Page 46 of Crown of Darkness
“Princess Iskvien,” she replies. “As lovely as you were the first time I laid eyes upon you.”
“Thank you,” I manage to say, though I cannot recall her. At all.
I hate these moments.
She snaps her fingers to the servants. “Bring wine and set the feast. We have to celebrate the first appearance of the mighty Prince of Evernight to humble Ravenal.” She graces Thiago with another smile that promises wicked delights. “If you would follow me.”
I exchange a glance with Thiago as we follow them inside the Great Hall.
We’d hoped for allies here, but it’s clear tension exists.
Ravenal’s always been the poorest of the kingdoms, though some say Lucidia had more of a hand in that than any other. There’s gold enough in the treasury, and from the decadence of the jewels that glitter on Lucere’s and Corvin’s fingers, they’ve managed to unlock the mighty vault.
But the castle stands in stark repair, and though the great hall has been swept, with bunches of feathers and flowers strewn in every corner, a close look reveals the threadbare quality of the tapestries on the wall.
“Let us talk,” Thiago says as they offer us wine.
Corvin raises a goblet of wine to his lips with a vapid smile. “Later. Tonight is a night for dancing.”
“Your Highness.” Lucere sets her wineglass on the stand and shoots Thiago a coy look as she holds out her hand. “I would be most honored if you would assist me in opening the celebrations.”
Bitch.
The muscle beneath my hand tenses as if Thiago agrees with me.
And while the insult is clear, I’ve been playing these games for far too long.
“Go and dance with her,” I say, shooting him a light smile. “I plan on stealing you all for myself for the rest of the night, so it will do the court good to see two monarchs playing nicely.”
There’s a light in his eyes that tells me he understands perfectly. “As you wish.”
And then he stands and slips through the crowd toward her with a dangerous grace, and I enjoy the view for several seconds before I realize I’m not the only one doing so.
Princess Lucere watches him with hungry eyes, her hand outstretched toward him.
I turn to Eris with a bright smile. “More wine? Please, more wine?”
She leans over my shoulder and fills my glass. “I can make sure nobody ever finds the body.”
When we first met, I was certain Eris hated me, but I’ve started to understand who she is. And I earned her loyalty. If I say the word, Eris will head out into the forest with a shovel.
“Not yet.” My cheeks ache from smiling. “We’re running out of allies.”
Eris snorts as she watches Thiago take Lucere in his arms. “We can find more.”
* * *
We’re notthe only ones here to celebrate.
Prince Kyrian of the Kingdom of Stormlight is Thiago’s closest ally, though the last time we met, he thought I’d betrayed my husband. He was the only ruler to walk away from the Queensmoot unscathed, considering he refused to watch my mother attempt to execute Thiago.
I’m a little nervous as the prince saunters down the stairs into the throne room, surrounded by several female warriors dressed in red. A leather thong binds half his hair back off his face, though his green eyes lock on me with an intensity that threatens to set my undergarments on fire.
Or no, not on me.
Behind me.
I suddenly feel like I’m standing between a cat and its prey. A glance over my shoulder reveals Thalia, glaring back at him mutinously.
