Page 68 of All the Chaos of Constellations
“I trust you will.” Drake’s expression remained one of cool composure even as a beat of weighted silence passed between them.
Then another.
Asher straightened in his seat, leaning forward to match the prince’s indifferent countenance. “Is there anything else, Your Highness?”
Drake’s face was a void, vacant and impassive. The Shadowblade Assassin thrived on being unreadable. There was no way to gauge his intent. He was calculating, precise, and lacking any obvious tell. “What do you know of Lady Novalise Starstorm?”
Asher tightened the reins of his control. “What of her?”
“What are her likes? Her interests?” The prince ran his thumb along the underside of his signet ring, a silver band emblazoned with the emblem of a dragon. “Her favorite color? Favorite book?”
Shuttering away the brewing rage pulsing beneath the surface of his skin, Asher feigned nonchalance. “I don’t make it my business to know the whims of females.”
Drake stoked Asher’s temper, setting fire to the kindling of his anger. “It seems you don’t make it your business to know much of anything.”
Asher locked his jaw, clamping his teeth together so tightly, a dull ache formed at his temples. He was in no mood for the shadow prince’s games. “What are you getting at, Kalstrand?”
“Only that for someone who spends his time surrounded by the knowledge of the worlds, you’re far more ignorant than I would’ve thought.”
Asher was on his feet a second later. He slammed his hands on the desk, toppling over a pile of books and sending a stack of papers askew. His magic burned, imploded, and bled from his palms into the hardwood. He knew without a doubt the scorch of frostfire would leave behind an irreparable blemish.
“Insult me again,” he warned.
The prince rose, matching his intimidating stance. “Or you’ll what? Challenge me to a duel? Invite me to take part in a battle till the death? If so, I gladly accept. Because we both know I would win.”
Drake bared his teeth, the truth of his nature revealing itself. Callous and ruthless. An assassin to his core.
“Out,” Asher demanded, pointed toward the door of his study. “Now.”
Drake eased back, the corner of his mouth twisting up into a smug smile. As though he knew something Asher did not, and it gave him a sick kind of satisfaction. Knots of unease twisted in Asher’s gut.
“Are you aware she’s engaged?” Drake asked, his voice eerily calm.
“I know her wedding is at the close of Midsummer.” It was all everyone was talking about since plans for the event were in motion. All of it beyond his control, and likely beyond Novalise’s as well. “But she is not yet engaged.”
“How wrong you are, old friend.” Drake chuckled, the sound of it hollow and bitter. The tiny hairs along the back of Asher’s neck stood on end. “I have it on good authority that the engagement will be announced at the Firelight Festival.”
Drake tilted his head, pretending to consider his own words. “I believe you’re the one hosting that particular little celebration, are you not?”
Impossible.
Novalise was withhimlast night. If she was engaged to someone else, Asher would’ve sensed it. He would have known. He shook his head. “I don’t believe it. She would have told me if that was truly the case.”
“Why? She owes you no explanations.” Drake inhaled deeply, all traces of complacent taunting vanishing from his face. “Curious the way her scent clings to you, the way it mingles with your own. Did you honestly think I wouldn’t find out? That I wouldn’tknow? Novalise is your mate, and you don’t even love her.”
The blade of insult struck true, piercing Asher. “Why should I believe anything you say?”
“For one, I never lie.” Power seemed to magnify around the shadow prince. Darkness fell around him like a cloak, making it almost impossible to discern the difference between him and the shadows. “But if you don’t want to believe me, then perhaps you’ll take the word of your sister, who’s lurking in the shadows of the hall outside your study, listening to every word of our conversation.”
Asher reared back just as a wall of understanding slammed into him.
Drake tossed his arm out, and the door to the study swung open.
Sure enough, there was Cyra, her golden eyes wide in shock.
She toppled forward, flinging her arms up to catch her balance. “I’m so sorry, Asher.” She spared the prince a hasty glance, fear mirrored in her gaze. “Your Highness.”
“Lady Cyra, are you aware it’s a crime to eavesdrop on royal family in Brackroth?” Drake turned toward her slowly, stealing all the light from the room until the entire place was cloaked in crawling shadows. She paled at his advance. He moved closer, one intentional step at a time. “Do you know what the punishment is for such an offense?”
