“All the nosy gossips flooded in an hour ago,” she told me.
“Because theKyzaireis here?” I wondered.
“Because theKyzaireis here with Lyris of House Arada,” she corrected. “There have been rumors throughout the villages that an engagement is inevitable.”
My stomach bottomed out. “What?”
Illaira took anotherlaakegg. Through the mouthful she said, “This would mark their first appearance together, and the moon windsaretomorrow night. So I’d wager the rumors are actuallytrue.”
I nodded wordlessly because I didn’t know what else to do. Mustering up a smile that felt stretched over my skull, I looked down at thewyldenI was prepping and commented, “Lucky girl.”
My voice sounded far away. I couldn’t believe it. Why hadn’t he said anything?
He didn’t need to,I knew. It was none of my business what aKyzaire’s personal decisions were…even if he had given me the best, most surprising kiss of my life. Just thinking about it sent shivers trailing up my spine.
“Not luck,” Illaira said. “Circumstance. Noble Houses marry noble Houses. It’s always been this way. House Arada’s influence stretches wide.”
She glanced at Draan when she said it, but his back was turned. I remembered what Grace had said about Lesana—that she was connected to the House, that she was indebted to Hanno. I wondered how Draan felt about it all.
Noble Houses marry noble Houses.
And House Kaalium was the most noble of them all.
“I’m going to get some air,” I informed Draan. Illaira hummed as I slung the dirtied rag into the washing pile, but she was too busy poking at adavrin-wrapped puffed-pastry ball to notice me leave.
I didn’t go outside, however. Instead, I changed directions, heading to the storage room adjacent to the lounge, the only one that shared a wall with it. I closed the door behind me and went to the hidden viewing window, digging my fingernail into the smooth stone until I found the latch and pulled it open.
Not many knew about this. I only did because I’d stumbled on Lesana spying in here once. There was a painting on the back lounge wall that lined up with this window. No one in the lounge would ever know that Lesana sometimes spied on her guests and her servers.
I went on my tiptoes to look through the window, my heart pounding in my chest, making me feel dizzy. It didn’t take me long to find Kythel. He was sitting in a private back booth, lined with black, suppleonuleather, a goblet of Drovos wine in front of him, his long, strong fingers curled around it lazily.
Across from him sat who I assumed was Lyris of House Arada.
Beautifulwas my first thought.
Lyris was stunningly beautiful because of course she would be.
She had dark indigo-blue hair that shimmered in the orb lighting and bright, light blue eyes that contrasted with it. Their color was similar to Kythel’s. Her light gray skin was smooth and unblemished. She held herself gracefully—her lithe wings, decorated in silver cuffs along her wing joints, tucked against the booth’s back. She was in a sharply cut vest that molded to her curves and blue leather pants that had silver metal running up the sides, visually elongating her strong legs, even sitting.
Hanno approached the couple. He placed a hand on Lyris’s shoulder, interrupting their conversation with a wide, pleased grin. A marriage between the two Houses would be fortunate for everyone involved. No wonder Lesana had threatened me over being a blood giver for Kythel. She didn’t want anyone getting in Lyris’s way.
Kythel was smiling, his eyes pinned on his companion, who was chuckling at whatever Hanno was saying. He looked different tonight. More present. Maybe it was a mask, I didn’t know, but all I could see was the way helookedat her.
He likes beautiful things, remember?
It was an unwanted thought but undeniable. He filled his keep with beautiful, expensive things. He’d handpicked every last detail of his home. He never had a hair out of place, a clasp undone. He held himself to a high standard for his people, for himself…
And Lyris of House Arada suited him perfectly.
A perfect Kylorr couple. A perfect match of two great Houses.
A hot streak of jealousy seared through my chest at the realization. It surprised me. I’d never been the jealous type. Not even in my previous two relationships. One had been with a human man on Qapot’a, kind but restless like me. The other had been a brief love affair with a shy Luxirian male, who I still thought of fondly.
I’d never been jealous over either. I remembered them with happy softness. Neither relationship had ended poorly. But neither had lasted because of the nature of my father’s work. They’d known it. I’d known it.
And yet…
All Kythel had done was kiss me, and I was on the verge of throwing up at the sight of him with his perfect, perfect counterpart.
