Ford stuck out his foot, his boot catching the door before Carver could close it. “As much as I’d love to follow your orders, General, mine come from someone I refuse to disobey.”
“Who?” Carver all but snapped.
Ford’s lips quirked. “Your mother.”
Chapter 34
Carver
Carver’smotherhadsurprisedthem all with her arrival in Zagrev—including Cregon.
“I told her to stay in Westmont,” he grumbled as they waited for the carriage in the palace courtyard.
Alora Vincetti did not like staying at the palace when she visited the capital. She preferred to have her own kitchen and garden, and a yard where her younger children could run freely. Cregon had bought her a large townhome near the palace soon after they were married, and that’s where she currently waited for them. She had invited them all over for dinner.
“She was supposed to send Jayveh’s brothers with Hugo,” Cregon continued to mutter. “Not escort them herself.”
Carver couldn’t help but smile. “Mother has always chosen her own path.”
“And I love her for it,” his father said. “I just wish she’d listen to me when it comes to matters of her safety.” Cregon never liked it when his wife traveled without him. Even if she had an army of guards, he stressed if he wasn’t with her. Now that Carver was married, he understood perfectly.
Amryn stood beside him, along with Ford. They were waiting on Elowen—who apparently needed to change, since she’d been out riding—and Jayveh, who Carver knew would be anxious to see her brothers after their months of separation.
The carriage would be full, but when Alora Vincetti invited you to dinner, you did not refuse.
Unless you were Berron, apparently.
When Carver and Amryn had left their room, they’d run into his brooding brother. Berron’s usual scowl was twisting his face, and the way his eye darkened when it landed on Carver was not unexpected.
“Did you hear your mother arrived in Zagrev?” Amryn asked.
Berron’s focus slid to her. There was a subtle softening of his hard expression as he said, “My father told me.”
“Do you want to walk down to the carriage with us?” she asked.
Any sign of softening vanished. “I’m not going.”
“I’d love it if you came,” Amryn said. “It would be nice to have a friendly face there.”
Berron blinked, then gestured to his surly expression. “What in the world makes you believe this is a friendly face?”
She shrugged one shoulder. “It must be that charming personality of yours, Berron. It shines right through.”
He shook his head and stepped into his room.
Carver saw Amryn’s shoulders fall slightly, and he wanted to curse. Her words were still ringing in his head.“I know I’m not your first priority.”
He had no idea what to make of that statement. He had responsibilities he couldn’t neglect, especially if he wanted to make sure they could leave Zagrev as soon as the emperor’s ball was behind them, but for her to think she wasn’t a priority to him? Nothing could be further from the truth.
Their conversation had been interrupted, which meant he hadn’t been able to reassure her enough to banish the shadows in her eyes. But he couldn’t bear to see them darken further.
“Berron,” he called out.
His brother’s single eye flew to him.
Carver remembered every word Amryn had said about Berron’s pain and the scars no one realized he bore. He knew his wife was trying to heal those scars, and his stubborn brother was making it as difficult as possible. He didn’t want Amryn to think she was alone in trying to help him.
“Thank you,” he said.
