Page 112 of The First Spark
A curled lock of hair brushed against her cheek, and she flicked it over her shoulder. “We should go. They’re expecting us at seven. We shouldn’t be late.”
“Right.” Zane’s silver eyes were devouring her. “We wouldn’t want to get distracted.”
She lingered inches from him. Her eyes flitted to his lips, and her breaths came faster, harsher. With an ungodly amount of strength, she tore her gaze away and marched into the darkness looming at the end of the corridor.
She couldn’t fathom why Father had invited him. On Etov, social classes were strictly separated. A soldier would never dine at a table with her Etovian relatives.
Father probably wanted to assess him. Or he had something nasty up his sleeve.
Kalie shivered.
They reached a looming pair of onyx doors that led to Father’s dining room. Pounding their staffs into the ground, Praetorian Guards hauled the doors open.
Mother’s words could not hurt her. Selene’s taunts could not wound her. Resolute, unbreakable. She’d come here to get Mother to talk, and she wouldn’t leave until she got the answers she needed.
Holding her chin high, Kalie stepped into the dark room, cast in shades of burgundy and black. The scent of spiced wine knocked into her, mixing with the odor of smoke wafting off the glowing candles overhead.
In his gilded chair at the head of the table, Father’s looming presence was shrouded in shadows. A spiky gold crown gleamed atop his black hair. Trappings of state embellished his tunic, giving him an air of authority that made her shrink before him.
“The prodigal daughter returns.”
He made no move to stand. She should’ve expected that; he was an Emperor, and even if she was the Duchissa, he wouldn’t have risen when she entered. Still, her cheeks flushed as she curtsied. One more reminder that here, she was nothing.
“Your Majesty.”
“I see you brought your guard,” Selene sneered, from where she lounged at Mother’s left. Duchissa Coriana’s diamond pendant hung around her neck. “Don’t you trust us, sister?”
Kalie clenched her teeth. The seats where Sadini, Danae, and Rian usually sat were empty, leaving her with the four she trusted least. Mother sat stiffly in the chair between Father and Selene. Across from her, at Father’s right hand, Theron studied her through narrowed eyes.
“I invited him here.” As Father clasped his hands, his gold rings glinted in the candlelight. “From what I hear, Guardsman, my daughter owes you her life. Consider the Etovian Empire in your debt. But I wonder, what did you hope to gain?”
Father’s low tone didn’t invite an answer, but Theron’s piercing eyes flicked between her and Zane.
“We have a deal,” she said, before Theron could put any ideas in Father’s head. “I’m going to return his father’s barony when I’m crowned Duchissa.”
“Whenyou’re crowned Duchissa,” Selene said, as her brows climbed to her hairline.
Kalie drew herself up to full height. “Yes. When I’m crowned Duchissa.”
Father grunted.
Zane pulled out the chair beside Theron, and Kalie lowered herself onto the plush burgundy cushion. As he seated himself beside her, ramrod straight, his eyes hovered on the generous spread of skin revealed by her slit skirt.
She hadn’t come here to flirt, she’d come to get answers, so she brushed the fabric across her thigh and turned to Mother. “We need to talk about what happened.”
“Let them serve dinner first.” Irritation tinged Father’s voice. “I need more wine to deal with this headache.”
“I don’t.” Mother shot him a glare that would’ve made most men cower. “There are so many stories flying around that I don’t know what to believe. I’d like to hear the truth.”
“The truth.” With a muffled snort, Father raised his jeweled chalice to his lips. “With you, Ashé, truth is never forthcoming.”
Mother’s jaw clenched.
The doors swung open. Servants wheeled in carts with wine and plates of steaming food. As a trio of men passed out steaming dishes of spiced chicken, a young woman refilled Father’s goblet. His leering eyes roved over her exposed cleavage before settling on the short skirt of her dress. Kalie’s lip curled as he ran a hand over the woman’s bottom and made a subtle gesture across the room.
The maid strutted towards Zane.
Kalie’s knuckles turned white on her chalice as she sipped at her wine. Grudgingly, she had to admit it was one of her favorites.
