Glass in hand, Kyor strolls to the dais before retrieving a dagger from his belt and chiming it against the flute.
I find I can’t pull my eyes away from him as silence falls over the ballroom, the courtiers ready to hang on his every word.
‘Lords and Ladies.’ The rumble of his voice sends shivers down my spine. ‘After the festivities of the Retterheld, we are pleased to announce yet more blessings bestowed on the family of the gifted. A unionbetween Lord Jonas Lorathin and Lady Acacia Kultavaris has been granted by Etta. Tell me, who is to present the bride?’
My temper flares within me.Who the fuck does he think is going to present her?His actions saw to it that I was the only person she had left – before Florian was returned to us that is. Kyor and every person in this Godsforsaken palace knows the former, but this is all just a role to him. The words and their meaning don’t matter. The hurt they cause me, irrelevant.
‘I present her,’ I reply, locking my eyes on his. If he wants to make it a game, I’ll play. ‘Rose Kultavaris. The gifted.’ I use my title like the weapon it is.
Murmurs threaten to steal the silence, but Kyor does not give them a chance.
‘Very well,’ he says. ‘Then let this union, blessed by the Goddess of Life, be seen and honoured by all within this court and kingdom. Jonas and Acacia Lorathin. One now and always. Members of the court, will you please join me in raising a glass to the newly married couple?’
‘Married?’ I hear the word rise in surprise all around us. ‘Not engaged?’
Applause and polite chatter fill the room, but it is not loud enough to drown out the muttering. If I can hear it, I’m sure Kay can too.
‘There must be a reason.’
‘She was staying with his father, was she not?’
‘The engagement must have happened in secret first. Assuming the sister won. That must be why they took her in.’
I’m surprised by the relief that comes with such gossip. Let them think it was a condition of Artur offering her sanctuary. It is better than them knowing the truth. Pregnant before wedlock. It’s a sin in Korvane’s eyes that would see her stripped and back in the slums. Not that she appears to have any magic to strip just yet.
‘Thank you. Thank you.’ Jonas’s voice cuts above the chatter. ‘Your kind words are more than I deserve. My wife and I truly appreciate it.’
He glances down at Acacia, his eyes gleaming. A perfect act of love and devotion. They’re certainly going to have most of the court fooled.
I can’t help but look at Kyor … only to find his gaze locked on me. Suddenly the rest of the room falls away. This moment is all that exists between us – the thunder of my pulse rushing in my ears, the hot flash of desire that is absurd, and the ache of my broken heart.
In the end, it is the latter that breaks the spell he must surely be weaving on me.
I refocus on Kay, who looks radiant. She is raising her own glass. ‘May the Goddess’s blessing follow us through our generation and beyond.’ Kay beams as she stares at her husband, her words ringing out over the assembly.
‘Your generation and beyond.’ The cheer goes up around the room, and it’s only when the noise dims that I remember I was meant to join them. Meant to be watching them instead of Kyor, but it’s hard with the way I can feel the buzz of his gaze flitting across my skin.
Tuning him out the best I can, I lift my glass, ready to echo the words of Kay’s toast, only to stop. Jonas is still looking doe-eyed at Kay, but rather than simply standing there and accepting the toast, he leans in towards her, wraps his hand around the back of her neck, and kisses her.
Really kisses her.
Whatever dregs remain in my drink are quickly gone. Of course a kiss makes sense. Kissing is what couples do. But would it have hurt to be a peck on the cheek? Instead, it’s a full-on, oh-my-Gods-they’re-using-tongue-I-don’t-need-to-see-my-sister-do-this type of kiss. It’s certainly less awkward and more – urgh – sexual than the first kiss Jonas and I shared. My stomach somersaults, not from jealousy, but from sheer discomfort.
Is this not their first kiss? Have they practised for this moment? Or worse still, kissed just because they wanted to?
‘Just a word of advice? Looking like you want to vomit when your sister announces her marriage isn’t a great move,’ Benny whispers in my ear. ‘Try smiling.’
‘Right. Right.’ I pull my lips upwards into something I think resembles a smile and force my eyes to meet several of those looking at me.
Thankfully, with all the fuss they’re getting, Kay missed my response, and I’m able to slip further away.
‘I have to admit, they make a dashing couple,’ Benny says, stillsticking to my side.
‘Let’s not think about it right now,’ I respond. I search for a fresh drink, only for my eyes to fall, as if pulled by magnets, on Kyor yet again.
Somehow, after the toast, he has crossed the room and is once again standing only a few feet away from me.
‘Gifted,’ he says, his voice just loud enough to be heard. ‘Will you do me the honour of a dance?’
