“Does he . . .” Brenna lowered her voice to a whisper. “Surely he doesn’t make demands of you inside the bedroom.”
Not as often as I’d like.
I struggled to bring tears to my eyes, and then delicately swept them away. “Please, my dear queen, I’d rather not say.”
“I’m not a queen,” Brenna said with a charmed gleam in her eyes. “Not yet. Soon, however.”
Delaine’s mouth twisted, though she didn’t bring up what she’d seen between me and Vexxion so far. We’d have to be careful when we were out in public.
“I assume his demeanor and his quick anger are some of the reasons he’s such a good controller,” I pointed out. “The king needs him.”
“Yes, that must be it.” Brenna frowned and plucked at herlower lip. “If I dared, I’d ask Ivenrail to replace his controllernowrather than after the wedding.”
The air stilled in my lungs.
“What do you mean?” I barked. I swallowed hard and forced a sweet smile, lightening my voice. “Ivenrail plans to replace Vexxion as his controller?”
“So I overheard.” Her gaze met Delaine’s in the mirror, though I couldn’t read what their shared look might mean. “Vexxion must have displeased him in some way, though I’m sure my fiancé has given him every opportunity to make up for it. Ivenrail is kind. I can only imagine what Vexxion might’ve done to displease the king.”
Did you know the king plans to replace you after the wedding?I barked to Vexxion.
I’d heard. His future plans won’t matter.
I loved that he didn’t sound worried about this, but a worm of unease kept digging beneath my skin.
“Now, there’s the fiancée I adore so well,” someone said from behind us.
Cutting the conversation off with Vexxion, I turned slightly, watching as the king strode into the room dressed in an understated dark blue tunic and darker blue pants. Vexxion told me this man had a way with the ladies. Would I see this in action?
Since he believed I’d been recently drained of power, I masked my face and kept my gaze lowered, though I watched him out of the corner of my eye. I also shored up the forest covering my mind.
If only I had a weapon other than the power I was still learning to control.
As he strolled over to stand behind Brenna, placing his hands on her shoulders and gazing at her in the mirror, I projected a dullness I didn’t feel. My heart pounded; everyone must hear the heavy thump in my throat because it thundered in my ears.
Delaine stepped to the side, simpering as she gave the king a low curtsy. “Your Highness.”
I dipped forward as well just in case he was looking.
He ignored her, and I felt the weight of his gaze on me in the mirror as he bent forward to kiss Brenna’s cheek.
She shivered and tilted her head back to look up at him, though without the adoration I’d expected if the king was as charming as Vexxion believed. “It’s nice of you to come see me this morning, Ivenrail.”
“Only six days until our wedding. How can I stay away?” He released a low chuckle that with any other man might sound sultry, but it only made vomit eager to hurtle itself up my throat.
“The staff you assigned to handle the wedding plans have been amazing. I barely have to do anything myself,” she said, turning slightly to face him.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“I have the final fitting for my gown today.”
“I can’t wait to see how you look on the day of our wedding.” He lowered his voice to a husky rumble. “Or naked on our wedding night.”
I swallowed hard, struggling not to cringe.
Delaine watched me, not them. What did she see?
Brenna released a shrill titter that jarred more thananything else. With stuttered breathing, she turned back to face the mirror. “Thank you so much for visiting me.”
