Page 69 of The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating

Morana’s lips tightened fractionally. “Indeed. Though I wonder if directness helps in a marriage such as yours.”

“Such as ours?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow.

She carved into her meat with a pointed savagery. “A political arrangement. What else?”

At that moment, I surprised even myself by deciding I’d had enough of Morana’s insinuations. Without overthinking, I reached over and took Kazimir’s hand. His fingers stiffened briefly before softening around mine. I shot him a practiced smile, the one I’d honed in countless forced court appearances back home.

Morana’s expression froze, and I glimpsed raw fury in her pale eyes. Apparently, Kazimir had never indulged her in such a simple public display. Interesting.

Edmund broke the tension with an awkward cough. “The, er, weather has been mild...”

No one answered him. I released Kazimir’s hand, and he took his wine glass. “I was surprised to learn your garrison is still to the north, Morana,” he said, letting that cool, ominous edge leak into his voice.

Her expression turned stony. “Intelligence suggested the mountain clans might attack. I shifted my forces to show strength.”

I felt the faint pricking of my truth-sense behind my eyes. What she was saying wasn’t a lie, but something in her voice hinted at missing details.

Kazimir gave a small nod. “And how accurate was that intelligence?”

She measured her words carefully. “The clans retreated to the high passes for now.”

I could practically taste her reluctance to share more. I’d been so focused on reading her, I almost missed the subtle flicker of frustration crossing Kazimir’s face.

“Convenient,” he said, “for the bandits who swept through the villages down south.”

She bristled. “If you’re accusing me of abandoning my own subjects?—”

“I’m noting a coincidence,” Kazimir cut in. “One that serves no one’s interest. A decimated settlement can’t pay taxes.”

Morana’s knuckles whitened around her knife. “I’m managing my territories just fine without your magical shortcuts.”

The chandelier’s flame shuddered, and the room darkened an extra shade around Kazimir. “Those ‘shortcuts’ have served Arvoryn well, Morana. Don’t forget that, especially when you deal with the Syndicate.”

She paled at the mention of the Syndicate, but quickly fired back. “I’m merely seeking reimbursement for my lost guard, and someone has to hold this pass.”

Kazimir’s jaw tensed. “Meaning I should recall how precariously balanced your status is. Let’s not dance around it.”

Morana glared. Edmund looked like he wanted to crawl under his chair.

I leaned forward, deciding to step in before those tense undercurrents exploded into outright threats. “Perhaps we can discuss the shared border patrols. They seem reasonable if we want to avoid further ‘coincidences.’”

Morana’s gaze flicked to me, eyes calculating. “You’ve picked up much, Lady Blackrose, especially for someone who was recently confined in her father’s house.”

“You seem very captivated by my marriage, Viscountess,” I replied coolly, ignoring the flicker of memory. “Perhaps you’re jealous?”

Shock flared in her expression before she masked it beneath contempt. “You mistake scorn for envy.”

I studied her for a long beat, letting a small smirk touch my lips. “I don’t think so.”

She blanched, fury turning her cheeks a brighter shade. She looked about ready to vault across the table.

Kazimir ended the stare-down by speaking in that low, authoritative tone that reminded me exactly who he was. “Enough.”

The entire room seemed to hold its breath at the command. My pulse quickened. Gone was the almost playful partner who’d teased me earlier. This was the Dark Lord who had leveled entire strongholds. Morana recognized it, too. She squared her shoulders, her earlier bravado reined in.

“The treaty,” Kazimir continued as though the confrontation hadn’t just spiked. “You’ll patrol the border of Arvoryn in rotation with mine. No village remains uncovered for more than a day.”

Morana gave a short, brittle nod. “And what will I get in this exchange?”

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