“Okay, so theoretical genocide,” I say. “But they don’t know that, which makes them extra guilty.”
“It’s the way she makes nonsense make sense,” Hart says. “It’s a skill.”
“I have many of them. Glad you are catching up.”
He shakes his head as he too stands, and suddenly I am surrounded by tall muscly knights dressed in their finest clothing. Black pants, shiny black boots, pressed white shirts, and forest-green overcoats finished with shiny silver buttons. I’ve never seen them this dressed up before, even at the balls back at the Hallowed Palace. I suppose they are making an extra effort since this is their home, where the folks seem to crave the knights’ attention, not shy away from it.
“Game plan for tonight is to attend for the shortest time possible,” Nash informs us. “Enough so that Arthur will give us the answers he’s promised come morning, but not so long that we get into trouble.”
He means me. I am the trouble we can’t get into.
“Did Arthur go anywhere of note?” I ask, knowing they were keeping an eye on him.
Malachi shakes his head. “Not that we witnessed. Either he’s got nothing to hide, or he was aware of our scrutiny.”
“Definitely scrutiny,” Hart says. I agree. Their father is a bad sort. There’s no way these knights came from his loins.
“We should go. The quicker we arrive, the sooner we can leave,” Theo says. He’s so glittery that he is lighting up the room. I’m sure I look just as ridiculous.
“Indeed,” Malachi says as he opens the door out of their quarters. “Let’s take the glitter twins out for a show.”
I hold my head in the air and stride past Malachi. He wraps a hand around the back of my neck and drops a quick kiss on my lips with a grin. “You are still stunning, Daphne, even covered in ground unicorn di?—”
I slap my hand over his mouth. “Nope. This is the vegan version, made from flowers and grass.” He shakes his head as his eyes dance with mirth. Wonderful. He’s going to tease me non-stop now.
Nash herds us out of the room and into a chilly stone hallway lit with small flickering candles that make our shadows dance on the walls as we pass.
It takes five tempos of winding corridors before we arrive outside the familiar doors to the great hall. The clinking of glassware, the tittering of female laughter, and the low rumble of male voices spill from the gap under the door.
Two men stationed outside fling open the doors to reveal a crowded hall. For once, I am not trying to poison or stab someone at a royal gathering. It’s nice having a lack of purpose for the evening. Hopefully, that means no mishaps. You can’t ruin a plan if there is no plan, proving again why my method of winging it is superior.
At least there is no grand announcement on our arrival. Regardless, everyone turns to stare at us. I try to pretend they don’t notice the extra sparkle Theo and I are rocking. They can’t handle us. It’s not their fault that we outshine them.
“Are you hungry?” Malachi asks in my ear as he links his arm through mine. A few scowls appear on the faces of the women in the room.
“Always, but have I earned it?” I mutter as I lean into his ear and graze my teeth along the lobe. My hair shields my scandalous actions, and I delight in the shudder that makes him tremble.
He twists his head so we are staring into each other’s eyes. “Let’s call it a down payment for future services. But not too far in the future. Tonight should suffice.”
I giggle and let him lead me to the enormous table filled with the most delightful food, and not a single fish egg in sight. Praise the Idols.
“I’ll go get us a drink. Don’t move,” Malachi says.
I take my time piling my plate high with a variety of food before turning around to find Hart standing only a few inches from me. He stares at my plate and raises a brow.
“You going for a real variety of food groups, Calamity?”
“Of course. We have deer, bunkum, and capon.”
“Those are all meat.”
“Different meat, different food group. Anyone would think you uncultured, Hart.”
He shakes his head as a delicate feminine hand wraps around his arm. He glances over his shoulder and turns, giving me his back, which is now ramrod straight.
“Felicity,” he says. It’s a gentle tone, one I’ve never been on the receiving end of. “How are you?”
“Aren’t you going to introduce us to your friend, Hart?” Her voice is like listening to sweet music; soft, lulling, dreamy. I want to kill her.
