Mareleau leaned in close and whispered, too quiet for anyone else to hear, “I’m fine. I don’t want to make either of them fuss over me.” She angled her head to the side, and Cora looked down the table. Queen Mother Helena was farther down, engaged in conversation with a visiting marquess. Larylis sat on Mareleau’s left, quietly eating his meal. His gaze was so unnaturally fixated on his plate, Cora thought he had to be listening in on their conversation. Then she noticed his attention wasn’t on his plate but his lap. More accurately, on the book there, hidden just beneath the edge of the table.
Cora’s gaze shot back to Mareleau, eyebrows raised in question. Was reading at the table a usual occurrence for the king? In answer to her silent question, Mareleau mumbled, “Always.”
Cora watched her friend for a few beats more, half tempted to extend her senses and ensure she truly was all right. She hadn’t wanted Mareleau to travel all the way here in her condition, but of course, she hadn’t listened. Still, if Mareleau didn’t want people fussing over her, Cora would do her best not to pry.
Instead, she shifted her attention to her plate and brought a bite of almond-crusted lamb to her lips. The meat was so tender, her lashes fluttered shut. It took all her restraint to chew slowly.
A soft touch brushed over the back of her hand. She opened her eyes and found Teryn leaning toward her, his hand propped on the table beside hers, the backs of his fingers caressing the curves of her knuckles, one at a time. It was an oddly sensual touch, and she nearly dropped her fork.
“You’re still coming to me tonight, right?” he whispered.
She swallowed her bite of food, her throat suddenly thick. “I am,” she said, and a shudder of anticipation tore through her. Mother Goddess, how could she calmly finish her meal knowing she was meeting privately with Teryn afterward? She was looking forward to it with equal parts desire and terror. Would she manage to confess everything she’d been yearning to say? Or would he render her speechless before she got the chance?
Lex’s voice cut it on her thoughts. “I’d say I’m surprised, but I’m not.”
Cora tore her attention from Teryn’s probing stare and faced Lex, who sat on the other side of her fiancé. Lily sat on Lex’s right, taking dainty bites of stew.
“About what?” Cora asked before spearing another delectable piece of lamb.
Lex gestured between Cora and Teryn. “About the two of you. It’s well past time, if you ask me. And I’m not just talking about the political alliance. I’m talking about…you know.” He waggled his brows and gave Teryn a significant look.
Teryn pursed his lips, his expression suddenly abashed.
Cora glanced between the two men, trying to puzzle out what she was missing.
Lex’s eyes widened as if Cora and Teryn were daft. “I mean his feelings for you! He’s been smitten with you since last spring. You’ve told her, right?”
Teryn grumbled under his breath, then gave Cora an apologetic look. A strand of silver-white hair fell over his brow, loosened from the leather tie that held the rest back. Cora fought the urge to brush it off his face. “Lex is under the impression that I agreed to rescue unicorns with you because I fancied you.”
She nearly barked a laugh but managed to morph it into a soft chuckle. “Is that how you got him to come along on our exploits?” To Lex, she said, “My friend, I’m sorry to say but you’ve been lied to. His heart was set on a certain bounty, not me.”
She gave Teryn a good-humored scowl. She liked that she could joke about the past without resentment. Where once Teryn’s betrayal had stung her, now she saw every moment, every circumstance—the good and the bad—that had brought them together as something to be grateful for.
Lex stared open-mouthed as understanding dawned. He uttered an extended, “Oooohh.” Then he narrowed his gaze at Teryn. “I don’t know why I didn’t realize that until now. All this time I thought you were a romantic.”
Teryn rubbed his brow. “You weren’t entirely wrong.”
Lex’s expression brightened. “Do say more. Tell me, has this become a love match after all?”
Cora’s gaze whipped to Teryn, her cheeks heating furiously. She didn’t want him to answer, not here, not publicly. This was the topic of conversation she was hoping to save for tonight. His hand rested over hers, his touch firm yet calming. He gave her a subtle nod, as if to say he understood what she was thinking.
Teryn turned back to Lex. “I’ll tell you a secret I’ve yet to share with my fiancée.”
Cora’s breath caught and she wondered if she’d misinterpreted the look he’d given her entirely. Maybe he didn’t understand her at all. Maybe he was about to confess his feelings for all to hear, when Cora wasn’t at all prepared.
“Cora,” Teryn said, “was my first crush.”
Her mind emptied. That wasn’t what she’d expected.
He spoke again. “Princess Aveline Caelan, age six. My first one-sided love. A two-week-long affair, and I daresay she hadn’t a clue I existed the entire time.”
“What are you talking about?” Cora was halfway between a chuckle and a frown. She couldn’t tell if he was making up the story.
He shifted his gaze to hers. “You don’t remember at all, do you?”
“Remember what?”
“You visited Dermaine Palace once with your parents. I followed you around like I was your shadow, but tried to evade your notice when you caught sight of me. Whenever you did notice me, you turned your nose up like I was pure scum for existing in your presence.”
