“Our bickering is mostly for laughs, but sometimes I feel the need to put him in his place.”
I liked that. And from the way she studied me, she must have seen it. “You’re new to Mountheim, aren’t you? How do you like it?”
She seemed a few years shy of twenty-five, her gaze keen as it lingered on me. We moved down a bright corridor, and I turned her question over in my mind.
“Mountheim is nothing like where I’m from. Everything here is more ancient and...curious.”
She nodded. “I understand what you mean. Our cities existed long before the human territories we know today.”
We entered a spacious dining room where towering windows replaced most of the walls, flooding the space with so muchdaylight that no chandeliers were needed. The table resting in the centre was long enough to fit over twenty people.
Alameda gestured for me to sit, her gaze snagging on the necklace at my throat. “That’s a beautiful relic you’re wearing.”
My fingers instinctively brushed the pendant. “Thank you. It was a gift for my new role.”
I found it best to say that rather than admit it was Reagan’s way of guaranteeing my safety, though she might have known, anyway. I wasn’t sure how the necklace actually protected me. Perhaps it was simply a way for Reagan to track me down if I ran.
“The craftsmanship is exquisite. Mountheim’s silversmiths never fail to impress.” Her gaze lifted to meet mine. “And how are you finding your new position?”
Endless questions. I’d been spilling more answers than collecting any myself, so I decided it was time to reverse the flow.
“It’s still early days. I’ve barely begun. Are you and Coriander married?”
She smiled widely at that, as though my question amused her.
“Bonded. That’s what we call the union between the mageborn.” Her voice carried quiet pride. “And yes, we are. Two years now.”
She traced a fingertip across her forehead, where a symbol appeared. Two fine lines crossing at the centre, glowing a soft amethyst hue. Her eyes mirrored the colour briefly before the mark faded once more into her skin.
“But we’ve known each other much longer. We both grew up in Erisea. We bonded when he inherited the seat two years ago. Cor would’ve done it sooner, but with his position and the convention, it made sense to wait.”
I nodded appreciatively. Compared to Reagan, they had begun much later. “What do you mean by convention?” I asked.
“We’re expected to rule in pairs. The bond ties our power, and it’s meant to make us better at keeping the land intact. And inpractice, it helps. Two sets of eyes, two judgements, the burden split instead of carried alone.”
I blinked, surprised. It was different from what I knew; among humans, there was only ever one governor.
And, as far as I knew, there wasn’t a Lady of Mountheim. Her earlier comment suggested the same.
“Do you have anyone like me on your estate?” I asked.
“You mean a human? No. There shouldn’t be.” Her last words were quiet. “Drink?”
She gestured to the table. Mugs appeared, along with a steaming pot that smelled of coffee, another that looked like tea, and water.
My throat dried up at the offer. “I’d love that,” I said, reaching for the pot. She anticipated me, already pouring into a mug.
That was . . . surprising.
“Is it difficult for you, being surrounded by the mageborn?”
Sipping from my mug, I considered her, the first person to ask me that question. I debated whether to be honest in my answer and how she might take it.
“It’s difficult at times,” I admitted. “There’s so much I don’t know, and it puts me at a disadvantage.”
She tipped her head, her eyes gleaming with something I couldn’t quite read.
“I imagine it is. I hope Reagan isn’t the reason. He can be an ass, as I’m sure you know.” I huffed a laugh, which seemed to embolden her. “And Mountheim doesn’t help. It’s always so cold this time of year.”
