I expected that no one but Carmine and I knew. He’d likely announce it at dinner.
I grinned—andnotin the kind way. Yiti and I had something in common.
“Did you not?” I replied. “We are. Not for a week or so. Tell everyone you meet. The realm should know.”
Ah,defiance. Royals would be the last to learn the news, and if I was lucky, then Carmine’s mother would be last of all.
“What ideas do you have for your gown, Mate-Intended?” Yiti used her smoke to pull the book across the table, then flip to a blank page. She awaited my response, her blue magic poised to draw.
I pursed my lips. “A large skirt.Verylarge. No one will be able to stand too close.”
I hummed. “High neckline. Sleeves to the wrist. And a veil. Yes, definitely a veil. The dress and any underwear you make, should be very, very difficult to get into.”
Yiti nodded, while Tewewh’s eyes were as big as saucers.
“Who will make the dress?” Tewewh managed to ask.
“I am certain the topic will come up with Carmine in, oh, two days’ time. I’ll let you know.”
The designers left, and I plucked my tunic off my skin. Cold sweat, my favorite. Time for one of the three baths I’d have today.
I made it to the hall, where Gratia intercepted me.
“We aren’t meeting for another hour.” I had queen trainingagain.This time in the form of a morning tea with powerful crimson women, one of them being Tygrio’s mother.It wasn’t enough that the king had killed her son. Now she had to act as if nothing had happened. If she didn’t succeed?
Then she’d join Tygrio.
After this delightful social affair, I was expected in the war rooms. Quite the schedule I kept these days. I hoped there would still be time to rake dirt with friends. Perhaps that was how demons took the first step in friendship.Want to rake dirt with me?
Gratia followed me. “You stink.”
“Yes, and I would like that to change.” I glanced back. “Do you ever train?”
She shrugged. “Not in a long time.”
“Why?”
“Because I have to run a fortress for my brother’s Mate-Intended, who ran off.”
Me. She meant me. I faced her. “I really do want to shower. What do you want?”
Gratia fixed me with a searching look. “I am starting to believe that you might almost be what my brother and this realm require. You are clearly here for your own ends, and yet that is all a demon can ever be expected to do. So if my brother can convince you he is worthy, then you will be queen, and a terrific one. If you can be convinced of that cause also. Which I believe you can.”
I cocked a brow. “Should we… rake dirt now?”
“What? No.” Gratia frowned, then exhaled. “I am about to tell you something that I shouldn’t.”
Oh.“Like Tygrio.”
“He did?”
“Right before he was killed.”
She shook her head. “Fool that he was.”
That sparked my interest. “Was he always a fool?”
“More and more in recent years.”
