Page 178 of Burn of the Everflame

“Lucky me,” the other said. He squinted at the glittering wall. “Always wanted to study one of these things up close.”

The guard scowled, and his shield disappeared.

“What brings you boys all the way out here?” Andrei asked as he followed us inside. He left the door ajar, though Brant quickly closed it.

Vance strolled around the large central room, picking up objects at random and turning them over in his hands. “Do old friends need a reason to talk?”

Andrei’s jaw twitched as he watched him. “I wasn’t aware you and I were ‘old friends.’ Last time we spoke, you called me a traitor.”

“Well, those were different times, weren’t they? A different ass sat on the throne.” He tore a paper from the wall—a child’s sketch of a little girl holding a sword. “The one that’s there now . . .”

Andrei snatched the drawing from his hand. “Watch your mouth,” he warned, pinning it back in place. “I’ve ignored your slander for years, Vance. I’ll not do the same when it comes to my daughter.”

Vance chuckled. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Great things will come from her reign. Especially with young Henri at her side.”

Andrei’s expression hardened as it shifted to me. “If you’ve come because you want me to tell Diem to accept your proposal, you’re wasting your time. I made that mistake already, and she didn’t speak to me for days.”

I was stunned to hear that Diem’s father had urged her to say yes. Was that the only reason she did?

Vance’s eyebrows shot up. “So you don’t know, then . . . I guess Her Majesty wanted to keep the happy news all to herself.”

Vance glanced at me, and there was so much pity in it—like my engagement was a sham, and I was the last man in Emarion to see it.

Andrei glanced between us. “Diem said yes?”

“Henri’s going to be your new son,” Vance said, hauling me into his side. “And our new King.”

“King Consort,” Andrei corrected.

“She didn’t tell you?” I asked.

He hesitated. “She’s been very busy. She has a realm to run now. She and I . . . we’ve hardly spoken.”

“Is that so?” Vance asked. “Because I hear you were just at the palace this morning for a meeting with House Benette.” Vance glanced at me. “Strange that she didn’t invite you.”

“How do you know that?” Andrei demanded. “Those meetings are private.”

Vance shrugged. “Guardians have sources everywhere. Now that Auralie’s gone, those sources are mine.”

My head jerked toward him. Auralie was adamant that her family never know about her involvement with the Guardians, but Vance had just declared it outright. She was going to be furious when she returned. She might even kick Vance out of the Guardians for breaking our most sacred rule.

Oddly, I was the only Guardian in the room that looked unsettled by the breach. Even Diem’s father seemed more irritated than shocked.

“Are you the reason she’s gone?” Andrei growled.

Vance laughed. “Must be difficult, to know the women in your life trust you so little. Don’t worry, though.” He winked. “I know all their secrets.”

Andrei’s hands rose to his hip, reaching for blades that weren’t there. His weapons belt lay on an armchair by the hearth—a chair that three Guardians now surrounded.

“Don’t you want to have a drink with your future son?” Brant chimed in. “He came all this way.”

Andrei eyed me with a cold suspicion he’d never shown toward me before. I didn’t blame him. Vance was clearly pushing his buttons, trying to goad him into a fight.

I was beginning to think this meeting was a mistake. Strained as things were between me and Diem, I didn’t need Vance making it worse.

I cleared my throat. “Vance, I think we should g⁠—”

“Come on, Andrei,” Vance interrupted. “Let’s toast to your daughter’s happiness. One drink, then we’ll go.”