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“Good morning, beautiful,” the wall chuckles. Castor. “You’re aware your beloved is that way?” He spins me around and pushes me towards the fountain.

“Oh I’m very aware.” Turning back, I try to shove past him, but he just grabs my wrist.

“What did he do?” he taunts. “You know, I’m surprised. Lux is usually so good with his women.”

“You can say that again,” I scoff.

Castor tilts his head, sighing. “I see.” Then his gaze lowers. “And what’s this?” He peers at the gold ribbon I tied on top of the cloak. “Is that a gift?”

“It was supposed to be for Lux, but he’s not getting it now.” Or ever. I can’t believe I stayed up all night making it. At least it’s just a cloak and I wasn’t stupid enough to lose several nights of sleep over a fancy coat.

Folding my arms, I scowl. Maybe I can give it to Blossom and she can give it to her shoemaker boyfriend, or Father can wear it, or⁠—

Castor laughs.

“What?” I hiss.

He shakes his head. “Come here.” He grabs my arm and leads me to a small gap in the hedge. I try to shake free of his grasp, but he’s too strong. Before I know what’s happening, he picks me up by my waist.

“Get off,” I squeal, but then he forces me to look through the gap.

“Look.” He jerks his chin towards Lux and the pretty whore. I hate how pretty she is. I hate her stupid grin and her revealing gown and her— “You’re not looking,” he sighs.

“I am! They’re clearly in love!” I cry out. “He’ll probably be down on one knee by the end of the night, and she’ll have a diamond ring the size of a⁠—’”

“Look properly. See how Lux hasn’t looked once at the woman you’re so threatened by, and that he’s performing to an entire crowd of Father’s guests because my dear brother is a little show-off and won’t turn down any opportunity to wow a crowd.”

I tense my jaw. Now that he mentions it, Lux is more focused on the water than anyone around him. And the busty woman is one of probably about ten, both men and women. He doesn’t care about her at all.

“Oh…” I breathe.

Castor places me back down on the grass. “Don’t beat yourself up. The bond does this sometimes. It can make you crazy. But you’d have to be more than crazy to worry that your lovesick mate has eyes for anyone other than his favourite princess,” he chuckles. “Last night he was just messing with you. He never touched that woman. He sent her away as soon as she arrived at his bedchamber.”

Rolling my eyes, I hug the cloak tighter. I shouldn’t care how he spends his nights anyway. I came here to negotiate. It shouldn’t matter if he has one whore in his bed or twenty.

Jealousy burns inside me, but I force it down. “Thank you for helping to clear my head.”

“Anytime, princess.” He grins, but before I can leave he snatches the cloak off me.

“Hey!”

“I’m just looking.” He turns over the parcel. When I try to reach for it, he twists his body away.

“Castor!”

“My brother is a lucky man.” He studies the embroidery, dodging all my attempts to grab it. “You must’ve spent hours on this.” He squints at my work. “Incredible…”

“Give it back!”

Sliding his hand over the velvet, he exhales. But then he freezes, and I don’t miss my chance to snatch the cloak back.

“Thank you,” I add sarcastically.

Castor just ignores me, his face as frozen as his hand.

“Castor?” My voice is small.

Clearing his throat, he laughs breathily. “You’re full of surprises, princess. Do all your sisters have magic or is it just you?”