The raven with three eyes embroidered in silver seemed to watch her with keen interest.
“House Avanerius,” Camilla said, her dark hand pointing to the ram’s head with four horns. “Represents strength and protection.” Indeed, Lord Damien seemed surprisingly eager to ensure his world was protected. “House Santorien”—Camilla gestured toward the blue ampithere—“represents balance and harmony. You’ll find they’re the more … level-headed of the courts, eager to keep everyone on good terms.”
Thalia tucked the information away.
“And the other two?” Thalia asked.
“House Gallinus represents power and freedom, and House Olvectus”—Camilla paused, staring at the fox with multiple teeth stitched in orange—“represents transformation.”
Thalia turned to her. “When were you going to tell me you’re a shifter?”
Camilla raised an approving brow. “Figured out what I am finally?” She nodded. “Does that information disturb you?”
Thalia shrugged. “It’s not like I had prior knowledge about what you were before this. Can’t say I’ve really dwelled on it.”
Camilla snorted.
“How close are the Houses with each other?” Thalia asked. “I mean, Cassius told me that the shifters were made by the Mages. I assume, giving you reside in Lorceium, the shifters are a part of House Olvectus.”
Camilla crossed her arms over her chest. “It seems Cassius told you a lot.”
Thalia’s brows narrowed at that. “He was surprisingly helpful when I had questions about my new kingdom.”
Camilla still didn’t seem to trust her, and fine, Thalia couldn’t blame her. But the shifter seemed to realize that Thalia was her princess now, because she relented. “It depends on the House. Some are on better terms than the others. But they all answer to House Lorenzia.”
Thalia knew as much from her conversation with Lord Damien. But if the Vampyr courts were anything like the humans’, there was always some manner of discord. Perhaps she could use that to her advantage …
“And given the history between the shifters and the Vampyrs, there’s not any … bad blood?”
Camilla cast her a wary look. “No. Not anymore. The shifters and Vampyrs have coexisted for hundreds of years, since the rise of the Houses.”
Thalia let it go, it would do no good to keep prodding, given the expression on Camilla’s face. She changed topics. “Any word on His Highness?”
“I don’t know. You’d have to ask Cassius.”
“But aren’t you on the prince’s council? Shouldn’t you know?”
“He tends to keep a lot of the communication between him and Cassius,” Camilla admitted.
Thalia couldn’t keep the scowl from her face. Yes, it did seem that way. In fact, before she’d gone to the library, she’d found a note from Cassius informing her that the letter and gift on her desk were from the prince. This time she’d received a beautiful bridle for Feryena. Perhaps Cassius had informed the prince of her love of riding.
Cassius had the power that he’d always seemed so desperately to crave, given that he practically ran House Lorenzia in the prince’s absence. A part of her felt his betrayal even now. She knew he’d beenangry with the queen before, regarding her lack of action against the war and the dwindling ore. He’d watched his father abuse his mother, had been forced to try to dig his family’s name out of the mud, to be seen as something other than a minor lord’s son … but did he have to go to these extremes? Her stomach twisted.
Camilla noted the change in her mood. “You knew Cassius before, didn’t you?”
Thalia’s fingernails pierced her palms. “I did.”
“I take it that him turning into a Vampyr was not expected.”
Thalia let out a bitter laugh. “No.”
Camilla studied her a beat longer. “Cassius might be an ass on occasion, but he doesn’t do anything without cause.”
“And you know him so well?” Thalia snapped. Her mind flashed to how fondly Camilla had spoken of him in her room. There was no denying that Camilla was beautiful, alluring. And she had power, given her status on the prince’s council. She and Cassius were equals. All Thalia had ever been able to give him was a spot in the shadows. Because even if she’d married that prince back in Agripa, she would have found a way to still be with Cassius—to make him her lover.
Perhaps he’d finally gotten sick of standing on the sidelines.
Camilla’s face flashed in surprise before turning hard. “I have been working closely with him for four years. Everything he has done, as asinine as it is, is meant to help our prince and the people of Vaccarium.”
