But he says nothing.
My eyes flare wide. “Dane!” I say. “Surely that is not in your contract.”
“As I said: thoroughly negotiated.”
I step down off the dressmaker’s platform and stride forward, my hand swinging before I’m even fully aware of what I’m doing.
I should know better. Dane trains with the best soldiers in the army, and I...don’t. My brother catches my hand in midair, gripping my wrist tight as I struggle. His fingers dig in tight before he lets me twist free. The action leaves me panting and glaring up at him, a few of those pins poking into my breast now. I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me rub my wrist.
Hishands are in fists, however, and his eyes are dark with anger. For an eternal second, my breath catches. He’s never hit me, but the air carries the promise of what hewantsto do.
When he speaks, his voice is deathly quiet. “I cannot believe this,” he says. “I’ve spentmonthstrying to protect Astranza, and you’re going to spend five minutes undoing it. You act like I’m tying you to his bed for the rest of your life. Youknowa magical heir would only benefit Astranza.”
I do know that—but I hate that I’m being forced to produce this magical heir with a man who could set me ablaze in the process. “Have you promised that he can do it as soon as he gets here? Should I be ready on the bed?”
“You’re being a child.”
“I’m being a princess. I should be involved in these negotiations. I care for Astranza just as much as you do.”
“If you care for Astranza, you should be thinking of yourpeople. He’s coming here in good faith, to pledge his armies to defend us.”
“Good faith!” I point at the cold hearth. “If he’s coming in good faith, then why is every hearth dark?” I point at the frost-edged window, where snow swirls in the moonlight. “Why is the entirekingdomdark?”
“He can’t call fire from nothing. You know that.”
“You think his soldiers won’t carry flint?” I say. “What’s to stop him from lighting his own fire?”
That muscle in his jaw twitches again, which genuinely makes me think Dane hasn’t considered this.
Idiot. This is why I should be a part of the negotiations. I wonder what else he hasn’t considered.
“If you’re so worried about his magic,” I say, “why don’t you just have the archers shoot him when he gets here? It’s not as if he’s bringing an army.”
“Would you stop being so ridiculous?” he demands. “We’re forming an alliance to have a chance atendingthis war! I’m not starting another one!”
“But you’re worried,” I press. “You’re worried he’snotcoming in good faith and he’s going to turn us all to cinders in our beds. And you’re still willing to send me away with some wicked, spiteful, terrible man I’ve never seen—”
“I’m not worried about him,” he snaps. “I’m worried aboutyou.”
“Well, you certainly don’t seem very worried.”
He takes a rage-filled step toward me. “I’m worried aboutyouand your headstrong ways ruining everything Father and I have worked so hard to arrange. That’s why every hearth is dark. That’s why we’re preparing every luxury to welcome the king.” His expression darkens, shadows falling across his features as his voice rises. “Thatis why I am here, to make sure you stop with your dramatics.”
I raise my chin defiantly. “Incendar has a princess,” I say. “The king’s younger sister. Why don’tyoumarryher?”
Something about that gives him a jolt. Dane draws back. “I offered that first. He refused.”
Oh. That makes my heart pound a little harder. I’m only second in line for the throne here in Astranza. Maddox Kyronan is already king. As much as I hate it, my marriage to him would be weighted in our favor.
For him to refuse feels significant. I wonder what it means.
Dane’s voice drops. “If we had another way to signify unity between our nations, we would do it. But every hearth isdarkbecause I’m worried you’re going to tell this man exactly what you think of him. I’m worried that by nightfall tomorrow, we won’t haveoneenemy, buttwo. You want to declare that you’re a princess? Why don’t you consider yourkingdom.”
“Iamconsidering our kingdom! His armies are known to kill wantonly. He has turned his magic on hispeople. Why would we ally with someone like that?Why,Dane? Father is powerful, but he has never been outright cruel to—”
“Father is dying.”
He says this so simply, soquietly. The words drop into the shadows between us, and suddenly I’m frozen in place.
