He beamed as if that was the greatest compliment he could have received. “My dear cousin does a very good job of playing the faithful servant to the Crown, but he forgets that some of us know the truth about him.”
I swallowed. “And what’s that?”
“That Luther Corbois is a man with many secrets. And many plans.”
Finally, I mustered up the courage to peer down the table toward Luther’s chair.
But he was gone.
And so was Iléana.
Chapter
Twenty-Two
“You were amazing. Incredible. Perfect. Sheer brilliance!”
I hooked my arm through Eleanor’s as we walked from dinner back to my suite—both out of fondness and the effects of the Descended wine that had the hallways careening around me. “You think it went that well?”
“It was exactly what you needed after the funeral,” she gushed. “If there was any doubt whether you can hold your own among us, it’s certainly gone now.”
I chewed on my lip and frowned. “There were some awkward moments.”
“And you handled them perfectly.” She tugged me in closer. “Accidentally spilling wine in Ethaline’s lap after she offered to take bets on the Challenging was an especially nice touch.”
“So clumsy of me,” I said innocently, drawing a cackle from Eleanor.
“They may not like you, but they certainly think you’re a vicious little beast.”
“I can work with that.”
We walked and giggled, recounting the highlights of the night. After Luther’s disappearance, the cousins had pounced with interrogations on my mortal upbringing. I managed to placate them with harmless stories without revealing anything too personal, thanks in large part to some well-timed interruptions from Eleanor and Aemonn. The two of them had been a good pair, giving me space to stand on my own without letting me drown in the process.
“Thank you for tonight, Eleanor,” I said. “Having you as my advisor has been a gift from the gods.”
“A Blessing from the Kindred,” she corrected gently. “That’s what a Descended would say.”
I frowned. “The Kindred are gods, are they not?”
“Well, yes, but…” She hesitated, appearing to brace herself for my reaction. “I heard you say ‘by the Flames’ during dinner.”
That was bad—and worse that I hadn’t even noticed. References to the ancient mortal religions, including any mentions of the Everflame, were forbidden as heresy. Even though I was exempt from the laws as the Crown, it would do me no favors in preventing a Challenge.
“If it had happened at the ball, in front of the other Houses…”
“I understand,” I said quickly. “Did anyone notice?”
“If so, it was quickly forgotten. Aemonn jumped in and said something outrageous.”
I gave a deep sigh. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Aemonn was a blessing tonight, as well. Do you still think I can’t trust him?”
She hummed in thought. “He did brand himself as your ally to the whole House tonight, even though his father hasn’t. That’s no small thing—especially for Aemonn. But he also made it clear that he’s aiming for your hand in marriage. If he finds out about your betrothal, he could turn on you.”
“He already knows.”
She gaped at me. “He does?”
“I accidentally revealed it that first day in the garden. I’m taking him as my escort to the ball in exchange for his silence.”
“Interesting.” Her expression went pensive. “Perhaps he thinks he can talk you out of it. Or perhaps he’s planning to wait out the mortal’s death and marry you after.”
“He would do that?”
She gave me a sympathetic look and squeezed my arm. “Mortal lifetimes are so short compared to ours. It’s why we don’t often get close to them—they’re gone so quickly.”
I doubted there was anything more excruciating she could have said to me.
The despair I had been diligently trying to bury was beginning to claw its bony fingers back up through the soil when Eleanor paused beside me. I looked up to see Luther leaning against the wall across from my chamber door and glaring at the ground.
“I should get to bed,” she rushed out. “Big day tomorrow.”
My protests died with one glance at Luther’s harsh expression. I gave her a quick embrace and she scurried away.
I walked—fine, carefully wobbled—down the hall without sparing Luther a glance as my guards rushed to open the heavy iron doors.
“I wish to speak with you in private.”
Even without seeing him, I felt the dark rumble of his mood roll through the air.
A storm was brewing.
“In my room?” I asked lightly. “I wouldn’t want anyone to get the wrong impression about your interests.”
“Fuck their impressions,” he snarled.
His tone shocked even the guards, who eyed us both with unease. One of them stepped into place at my side, hand resting on his weapon.
“You will address Her Majesty with respect,” he barked.
The hallway fell silent. I had never seen a guard so much as glance at Luther the wrong way, let alone openly challenge him.
I turned to intervene before Luther’s temper left me with a vacancy to fill and a pool of blood to mop up when my eyes stopped on a familiar face.
“Perthe?” I gasped.
The guard’s demeanor relaxed. “Your Majesty remembers me?”
I laughed and threw my arms around his neck. I hadn’t seen Perthe since the night I’d dragged him out of the burning armory after his legs were shattered by a falling beam. We were strangers to each other then, but something about nearly dying at his side made him feel like an old, dear friend.
“You’re healed,” I cried, marveling at his sturdy body.
“They took me to the healers in Fortos to speed my recovery.” His eyes cut upward to the Crown. “It seems we’re both much improved since we last spoke.”
I wasn’t sure I agreed that the Crown was an improvement to my life, but seeing Perthe healed and smiling was enough to have me grinning back. Guilt had been haunting me for the role I played in the Guardians’ attack, and to know that Perthe had not only survived, but recovered in full, was a salve I’d deeply needed.
“I didn’t know you were a palace guard,” I said. “Does this mean you’re a Corbois?”
“He is neither,” Luther answered from behind me. “Perthe hails from House Benette, but he is on special duty as a member of your personal sentry.”
Perthe nodded. “When I returned to Lumnos and discovered that the woman who saved my life was the new Queen, I asked Prince Luther if I could serve in your guard. Others who were friends, even family, left me behind to die that night, but you risked your life to rescue me.” He clamped a fist to his chest and bowed low. “It would be my greatest honor to repay that debt.”
“To see you healthy is repayment enough.” I took his hand and squeezed it, ignoring Luther’s grunt of displeasure. “But if you wish to serve me, I gratefully accept. I can think of no man in the entire realm who is more worthy to fight in my defense.”