“Oh.” Dilys settled back a bit. A sister asking after her brother was no cause for alarm. But, then... “What about the least part?”
His cousin’s expression turned confused. “What?”
“You said she wanted to talk about Falcon for the most part. What about the least part? What else did she talk about?”
“Oh, er...” Ryll began to look distinctly uncomfortable.
“Ryllian...”
“She was just being polite. It’s theoulaniway.”
“Whatis theoulaniway?”
“Asking about a visitor’s interests, about his culture and experiences.”
“And hisulumi,” Ari interjected with a smirk and an air of triumphant retribution, as if pointing that out were as much payback for his cousin going hunting in the fjord without him as it was a teasing prod at Dilys.
“She asked about yourulumi?” Dilys’s voice rose. Despite his earlier decision to put Summer Coruscate from his mind, Dilys’s battle claws sprang free in an instinctive territorial response.
Ulumiwere the iridescent tattoos that covered every experienced adult male Calbernan’s body. In Calberna, when amyerinaasked a man to recount the tales of the victorious exploits inked across his body, it was a sign of intimate interest. Of course, they knew that a similar expression of curiosity fromoulanifemales didn’t necessarily mean the same thing, but nevertheless, when any unattached woman inquired about a Calbernan’s tattoos, the speculation, sly winks, and rampant, shameless wagering began.
Seeing Dilys’s claws, Ryll winced and held up his own, claw-free hands. “It wasn’t like that.”
“What was it like?”
“She wasn’t asking about myulumiin particular. She was asking about the meaning of them in general.”
“And what was your answer?”
“I told her theulumiare the personal record of every Calbernan male’s victories in battle, and that if she wanted to know any specifics, she should ask you.”
Dilys stared hard at his cousin. “She didn’t ask me.”
Ryll did not wilt. “You were still in your room. A royal princess is hardly likely to come knocking at her suitor’s bedchamber door.”
“You know, Dilys,” Ari drawled, his eyes alight with mischief, “for a man who spent more than one evening on the voyage from Calberna telling us how little the Princess Summer would suit you, you’ve certainly got yourshumain a knot thinking she might be interested in Ryll instead.” He cast a pointed glance at Dilys’s hands and raised his brows.
Dilys grimaced. “I am merely surprised she has taken such a liking to Ryll.”
“Thank you,” Ryll said dryly.
Dilys grimaced. “I didn’t mean it like that. Any woman would be lucky to be yourliana.” He was being ridiculous. Stung pride aside, Summer’s obvious fear of him and marked preference for his cousin should have suited him perfectly.
Does suit him perfectly,he corrected himself sternly. In fact, if Ryll had a chance to win Princess Summer, Dilys shouldn’t stand in the way.
Dilys took a deep breath and forced himself to do the generous thing. “This,” he said, showing his claws, “is just instinct, not claiming.” To prove it, he forced his claws to retract. It took considerable effort—far more effort than it should have—but the sharp, obsidian talons slowly drew back into the sheaths behind his nailbeds. “There you see?” No mature Calbernan male gave up a coveted prize without a fight. Especially not when it came to potentiallianas.If he’d truly meant to stake his claim, his claws wouldn’t have sheathed until he’d won. That they kept pressing against his fingertips was something Dilys was determined to ignore.
“The Queen’s Council and I all agreed that of the three sisters, Princess Summer was the least likely to suit me. She is beautiful, of course, and seems as gentle and sweet-natured as all reports of her professed. But thelianaI wed will have fire in her soul, like her sister Khamsin and the other two Seasons. She will, seas and stars willing, mother our next queen.”
“You are seriously not interested?” Ari pressed.
“Not at all,” Dilys lied. He was plenty interested. What man worth his salt wouldn’t be? But he had been sent to choose the strongest princess to be his bride. Summer Coruscate didn’t fit that bill. She was not the one he’d come for.He wouldnotpursue her.
And he would keep his claws sheathed no matter how ferociously Summer’s obvious preference for Ryll stung him.
“So then it wouldn’t bother you at all to hear thatMyerialannaSummer also asked Ryll what it means when a Calbernan’sulumiglow blue?” Ari asked.
Andsproing!went the claws again. Dilys curled his hands into fists to hide them. She had askedRyllabout Calbernan mating rituals? A shudder went through him, as hazy images from his dreams flashed across his mind.The blue phosphorescence of glowingulumi. Golden eyes burning in the darkness of night-shrouded waters. Fire tingling across every nerve of his body. And a Voice singing softly, calling to him...
