She doesn’t have it, he told himself.
He would have seen it, bare as she was. Nothing circling her throat, nothing glittering against her collarbone; just the smooth, warm column of her neck, her gown a thin swath of shimmering blue beneath her shoulders. A pretty frame for her skin, for the soft swell of –
Stop.
Kai fell back on the bed and dragged his hands roughly down his face, an irate growl ripping free of his throat. He took a breath. Another. Another, until the heat unfurling within him faded to the vacant chill he’d grown so used to. The scar across his palm pulsed as though in warning, and even if it was all in his head, he knew he’d be wise to heed it. He couldn’tdothis. He was here with a purpose, and there could be no distraction.
But Mother damn him, that woman. That laugh.
That dress.
Avette, Avette, Avette.
He kneaded at his chest.
I know, he told his raging heart.I know.
Chapter 16
Adeline
When the Queen deemed herself well enough to relieve Mareda of the morning court duties, the Beira family quickly settled back into their usual routine. Adeline’s limbs had begun to feel tight and weak, and she was almost relieved to be back in the training rooms under the merciless instruction of their weapons master.
Master Ellis had trained their mother in her youth, and walked into many a battle on the Queen’s heels. He was scarred, grey and craggy but still strong, still quicker than many of Captain Doran’s youngest men. He barked instructions and scoffed at complaints of exhaustion or aching muscles, but there was a thread of affection woven into his brash manner–he’d seen the Princesses grow from clumsy children to elegant warriors. Ordinarily, Adeline would flatter herself that he favoured her ever so slightly for her relative skill, but in the past few sessions Mareda had brought an unfamiliar spirit to their matches. By mid-morning most days, Adeline’s muscles were screaming as her sister flew at her again and again, blades glinting, beautiful face hardened in concentration that almost passed for rage.
In a particularly heated match one morning Adeline found herself flat on her back, and still Mareda advanced on her, eyes flashing, raising her blunt training sword–
“Goddess and all the Daughters,” Master Ellis grumbled, darting between them. “Stop! Blades away.”
Mareda scowled at him, shoulders heaving.
“I saidblades away,Princess, she’s done,” he growled. Though honestly, if Adeline didn’t know any better she’d say he looked almost impressed.
Lovely.
Mareda’s sword clattered to the floor and she stalked away. Adeline got to her feet, rubbing what was sure to become a painful bruise above her sacrum. She snatched up her axe and spun around to glare at her sister, who stood by the mirrored wall, calmly pulling her pale hair out of its unravelling braid.
“What in the hell is wrong with you?” Adeline spat.
Mareda stared boldly back at her, but continued to style her hair without answering.Master Ellis shuffled uncomfortably toward them.
“I think we may call it a day.”
Neither of the Princesses moved or even looked at him, still locked in one another’s glare. He threw up his withered hands.
“Ach! Enough of this. Out of here,now,” he snapped, and began herding them both toward the door.
He snatched the axe out of Adeline’s grasp and shut the door behind them, grumbling aboutpetty children’s squabbles.
Mareda made to turn away, but Adeline grabbed her by the elbow.
“Want to tell me what that was about?”
Her sister’s expression was cool and blank, save for her wide and oddly bright eyes. She spoke in a velvet hush, mockingly gentle.
“Was I too hard on you, little Ade?” she said, tilting her head. “Perhaps you should run off and tell mother. See if she can’t offer some comfort.”
Shit.
