You’re a king, Lore. You already have everything—a kingdom, loyal subjects, afiancée. Antoni has this house—thatyoubought him—his friends, and this cause—which seems intricately tied with yours.
Lore’s pupils don’t pulse; they detonate.Do you plan on offering yourself to him to make him feel more adequate?
I don’t plan on offering myself to anyone.Before we can create more of a scene than we’re already making, I take the seat he’s scooted back for me, but I make sure my expression displays what I think of his little cock-swinging.
Nothing little about my cock, Behach Éan.
My cheeks smolder with annoyance.It’s an expression. I wasn’t— You know what? I’ve changed my mind.I start to rise but freeze when Lore picks up my hand and flips it, then holds it to his nose.
Did you cut yourself?
“No, why?”
“Why, what?” Syb asks, leaning across Mattia to peer at me.
Lore sweeps his tongue over the scarlet smear on the calloused base of my ring finger.
Lore!Although I should’ve probably been alarmed by the fact that I have blood on my hand, I cannot help but focus on the fact that he’s licked my hand.It’s probably just tomato sauce from Riccio and Syb’s food brawl.I try to pull my hand away, but he holds onto it, his cold smoke gliding between my fingers like silk.
It isn’t blood.
I cannot believe you licked my hand.My cheeks heat like the desert under the Lucin sun.Was that necessary?
He finally releases my hand.Yes.
Why?
Behind him, the air darkens, and then those shadows take the shape of two men and one woman. I recognize the woman—Imogen—but not the men. Of course the Sky King didn’t come alone. He may be the most lethal man in Luce—in the world—but he’s a monarch.
They’re here for you, not for me.He says this without looking at me.
As he finally takes his seat at the dining table, Antoni surveys the three Crows poised behind their King. “What are you playing at, Lorcan? Bringing so many of your people will give Dante fodder—”
“Circumstances have changed.” Lorcan unfolds his napkin and sets it on his lap.
“The circumstances being Fallon living here?” Reproach edges Gia’s tone.
“No.” Lorcan’s golden gaze latches onto mine again. “The circumstances being that Meriam escaped the Regio’s dungeon.”
The news ices my overheated blood.Escaped . . .“When?”
“No one knows, but the blood on her sigil was still fresh.”
“I don’t—I thought—” Syb’s spine is straighter than during those endless etiquette classes we were forced to take in school. “Isn’t Meriam dead?”
“No.” Antoni’s answer surprises more than just Syb; it surprisesme, because the night he and I—
When Lorcan’s gaze sharpens on me, I banish the memory and turn toward Antoni. “I thought you believed her dead.”
Antoni’s blue eyes lower to the ruffled porcelain edge of his plate. “I couldn’t exactly tell you that I knew she wasn’t. After all, back then, I hadn’t been made aware of your lineage.”
Syb’s mouth parts in shock. Since none of the others look surprised, I surmise she was the only one not told of Meriam’sundeadness. “What is a sigil?”
“It’s the way Shabbins cast magic,” Mattia explains softly. “They paint swirly patterns with their blood. That’s how Meriam erected her wards.”
Sybille blinks as though an eyelash has fallen into her eye.
“Was my—” I still cannot bring myself to call her Mother. “Was Zendaya with her?”
