Rose perks up. “Yes, we are—”
“Cousins.”
“Distant.”
Kassandra drums her fingers, watching Rose. “Do the Reign halflings come to the reunions or does that dampen luncheon conversation?”
The breadbasket slips from my grasp, and Briar shoots out a hand to grab it.
“You should listen to the lady,” she mutters.
But I am. I’m listening to Kassandrafind another wayto gather proof of Maxian’s heritage. I just didn’t realize she’d be so bold. Then again, it’s Kassandra. Then again, I kicked down the king’s door.
“Halflings?” Rose guffaws. “Why would they?”
“Considering how many half siblings must be running around—”
“So you’re accusing our guest and her family of either being a faerie-fucker or a cousin-fucker? Have some decorum, Kass,” Dominik drawls. “Besides, who cares? The late king and queen were first cousins, and they had one lovely son.”
I suppress my shiver.One. Lovely. Son.None of those words are true, are they?
“Careful, now,” my mistress says. “I wouldn’t want you to lose your genius, brother. You have so little to spare.”
So Dominik swore a blood bargain to keep the secret of the second Vandorne child,I understand.Does he know of Maxian’s mother, too?Something tells me that if he did, Illusion would have already pried the throne from Reign.
“Maxian truly is lovely,” Rose tries.
“Is that why your skin is so pink?” Dominik asks, and she gasps. My mistress clicks her tongue.
“He sent me an informal proposal as well. The day after I won the game.”
The plane thrums with a tight, anxious energy. Even the hairs on Briar’s arms rise.
“What a relevant piece of information you failed to mention,” he draws out.
“You were busy dying from the bite of a peach.”
“Kass.”
“What?” she sighs. “As you know, nothing means anything in Amyria without a contract. I was waiting on the formal letter of intent, the contract itself. Then I would’ve come to you and asked which companies you’d like included in the dowry.”
The Illusion heir cocks his head. “Have you received a formal letter, Rose?”
“No, not yet. But…”
So the king promised marriage to two females of two differentHouses and has delivered on neither. He told me he wouldn’t marry Kassandra even if it saves the kingdom. Does he feel the same way about Rose Tunes?
“Faerie, my sister’s cup is empty and so is mine,” Dominik barks.
Briar starts. “We have tea, coffee, sparkling—”
“Wine.”
“Avery, I would like my glass filled first,” Kassandra cuts in, her eyes glinting with fury.
Briar and I share a look, then swap the bread and the decanter. As I approach, my mistress slides her cup to the opposite side of the place setting, out of my reach.
“Go on.” She motions. “Pour.”
