Nadir smirked, gaze flickering to the ground and then back to Aydra. “You still don’t trust me?”
But Nyssa couldn’t stop herself from leering at the man before her, biting her bottom lip to hold back her smile. And when he caught her gaze again and winked, her heart fluttered.
No man had ever had her squirming in her knees from just a few looks before.
She cursed her body for responding as it was.
Nadir turned back to Aydra, and he gave her a nod. “All right, Sun Queen.”
No wonder her sister had told her to stay away from him.
Rhaif cleared his throat, and Nyssa tore her eyes away from Nadir to see a fake smile plaster itself on Aydra’s lips, and she looked to Nadir as if they were sharing a secret. “Nadir—“ Aydra turned slightly in Rhaif’s direction “—this is my brother. King Rhaifian Sunfire.”
The way Nadir moved in Rhaif’s direction stilled the room. Stepping up to him like he was challenging him for the crown. It was an air of danger, confidence, that exuded from him and made him appear even taller before the King. Nadir’s once smiling face turned hard, and he stared down his nose at Rhaif, shoulders rounding.
“King?” And the word sounded of poison on his tongue. His eyes darted to Aydra, almost looking as though he were asking permission for what he was about to say, and then he shifted once more, fist tightening at his side.
“The same king that refused to send aid and allowed my men to walk into battle against strangers we knew nothing of with only the people of the Venari at our side and thus caused a loss of life that could have been prevented had he merely sent a patrol of Belwarks to protect our shores— that King?”
Nyssa’s stomach fluttered at the accusation and conviction in Nadir’s tone. She thought for a moment that fire would rise in Rhaif’s eyes, as she was sure very few people had ever spoken to him like that before. But it didn’t.
A jagged breath came from Aydra, as though the words had given her a great satisfaction, chest swelling with a pride that hadn’t been present moments earlier.
Nyssa realized then how much work Aydra had put into making allies in the south.
Nadir gave Rhaif a long once over when the King didn’t reply, and then he slowly backed down the steps one at a time, without ever looking where he was going or losing gaze with him.
A group of Honest filed into the room then and stopped short in equal lines behind Nadir as he paused on the bottom step. He crossed his arm over his chest, resting his fist at his left breast, as he said, “Nadir Storn,” in a stern tone. “Commander of the Honest Army. The Grand will be along with the Nitesh,” he added.
“Grand?” Dorian chimed in.
Nadir’s gaze rested upon the Prince as he replied, “Lovi Piathos. And you must be the little Prince that the Venari King has declared worthy of the high crown.”
Aydra snorted, along with Lex behind them, and Nyssa glanced sideways to her brother, who was beaming.
A flash of blue fire blinked in Rhaif’s eyes. Nyssa shifted, but just as she tried to listen to whatever Aydra said to Rhaif, Dorian’s proud grin caught her gaze, and she became entirely distracted from her olders.
“High crown?” Nyssa mouthed to him, rolling her eyes at his widened smile. “You won’t be able to fit through the door with that big head.”
Dorian straightened the lapels of his jacket and winked. “At least I’m not swooning in front of the whole kingdom,” he mouthed back, swiping his hand across his forehead like he were fainting.
“Shut up,” she almost hissed out loud. “I did not.”
“I think a few people at the back missed it,” he teased, mouth moving deliberately so she could see what he was saying, fingers acting out his words in a small way so as not to draw too much attention. “You should fall down the steps next time. Make a grand deal about it—”
“You are such an ass—“
Dorian ignored her lipped words and bent fully behind Rhaif so no one could see him. He began making an obscure gesture with his hand beside his face, tongue against his cheek, then he pointed at her and mouthed, “You, later today—” He nodded triumphantly, and Nyssa almost lost it.
“I swear—“
Lex cleared her throat, and Dorian gave Nyssa final mocking face. One that made Nyssa nearly launch herself over the chairs, but Lex cleared her throat again, louder, and just in time.
The doors opened again, and clouds seemed to block out the sun.
The woman that stepped into the room on Draven’s arm made Nyssa forget about her stupid brother and turn fully to the crowd again.
Thunder clapped in the distance, vibrating the open Throne Room, and Nyssa stared at the woman coming through the doors.
