“I still think it’s weird that the witch only summoned three cambions,” Luca says again.
“Why?” Elle asks, exasperated. She’s been watching him pace back and forth since he stood up.
He glances up from the floor, looking directly at her. “Think about it. Whoever this witch is, she’s working with someone who’s here,” he says, pointing downward with one finger. “She must know that there are five powerful princes here who would protect Mae. It doesn’t take much to overwhelm a single cambion. If she had summoned, say, ten or more, theymayhave overwhelmed a single prince. But there arefiveprinces here. It’s like the intention behind the attack wasn’t to attack at all but instead to scare.”
“She attacked in the middle of the night. Maybe she thought everyone would be asleep, making Mae an easy target,” Elle counters.
“True,” he acquiesces. “It’s just a stupid plan, though. It fell apart too easily. If Asmo hadn’t found her, Koa or Ivan would have soon.”
“What if that’s all the witch could summon?” Holly asks. “What if she’s a witchling, and she’s weak?”
Ivan tilts his head as if he finds the theory credible. “That could be.”
“If that’s the case, we still need to be careful. Witchlings are still powerful,” Luca says.
“But the witch I talked to wasold,” I say.
Ivan shakes his head and says, “Witches can change their appearances. She likely heard you coming and glamoured herself to appear harmless.”
“Mae, you need to be very careful with the princes. It may be one of them working with the witch,” Luca says.
“Is nobody concerned that Prince Marik, one of the most powerful in the kingdom, was taken down by three cambions?” Elle asks, looking around the circle before settling on me.
I shake my head at the implication. “No, I don’t think that’s possible. I’ve been very careful around all the princes and casting for signs of deception. I haven’t picked up on anything.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s not happening, remember?” Elle says beside me. “They could be highly skilled at lying or know how to get around having to tell a lie.”
The thought sends chills down my spine. If it is any of the princes, they’re doing an amazing job at making me fall for them while keeping me blind to their lies.
The thought is terrifying.
I could marry my demise without even knowing it.
Chapter 24
Asmo arrives at my doordressed in his usual uniform of black. He wears black pants, cut off just above the ankles, with a black long-sleeve button-down. His top three buttons are undone, exposing the edge of his snake tattoo. His sleeves are rolled up, showing off his toned forearms.
“All black? Shocking,” I say.
He holds out a foot. “Red loafers.”
“Oh, sorry.” I roll my eyes, but I can’t help the smile that comes.
He doesn’t even crack a smile. “Mae, ever the picture of grace and hospitality,” he says drily.
I curtsy, then say, “Please, my dearest High Prince, do come inside.”
He enters my wing, squeezing in between the two guards standing inside. Asmo nods at one of the guards, but he just stares straight ahead.
“Sorry for the tagalong. Ivan insisted,” I say to Asmo, but he doesn’t respond. Instead, he walks into the living room and plops onto the couch.
“What are we doing today?” he asks me from the couch. I want to grind my teeth and tell himhe’ssupposed to be courtingme, but I remember what Elle said. I need to make nice and be friends. My relationship with the princes extends to their courts and transcends this courting experience.
“Well, we were supposed to have a wine tasting and dinner on the terrace, but we’re confined to my wing.”
“I’ve taken care of it,” he says simply. Like he’s stating a well-known fact. But I have no idea what he’s talking about.
“What?” I ask him.
