He smiled. “Ah, the fair city of Sud, with its bright markets, itscolours, and… its beautiful women.” His smile lingered in a way that made me unsure whether to smile back or look away. “Do you see your family often?”
A question that stung more than it should have.
“Twice a year, maybe. At the solstices. It’s a great celebration; I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Did you see them at all while we were shut behind our walls?” he pressed, his tone soft, perhaps even kind, though with Jorren it was hard to tell.
“Unfortunately not.”
Silence followed. Had I just killed the mood?
I dared a glance toward Kael. He was watching Jorren with that cold, unblinking stare that could turn men to stone.
The servants brought the next course, roasted pheasant with peas and potatoes, and I had to admit it was the finest meal I’d tasted in ages.
And I was from Sud. I knew what good food was.
By the time the main course was cleared, the candles had burned halfway down. The hall glowed in soft gold light, turning their faces warm and revealing their cheeks rosy with wine, making them look merrier than they were.
Jorren and Isolde had fallen into an argument, this one about tariffs on magical artifacts, and their bickering covered my silence nicely. I was content to fade into the background, fork idly nudging stray peas across my plate.
Kael had barely spoken all night, but I could feel him.
Each time I dared to speak, his attention brushed me. A glance, a flicker of blue lightning that made my skin prickle. He never commented, never interrupted. Just watched.
And somehow, that was worse.
Was it disapproval I saw in his eyes? Or pity?
It was more confusing than any lecture on planar shifting.
Selena craved his attention, that much was clear. She leaned toward him whenever she spoke, tilting her head just enough tocatch his gaze. Close enough to me like I was invisible, as if I were a ghost seated between them. I could smell her perfume. Lilies…
Was there something between them?
The thought shot through my mind like an arrow loosed too soon. I barely had time to chase it before servants came around with another round of wine. I accepted, promising myself this would be the third and last glass tonight.
Kael rose without warning, his chair scraping across the floor. He gave a short grunt, as if the noise around him had finally worn thin, and stepped away from the table. Probably to breathe. Or brood. Or whatever men like him did in garderobes.
The thought made me lightheaded, and not from the wine,I swear. I caught myself smiling at the absurdity of it.Am I really thinking about Kael Forloren in a garderobe?
The moment he left, the air lightened. Laughter returned, easy and careless. Jorren’s voice carried loud and warm with drink, and somehow I found myself laughing with him, trading stories about Sud merchants who couldn’t speak without their hands. Isolde didn’t seem to find it amusing. Elwin gave polite nods. Thalen frowned into his cup as if he was trying to intimidate the wine.
And somewhere between that laughter, I realized I was starting to relax. They were warming to me—or at least tolerating me—and for the first time since I’d joined the Court, I thought maybe I could belong here.
Selena’s voice pulled me back. “You’re doing very well for your first month,” she said with a smile too perfect to be genuine.
Her lips stretched, her tone was smooth, but her eyes didn’t shine. They gleamed sharp as glass.
“Thank you,” I managed.
Her lips curved slightly. “In time, you’ll learn how the Court moves. It… takes adjustment.”
I couldn’t tell whether it was praise or a warning. Her glance flicked to my plate, or maybe to my cup. The heat rushed up my neck, sharper than the wine.
Before I could gather a reply, she rose from her seat in one graceful motion. “The stars are bright tonight,” she announced. “First clear sky in months. Who’s coming to look?”
The table stirred with eager voices, but I stayed frozen, her words still echoing.
