Page 108 of Rise of the Vicious Princess

“I think every detail matters, don’t you? One wouldn’t want to overlook something that might later be important.”

He laughed under his breath. “If you say so.”

Lady Ollen spoke around a mouthful of sugared oat cakes. “I myself have several unique pieces from Montevallian mines. I’m most anxious to see what else your kingdom has to offer. The value of the jewels sent to repay your kingdom’s blood debt will have to be significant.”

Lord Everly looked faintly disgusted at both the topic and Vahn in general. Lady Channing said nothing as she took delicate bites of her poached egg.

“Obviously you’ll send an assortment of rubies, sapphires, and the like. All fairly . . .” Charis waved a hand in the air as if searching for the right word. “Ordinary, am I right?”

“I suppose you could say that.” He took a bite of pumpkin muffin and then reached for his glass of sparkling plumberry juice.

Lady Channing brushed against Charis as she reached for her own glass.

“Well, it just seems rather unremarkable.” Charis pretended to stifle a yawn and looked away from him as if he no longer interested her.

“Not all the jewels are ordinary, you know.” Vahn puffed out his chest, a glimmer of anger on his face. “We have chryllophire, thorall, serpanicite, and zellorite. You can’t find those anywhere else. Not a single kingdom on the sea has them.”

“Hmm.” She brushed a speck of lint from the tablecloth and reached for her glass. “I suppose I’ll find those more exciting once I actually see them.”

Chryllophire, thorall, serpanicite, and zellorite. Which of those had Ambassador Shyrn been so desperate for Calera to send to the Rakuuna?

She caught Tal’s gaze from his place against the wall to her right, and the spark of pride in his eyes warmed the torch he’d lit in her heart. Quickly she looked to Lady Channing as if that’s where her gaze had been the entire time and said, “I do hope no one in your household catches the cold Lord Thorsby now has.”

Lady Channing smiled, though her eyes were bright as they slid from Vahn to Charis. “I do hope so as well. It always goes through the staff. Very inconvenient.”

“Indeed.” Charis spooned up a bite of fluffy winterberry compote. “Have you given any thought to your Sister Moons Festival outfit?”

“Oh, it’s already done.” Lady Channing gave Charis a sly smile that seemed to say she knew exactly the game the princess was playing and was only too happy to assist. “My household is wearing a white-and-pale-blue theme this year. I must say Merryl outdid herself. Did you know she can work live flowers into a bodice? Of course, she can’t add them until the day of the ball, but I promise it will be unforgettable.”

“How fascinating!” Lady Ollen leaned over her plate. “Our household will be wearing silver and plum. It’s a bit of a departure from our usual shades of blue, but my seamstress convinced me no one else would wear the colors of a twilight sky.”

Lord Everly, appearing desperately bored, took a bite of his oat cakes.

“I beg your pardon,” Vahn said, his courteous voice clipped with anger. “I don’t wish to offend, but you can speak with your friends about dresses whenever you wish. You and I only have a few more minutes to get to know each other.”

Charis took another bite of compote and savored it. Then she said slowly, “You were very clear yesterday that your spies have told you all about me, so what else could you possibly want to know?”

“I . . . yes, they have. You have no idea the kind of information I’ve gathered. But I’m sure you want to get to know me. You need to understand the man you’re bringing into your bed.”

Lady Ollen laughed. “My dear prince, if you understand one man, you understand them all.”

Charis looked at Vahn and shrugged as if to say she agreed.

“I see,” he said. “Then you are in for some surprises.”

Charis took another bite. “I am very rarely surprised.” She turned her gaze on Vahn. “Especially when I’m already bored.”

He flushed. “You weren’t bored with me yesterday.”

She smiled, slow and vicious, and gave in to the temptation to return every cruel barb he’d landed yesterday with interest. Leaning close, she said softly, “That’s because I hadn’t yet had the real thing. Now that I have, I find it hard to be interested in anyone who doesn’t measure up.”

He fisted his hands and turned to look at Tal as though he wanted to tear him limb from limb. Tal, seemingly unaware of what Charis had said, nevertheless tipped an imaginary hat toward Vahn and then looked only at Charis.

“I grow tired of these games,” Vahn hissed.

“Tired already?” Charis pretended to pout. “But we’ve only just begun.”

“Where do you see this ending? With his body at the end of my sword? Is that it? You want to drive me to jealousy?”

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