Page 22 of Esperance

“It’s all right,” he told her. “They’re harmless. Just loud.”

“The whole jungle is loud. I’m never sure which creature is going to call out an attack next.”

“Actually, it’s the silent predators that are the most dangerous.”

She snorted. “Thank you for that reassuring thought.”

“Any time.” His eyes narrowed a little, then traced over her face. “You look a little flushed. Are you all right?”

The heat in her cheeks mounted under his stare. “Forgive me, but I’m not used to being baked alive.”

His dimple flashed as he quirked a smile. “Living on the Scorched Plainscanbe difficult.”

The reminder of her earlier quip was unexpected. She wasn’t sure if it was a peace offering of sorts, or another attempt to throw her off-balance.

She didn’t have a chance to respond, because Prince Argent and Princess Jayveh stepped up to join them. “Ah, the Scorched Plains,” Argent said to Carver. “Your eternal resting place.”

Carver turned to the prince, his voice even as he said, “I wouldn’t want you to get lonely down there.”

Amryn’s breath caught at the inherent insult. Her attention snapped to Prince Argent, but he only threw back his head and laughed.

Carver flashed a smile.

The empirical princess shook her head, though amusement sparked in her eyes as she turned to Amryn. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Amryn. I’m Jayveh.”

Feeling somewhat off-balance, Amryn gave a belated curtsy. “The pleasure is mine, Princess.”

“Oh, please, there’s no need for such formalities.”

“Agreed,” Argent said, wrapping one arm around Jayveh’s waist. His smile was full as he met Amryn’s stare. “You must call me Argent.”

She didn’t think she’d ever be able to do that. Her heart raced in her chest and her palms were slick. This was Prince Argent Vayne. The only person in the empire more powerful than him was his grandfather.

And Carver had insulted him. And Argent had laughed.

She’d known they were friends, but she never would have believed that she’d see the Heir of the Craethen Empire and the Butcher tease each other. She didn’t think men like that werecapableof it.

“He means it,” Carver said from beside her, his tone gentle.

She glanced at her new husband. A man of many contradictions, she was coming to find; he had sensed her unease, and he was attempting to quell it.

“I really do,” Argent said. Then he held out a hand, and Amryn had no choice but to take it. He lifted her hand and brushed his lips against her knuckles. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Amryn.”

Sincerity poured from him, with only a shadow of concern. Or was it doubt?

She withdrew her hand the moment it was polite to do so.

Jayveh’s gaze was warm as she addressed Amryn. “I have to admit, I have many questions about Ferradin. My mother used to read me stories about fairies and enchanted lochs. It always sounded so otherworldly.”

“Xerra feels much the same to me,” Amryn confessed.

“The jungles of southern Xerra are especially overwhelming,” Jayveh said. “I grew up on the northern plains, and even I can feel the difference in climate.” She eyed some of the flyaway hairs that had curled free of Amryn’s braid. “I’d be happy to share a smoothing tincture for your hair, if you’d like. It works wonders for me.”

“I would appreciate that,” she told her honestly.

She noticed the men had gone silent as she and Jayveh talked. Argent watched them with a small, contented smile on his face.

Carver simply watched.

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