My sister lived in a state of perpetual disappointment when it came to me. But Rhazien wouldn’t let my title in his court be an addition to the list of events that had earned downcast sneers. I basked in the echo of his attentiveness, of his protection. It was a glimmer of the feelings from before. The blood purred beneath my skin and I remembered I wasn’t entirely myself.
“Apologies, Majesty,” Cova murmured reluctantly, her small comments matching her mousy, pointed features.
Lydia’s oval face was alight with curiosity. “Majesty, what is a prospect? Is that like a fiancée?”
Cova’s eyes darted to my fingers, searching for an engagement ring. I folded my hands together. Her shrewdness illuminated how backwards and ridiculous it felt to agree to become bound to Rhazien, which was more like a soul contract rather than a clerical one.
“Not quite. Why don’t we sit?” Rhazien gestured to the sitting area, a plush circle of loveseats and chairs not unlike the furniture in my chambers.
Rhazien’s charm had even softened a piece of the glacier around my sister’s heart. Lydia, on the other hand, was all too happy to glean every morsel of information from the regent. Cova would nudge her when she overstepped and overshared. But what could she expect? The maiden’s wide, curious eyes had become heavy as the morning approached.
We conversed, reminisced, asked and answered questions for nearly an hour when Lydia raised her hand to hide a yawn.
“We should take our leave and let the ladies rest,” Rhazien announced, readying himself to stand. The blood curled me beneath his arm and I gripped at the crook of his elbow, stuck between not wanting to let go of him and not wanting to leave my family.
I’d wanted to speak to them alone, not have a chaperoned visit. But I suppose given my recent betrayal, trust shouldn’t be expected.
Rhazien’s blood curdled at the thought. Like his pain rode through my veins and bitterness spread across my tongue.
“We appreciate the visit. We’d expected you sooner,” Cova scolded and I stiffened against Rhazien’s muscled frame.
I cocked a brow. “How much sooner could I have visited?” I was asking both of them.
“A week seems like a long time to wait to see my sister, even if she’s theprospect.”
I hadn’t been offended by the title until now. Cova’s tone distorted it, belittled it. But I moved beyond the slight and focused on what she’d said just before.
A week. They’d been here a week. They’d been here when I’d snuck out to the tavern. When Dommik saved me from those thugs and admitted he loved me in the cellar of his estate. They’d been here when I was in Dommik’s bed. Why had they been here?
“A week?” I breathed, the information heavy on my chest. Rhazienwas still at my side. I looked up to him, leveling him with a withering glare.
He’d planned this. To use my family to coerce me into agreeing to the bond, even before I’d given myself to Dommik.
“Well…” I fixed my face into one filled with false confidence. “Solstice is a very busy time. So much to do. You have our apologies.”
“What we’ve lacked in hospitality will be made up for in the coming days,” Rhazien assured them as he placed a hand over mine. His blood slid to the place where our skin connected and hummed happily at the contact.
Lydia was practically bouncing on her heels. “I’m so excited for your ceremony, Aunt Reyva!”
Cova’s gaze flicked from my forced smile back to my eyes. “Yes. We’re honored to be invited.”
My sister knew the game. She’d been to court and seen the political chess. And, of course, she knew me. It wouldn’t help anything to tell her the extent of my circumstances. I just wanted the two of them to make it through the next few days unharmed and seen safely back to their lives.
“We’re delighted you could join us.” Rhazien patted my arm and turned me away from the familiar faces of my kin.
Gorvin was waiting in the hall. His jaw worked at the sight of me nestled against Rhazien like it was me and not the blood coercing me to be there. The two men began to exchange words about the state of the Hive after the breach. Seeing an opening, I pulled away from the regent.
“I’ll be just a moment,” I said before rushing back to my sister. She was stone beneath the embrace I threw around her.
“Trust no one,” I said in the lowest whisper I could muster. “If there’s trouble, find a chambermaid named Alba or Commander Thorne.”
I stepped back and hoped to find appreciation and understanding in Cova’s expression but instead, she wore one of confusion.
“Thorne?” She mouthed and I nodded, squeezing our still clasped hands. I stole a glance at Rhazien who was intently watching the exchange.
“Do you mean Dommik?” Lydia chirped and the entire room stiffened.
I could feel Rhazien’s glare from the doorway but didn’t turn. Instead, I asked innocently as any host to a guest might. “Oh, you’ve met the Commander?”
