He was going to have to make good on the deal and marry Kelevra.
Didn’t that mean he was also going to have to come clean?
Rin cursed and pinned the Academy crest to the side of his belt before yanking open the door. He stepped out into the hallway, taking in the long white-tiled path that led to several other rooms he’d yet to explore. While it was tempting to snoop, knowing that he was going to be moving in later today anyway had him opting not to bother, instead turning to take the flight of stairs down to the main level where he assumed Kelevra would be waiting for him.
He was still so caught up in his head and torn over how to approach this whole betrothal thing, that he almost didn’t register the sound of multiple voices until it was too late. Coming to a standstill just outside of the entrance to the living room, he tipped his head and listened.
There was a female voice, speaking low enough he couldn’t make out what she was saying. And then there was Kel, slightly louder, but clearly trying not to be too much so.
“He’s sleeping,” the Imperial Prince said casually, and there was clinking glass and the shifting of ice. “Why don’t you come back another time?”
Realizing he couldn’t stand there all day, Rin inhaled, squared his shoulders, and walked in, pausing as soon as his eyes locked onto the female company.
He’d seen Lyra Diar on TV once or twice but never in person before. She was lithe, with hair the same shade and curly texture as her brother’s. She wore it loose, the thick dark brown strands hanging past her elbows. Her eyes were also that same hazel shade, and they were sharp, and intelligent, as they turned to Rin and took him in.
She was seated on the couch that faced the windows looking out over the patio, in a tight cherry red dress, with a chunky black belt. A choker of diamonds sparkled around her neck, and her nails had been painted an inky shade, a single gemstone winking in the center of each. She was both as regal and as flashy as Kelevra, and Rin would have made a joke about seeing where Kel got his style from if not for the fact she was the Heir Imperial Princess.
“Well, well,” Lyra drawled, giving Rin a drawn-out perusal, “you never did like things easy, did you, little brother?”
Kelevra was standing over by the mini bar, leaning back against it. One hand was stuffed into his left front pocket, the other was holding a glass decanter. He’d also chosen red for the day, the black pinstripes on his pants matching his sister’s outfit. There was no undershirt again, just the tight, fitted corset vest in the same colors, the black lines of the boning making his torso appear to go on for an eternity and—
“Maybe not so difficult after all,” Lyra chuckled knowingly, and Rin realized with minor embarrassment that he’d been caught staring at Kel. “From first glance, he doesn’t look like the type that’d put up with your bullshit.”
“He isn’t,” Kelevra snorted, sipping lightly from his drink before setting it down. He held out his hand to Rin, palm up, the challenging glint in his eyes impossible to miss as he silently commanded him to go over there.
Rin only hesitated for a moment. If he made a scene in front of his sister, there was no doubt Kel would find a way to make last night’s punishment seem like a cakewalk, and so soon after…Not worth it. He crossed the room, but instead of taking the offered hand, he bypassed it, taking up the discarded glass and downing the remaining contents in one swallow.
Lyra laughed and clapped.
Kelevra’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but he gave no other reaction than that.
To soothe some of the sting, Rin kept close, turning, allowing his shoulder to brush against Kel’s chest in the process, one of his legs slipping between the Imperial Prince’s. He bowed to Lyra, making sure to hold the position for a few heartbeats as would be tradition before rising and offering a friendly smile.
“Hello,” he willed the tension from his shoulders. “It’s nice to meet you, Heir Imperial Princess Lyra.”
“You are far too polite for my brother.” She stood and offered her hand. “I’ve been dying to meet you, Rin. There’s so much to go over, but as per usual, Kelevra was being selfish and refusing to share even a moment of your attention.”
“Go over?” They shook and he kept himself composed when she moved back to the couch, but he did not like the sound of that.
“For the wedding,” she replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world what she was talking about. “How involved in the planning process did you want to be? Kelevra is particular, but I’m already familiar with his tastes. Is there anything specific you don’t like or are hoping to avoid? Colors that don’t go with your complexion?”
Rin blinked at her and then slowly turned to send Kel a silent look asking for assistance.
Kelevra rested a hand on Rin’s hip and smirked. “He doesn’t really care about fashion, Lyra. Isn’t that a shame?”
“I can’t believe you’ve fallen for someone like that,” she said, though it was obvious she was only teasing.
Whatever Rin had been expecting from his family—because he’d known that eventually he was going to have to meet them—it hadn’t been this. Lyra was sweet, and while there was an air of regality to her presence, there was none of the overbearing edge that accompanied Kel wherever he went.
Then again, Rin should understand better than most how easy it was to fake a whole personality. Judging anyone from the first encounter was foolish and typically something he knew better than to do.
“I was thinking,” Lyra told them, “what about a winter wedding? That gives us a couple of months to plan.”
“He’s a sophomore, sister,” Kelevra drawled. “I intend for us to have a long engagement.”
Rin couldn’t help but wonder if that was so Kel would have an easy out when he eventually grew bored of him. Was that it? Was he planning ahead so he could toss him aside the first—
Kelevra shifted closer, leaning in to rest his chin on Rin’s shoulder, his other arm wrapping around his waist. “Breathe, Consort. It’s only so you can focus on your studies and graduate without having to worry about all the official responsibilities that come with being married to me.”
