aemonn a blasé shrug. It was no struggle to make my tone go cold. “I thought Iléana wasn’t a Corbois.”
“She isn’t. Luther must have invited her.”
The knife gouged a little deeper.
Aemonn huffed a sigh. “Quite rude to bring an outsider to a family dinner, if you ask me, but Luther has always thought the rules don’t apply to him.”
He gestured to a servant, and a coupe of bubbly liquid was placed in my hand. The last time I indulged on Descended wine, I’d spilled my most dangerous secret, but I was jealous and annoyed and still buzzed from the whiskey, so good decision making was officially off the table. I downed it in a single gulp.
“Diem,” Eleanor called out cheerfully. She rushed over and clasped my hands in hers. “You look stunning. I thought I’d have to bribe you to get you into this dress.”
I smiled. “Hopefully this one is a little less dramatic than my last choice.”
She looked me over with a mischievous grin. “Oh, it’s certainly dramatic.”
I ran my hand along her floor-length, deep indigo gown, admiring the winding cutouts that circled her torso and legs, where sparks of light magic twinkled against her exposed skin. “You’re gorgeous, Eleanor. What a regal color.” I winked. “Perfect for a royal advisor.”
She gave my hand a soft squeeze. “I’m so glad you came. I can rearrange chairs if you’d rather sit by…” Her voice faded as she peered over her shoulder. I tried not to follow her line of sight, but the wine was already instigating bad choices.
Luther had turned toward Iléana. Though their fingers were no longer clasped, one of her hands draped over his thigh, the other toying with his hair, and she was laughing as if he’d said the funniest thing she’d ever heard.
“I’m fine here,” I rushed out.
She frowned. “I really don’t think he—”
“It’s none of my business. Besides, the point of me coming was to get to know the other cousins, wasn’t it?”
She studied my face with evident skepticism. “I suppose so.”
“Any words of advice?”
She surveyed my tablemates, her expression lighting with a confident fire I hadn’t seen in her before. This dinner was a game of court, and Eleanor Corbois was finally in her element.
“This group is used to being around power, so the Crown alone won’t intimidate them. They’re going to test you to see how you react.” Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t take the bait. If you get angry, they’ll think they’ve won.”
I tensed. Reining in my temper wasn’t exactly my greatest skill.
“This place is like a jungle,” she said. “They all think they’re the deadliest creatures in the forest, and they want to see where you fit in. You need to show them that you’re not just a predator—you’re the apex predator. And they can either join your pack or become your prey.”
A smile slowly grew onto my lips. This, I could do. False arrogance was my weapon of choice. If the young elite of House Corbois wanted a show of strength, I would give them a night to remember.
Back at the table, conversation had resumed. Most had already grown bored of me and turned their attention to other matters. The arrival of the unusual new Queen had been barely more than a blip.
Strangely, that knowledge gave me a burst of confidence. A servant had already refilled my wine, and I downed the entire glass again, letting the effervescent warmth that spread through my chest ignite me.
I pulled out my chair and perched my right foot in the seat. My fingers skimmed along my leg, over my knee and higher still, catching the hem of my dress until my naked thigh was on full display.
Aemonn watched with brazen lust, licking his lips and lounging against his armrest as if my display was solely for him. I shot him a sinful smile.
“Mind helping me with this?” I asked coyly, trailing a finger along the holstered dagger. “I’d hate for it to snag my pretty dress.”
“With pleasure.” His eyes glittered with the thrill of the game. I could tell he knew I was playing at something—and he was all too happy to join in. He spread his legs wide. “Come closer so I can get a better look.”
I hesitated a beat. He had given me an order, not a request. Should I shut him down—or would that look like I feared a challenge?
Perhaps he saw the debate warring in my head, because he gave me the briefest wink. “I’m terribly clumsy. I would hate to nick that exquisite skin of yours and have to explain myself to an angry gryvern.”
I smirked and moved in front of him, perching on the edge of the table and placing my foot in between his open thighs. Conversation once again fell silent, everyone around us watching in rapt silence.
He wrapped both hands around my ankle and held my gaze as his palms glided up my leg and under the hem of my skirt. He slowed his movements as he rode higher, his fingers pressing in against the sensitive flesh of my inner thigh. Despite myself, goosebumps rose on my skin. Aemonn’s expression went utterly feline.
I clicked my tongue at him and shook my head. “Naughty cousin. Just the knife.” He gave me a pout, and I shrugged. “For now.”
“A woman who makes you work for the prize. What a rarity these days.” He released my thigh and grabbed the fabric of my dress, hitching it up above the blade.
“Perhaps you’ve grown too used to women who are impressed with your fancy title.” I placed my hands on his armrests and leaned in closer. “Unfortunately for you, mine’s a little fancier.”
With an elaborate show of keeping his hands away from my skin, Aemonn pulled my blade from its sheath. He gave the knife a skillful twirl in his fingers, then offered it out to me, handle first.