“I’m not upset. It’s more opportunity to speak to possible witnesses or suspects,” Castien said before lunging toward Finn, who dodged him.
“One of these days you will talk about your feelings rather than bury them,” Finn grumbled.
“Perhaps the same day you stop disguising yours with wit,” Castien quipped, earning a smile.
“Nice to hear you think me witty, dear cousin.” He held his hand up when Castien readied to strike again. “I need water.”
Castien lowered his sword. “Very well. A break, then.”
Finn gave him a look that read as if he was done for the day, but said nothing. The two of them walked toward Heathford, who stood stoic despite the heat beating down on his black and burgundy attire. He held a silver tray with two glasses of water, and there were two white towels draped over his left arm. Castien took a glass, and so did Finn. They downed thelukewarm water in seconds before each grabbed a towel to mop the sweat off their faces and chests.
“Did you boys hear I was arriving and decide to put on a show for me?” A silky voice purred.
Castien blinked open his eyes. There, in a gown far too elaborate for sailing the Tides, stood Princess Calypsia Voltayre of Grimhaven. Her corset was covered in various gems and pearls, while her skirts flowed out around her, pinned with tiny pink bows. She smiled, and Castien felt as though he was staring at a cryptura.
There was a sharpness about Calypsia’s beauty that tended to unnerve those she interacted with. Her collarbones stuck out too far, her jaw was razor-like, and her smile presented as predatory. Castien did not fear her, but he also did not favor her. She was a Grimhaven-born through and through. Vicious to the core. Most raised in Grimhaven turned out on the bloodthirsty side, but being raised royal was another rank of evil. They were cutthroat in the truest sense of the word. The way one took the Grimhaven throne was by killing the person on it, even if they were family.
“If we’d known you were arriving, we would have hidden for fear of being cursed by your shadow,” Finn said before grabbing his shirt off the grass.
Castien smirked. Calypsia’s smile did not wane.
“It is a shame that you’re nothing more than a petty jester to your cousin’s kingship, Finnick. I’d enjoy having a pretty thing like you on my arm.”
Finn buttoned his shirt quicker than he had parried Castien’s attacks. Calypsia’s dark gaze raked over Castien’s abdomen next. He grabbed his shirt, not caring to be on display for the vile woman. She made known her attraction to Castien, as well as her interest in his position as prince. After spending the last year in the Order together, Castien was certain he wanted nothing to do with Calypsia outside of necessity.
“How is your sister?” Castien asked before Finn could hurl a veiled insult. “I trust her transition to the Wild Holm went well?”
Calypsia’s smile thinned at the reminder of her debt to Castien. Before the end of last semester, he orchestrated a deal with the future duke and graduating student, Oaks Riverbarrow. The Duke would court Calypsia’s younger sister in exchange for a hefty dowry. Calypsia would have one less threat to her future crown, and Oaks would have money to rebuild the estate his father had run into the ground. Calypsia attempted to make the deal on her own, but it was Castien’s word of approval that sent the man to Grimhaven at the beginning of Eventide.
“It went smoothly, yes. Her wedding was grand, and her departure even more so.”
Castien nodded. “I’m certain everyone involved is better off because of the match.”
“Everyone but Oaks, who got a viper for a wife,” Finn muttered under his breath next to Castien.
Calypsia’s gaze cut to Finn as though she might have caught his words.
“Princess Calypsia.” A lady’s maid dressed in frilly pink skirts that coordinated with the bows on Calypsia’s ensemble glided toward the group. “The staff needs your direction on where to put your belongings.”
Castien lifted his gaze to the docks, where several academy staff were lugging large trunks off the ship. He was certain it would take several trips to bring it all to her chambers.
“I will be right there,” Calypsia said, then dismissed the maid with a sharp flick of her wrist. The young woman scurried off in a manner that displayed a healthy fear of her mistress.
Calypsia met Castien’s gaze. Her eyes were the color of algae.
“I will see you both in the dining hall. I have a feeling it’s going to be an entertaining year.” She curtsied. Castien nor Finnbowed in return. Both of their mothers would be furious, but their fathers would admire the strategy behind their slight.
Calypsia narrowed her eyes before turning and gliding off in the direction of the House of Adira, where she resided.
Finn shivered exaggeratedly. “Breathing the same air as her feels wrong.”
“That much evil is bound to cause a visceral reaction,” Castien replied.
He stuck his sword into his scabbard, then pushed his hair back. It was starting to resemble Finn’s with how it fell onto his forehead.
“I was hoping to go over my notes in the study for the rest of the day, but now I suppose I’ll have to make an appearance in the dining hall.” He couldn’t have Calypsia thinking she had any hand in his not showing.
“It will be good for you to get out of that room. Perhaps your Gift will pick up on something new with all the fresh faces around,” Finn suggested as he sheathed his sword.
