I don’t know its history.
I don’t know its story.
And I don’t know if I can safely tell Antony any of that? The distrust with which he spoke indicates he won’t easily believe me.
I take a deep breath, resolve building within my heart.
All I can do is show him who I am, little by little, piece by piece. My actions will speak for my heart more surely than my words ever could. If he chooses to reject what I show him, well…I’ll deal with that if it happens. No matter what, I won’t jeopardize my life over it.
His focus has remained on the city ahead of us, and now he tips his chin at it, the movement causing his jaw to graze my hair, a faint hint of bristles catching the strands. “Do you see those towers?”
“Of course.” Despite my declaration, the far-off collection of closely packed white towers gleams so brightly in the sunlight that I’m quickly forced to squint.
“We call them theConstellation,” Antony says, “because they were built in the same pattern as the brightest stars that burned in our night sky.”
He draws back enough so that his savage green gaze can burn into me while he continues to grip me tightly, his right arm around my ribs beneath my breasts, his hand splayed across my waist, while his other hand rests on his bird’s back.
“Did you know that already?” he asks.
I’m confused that he spoke in the past tense about the stars that burned, but he probably means an ancient constellation that might not be visible anymore.
“I know far too little about your kingdom,” I say. “I’ve spentmy entire life living in coastal villages. Many villagers have wild stories about the three kingdoms. There were traders who traveled between territories, but many of them had conflicting versions, and none of them ever mentioned a Constellation. Not to me, anyway.”
“Hmm.” The slight narrowing of his eyes tells me he doesn’t believe me.
I smother my sigh. “Of course,” I murmur. “Lies and liars. You must distrust anything I say.”
The visible corner of his mouth tugs up before he returns his attention directly ahead. “Do you see the highborn gathering at the top of the tallest tower within the Constellation?”
The tower’s still too far away. Maybe, if I had a highborn’s sharp eyesight, I’d be able to see more of the vague dots on top of it. “Not really.”
“I can’t either,” he admits. “Not yet. But I’m certain I know who will have come out to meet us.”
He looks at me expectantly, as if I should know the answer already.
Well, damn.
“Liars,” I whisper, although there’s a question in my voice.
His cold grin confirms the accuracy of my statement.
“My mother’s personal guard will have spread out to surround the landing platform,” he says. “Except, of course, the side we’re approaching from, but as soon as we land, they’ll close in around us. My youngest brother, Hadrian, will be a step behind our mother. He’s never far from her side.”
With another quick glance at me, Antony adds, “Don’t take him for a sycophant. It’s a smart move on his part, given how far down he sits in the line of succession.”
Antony returns his attention forward as he continues, “My only sister, Cassia, will have been sent to her quarters indisgrace, since she never should have dared fly out with me. She will be heavily punished, so you may not meet her for a while. And my other brother, Victor, well…”
Antony points to a spot lower than the tower he was focusing on. “Do you see the gathering of smaller towers off to the right, nestled in the shadow of the Constellation?”
I nod. “I do.”
“Those are the Iron Forges where Victor works.”
I expect Antony to say more, but he falls silent, and I consider him carefully, unsettled by his sudden quiet.
His expression changes as the silence stretches. His lips press together.Hard. His brow furrows. Deeply. Then his jaw clenches.
Oddly, the savagery in his eyes doesn’t change.
