Movement caught her eye from just outside the doorway. Her pulse kicked up, but she kept her expression neutral. The Master of Ceremonies stepped forward and announced the arrival of her royal guests.
“His Majesty Larylis Alante, King of Vera. Her Majesty Mareleau Alante, Queen of Vera.”
Two figures crossed the threshold and began their slow procession down the aisle. Cora’s eyes met Mareleau’s at once, and the other queen gave her a subtle smile. She looked beautiful with her pale blonde hair cascading down her back in neat curls, her silver-blue gown edged with white lace, its high waist sending gathered pleats to cascade down her abdomen, accentuating the curve of her belly.
Gods, Cora wanted to run down the dais and gather the woman in a hug. There were few people Cora felt compelled to greet with such affection, and there’d been a time when she’d vowed that Mareleau would never be one of them. But they’d bonded in an unexpected camaraderie last summer, after Mareleau had shared her vulnerable side and Cora had done the same in turn. Their friendship hadn’t ended after Mareleau returned home. They’d struck up a correspondence and sent letters back and forth, almost as often as Cora and Teryn had. Cora had been so fixated on seeing her fiancé for the first time in half a year that she hadn’t realized how elated she’d be to see her friend too.
Her gaze left Mareleau to assess the man beside her. She had to smother a laugh at seeing King Larylis, for he looked almost as uncomfortable as Cora felt in his formal garb. He was dressed in a white-and-gold ceremonial coat with a high collar buttoned almost to his chin, and a long gold cape trailing from his shoulders. His dark, copper-brown hair was shorter than she’d last seen it, the sides trimmed while the top was swept away from his brow. Upon his head, a gold crown rested, a simple band compared to Mareleau’s silver-and-sapphire tiara.
The pair reached the foot of the dais and dipped their chins in respectful greetings.
Cora returned the gesture and uttered her rehearsed welcome. “Khero gladly receives Your Majesties’ presence at Ridine Castle.”
Larylis echoed the sentiment back. “Vera is honored by Khero’s great welcome.”
“We congratulate you on your upcoming nuptials,” Mareleau said, her tone melodious and far less stiff than her husband’s.
Cora gave a practiced nod. “I accept your congratulations with great thanks.”
She clenched her jaw to keep from saying more. So badly Cora wanted to exchange more than dry statements she’d learned by rote, especially with Mareleau. But now wasn’t the time. Informal conversation would have to wait until dinner.
Cora’s eyes darted back to the doorway, anticipating her next guest. The Master of Ceremonies delivered his announcement.
“Her Majesty, Queen Mother Helena Harvallis. His Royal Highness, Teryn Alante, Prince of Vera, future King Consort of Khero.”
Cora gripped her armrests tightly as Teryn escorted Helena through the doorway. Her breath caught at Teryn’s warm smile, his gaze immediately locked on hers. She was grateful for their earlier reunion, for if she’d seen him for the first time now—his silver hair tied back from his face, his formal coat in gold and emerald, the latter color bringing out his eyes, the way his trousers hugged his muscled thighs—she might have fallen off her throne.
She could hardly bring herself to cast the queen mother more than a cursory glance, though the woman was dressed almost as elegantly as Mareleau.
Larylis and Mareleau stepped to the side to make room for the new guests. Teryn held her gaze, eyes twinkling with the same mischief they’d shone with earlier, even as he folded into a formal bow. Her heart kicked up as images invaded her mind, of him hefting her onto her dresser, his lips tasting her skin?—
She let out a shaky breath and delivered her formal welcome, an almost-word-for-word echo of the one she’d given Larylis and Mareleau. Her mind was so frazzled she couldn’t be sure she hadn’t stumbled over her words, but the fact that none of the courtiers snickered was a good sign.
Helena offered her expected congratulations, then Teryn spoke next. “I am humbled and deeply honored by our forthcoming nuptials that will bind our houses in health, sickness, celebration, and solidarity.” His formal tone was so at odds with the smile quirking his lips.
Oh, those godsforsaken lips.
She forced her eyes back to his. “Yes,” she said before she realized that wasn’t the response she’d memorized. Steeling her nerves, she delivered the correct lines. “I too am honored by the strength our union will bring and look forward to our nuptials.”
Cold. So cold. So lacking.
His gaze finally left hers as he stepped off to the side to allow Cora to give her attention to her next guests. She wasn’t sure who else had arrived today, as she was only expecting a few more noble families to attend. How could she focus on anyone else with Teryn so close?
Against her better judgment, she cast him a quick glance. He winked, and she couldn’t fight the smile that curved her lips?—
“His Royal Highness, Lexington Quil, Crown Prince of Tomas. Her Highness, Lily Quil, Crown Princess of Tomas.”
The Master of Ceremonies’ announcement had Cora sitting forward on her throne before she could rein in her surprise. A name left her lips. “Lex?”
She would be mortified by her break in composure if it hadn’t been mirrored by Teryn and Larylis. The two whirled to face the doorway just as two figures entered.
A man with dark-blond hair and a plump physique sauntered into the room, a ridiculously smug grin between his ruddy cheeks as he escorted a pretty woman beside him. She was almost as short as Cora with curves that rivaled Mareleau’s. Her auburn hair was arranged in a braided updo, displaying a rounded face and a disarmingly pleasant smile.
Cora couldn’t believe Lex was here. She’d invited him, but she couldn’t recall if she’d been informed of his reply. And the woman beside him was…his wife? He hadn’t been married when she’d last seen him, which had been at the battle at Centerpointe Rock. He’d come to Verlot Palace when she’d been taken by Verdian as a temporary hostage, but she hadn’t been able to bid him farewell before he’d left. While she and Lex hadn’t grown nearly as close as she and Teryn had during their travels last spring, she had fond feelings for the man. To her, he was a hero. He’d outwitted Morkai with a lie, pretending to side with the mage, after which he’d fled to Dermaine Palace to warn King Arlous about the sorcerer’s plans. He’d even fought in the battle against Morkai’s forces.
I know him!Valorre’s exclamation invaded Cora’s mind.
When did you get here?She hadn’t felt his consciousness connect with hers since earlier when he’d insisted Teryn smelled like strength and moonbeams. He was like that these days, coming and going at will, popping into her mind whenever hers drifted somewhere that interested him. Thank the gods he’d left her alone during her reunion with Teryn.
