I hide behind my teacup for a moment. When I’m ready, I lower it and smile at Fera. “I do. It’s very beautiful.”
“And the lifestyle? Surrounded by dead people?” Fera shudders slightly, not even bothering to hide it.
“They are perfectly alive in the Underworld,” I say a little stiffly. Her words cut me, inciting unfamiliar anger. I set my teacup down with a clatter. “But what of this realm? Is your mother still drinking herself into oblivion every day?”
Fera stills, her eyes flashing. She twists her lips into a cold smile. “Why, Briar, I do believe you’ve grown a backbone. I wondered if you ever would. Could it be thanks to your betrothed?”
“I doubt it,” Kane drawls.
"I'm sure." Fera laces her fingers together, and I notice the many rings glinting on them. "But, let's speak more of the dead. You probably haven't heard about the strange deaths plaguing the city. Corpses found with vacant eyes. It's quite gruesome."
“It sounds terrible,” I say, fear flashing through me. I keep my hands in my lap to hide the trembling. “If we can do anything to help, please let us know.”
Fera leans back, her eyes cutting towards Kane. “Oh, I will. Have you ever encountered anything like that before, Death? How do you prefer to do your killing?”
“I leave the killing to others,” Kane says. His voice is like ice and has my skin crawling. He knows exactly what Fera is insinuating. “And no. Those deaths sound curious indeed.”
“Kane wouldn’t kill innocents,” I say tightly. The need to defend him from Fera’s judging gaze has my chest tight.
“It’s admirable – your trust in him,” Fera says. It doesn’t seem as if she thinks it’s admirable at all. “I hope one day I can have such faith in my betrothed.”
Kane rises with a bored sigh. Fera’s eyes narrow at his show of boredom and disdain. “Shall we go, Briar?”
“Please excuse us,” I say to Fera. She’s silent as I stand and take my place beside Kane. I force a smile, anger dripping from it. “It was a pleasure, thank you for hosting us.”
“You’re welcome.” Fera doesn’t rise as we leave.
Our clipped footsteps echo through the conservatory, and I feel my hands begin to tremble with anger. I pinch my lips together, eyes narrowed as we stride through the halls to the carriage waiting to bring us back to the Diamond. I never realized just how unpleasant Fera can be – perhaps how all royals can be. I wonder if I would have done the same if Kane hadn’t expanded my horizons; judged someone by the clothes on their back or their circumstances.
“Thanks,” Kane says tightly as we enter the carriage.
I look up from glowering at the floor. “For what?” I ask, confusion bunching my brows.
“Standing up for me.” His voice is emotionless and flat.
My cheeks blush lightly. “Anyone who knows you would have said the same,” I murmur.
Kane smirks sardonically. “Then you don’t know my friends that well.”
“I’m sorry about what Fera said – at what she implied,” I say. I feel embarrassed that someone I claimed was my friend said such a thing to Kane. “She shouldn’t have said that.”
“It’s alright,” Kane says, leaning against the side of the carriage with vacant eyes. “I don’t trust mortals either.”
Chapter 13
Kane
The coachman lingers in the courtyard of the palace and I feel a slash of irritation. I should simply magic Briar and myself back to the inn, but I wouldn’t want word of it to spread from the palace to the streets. So, we wait. I tap my foot irritably, studying the gates leading out into the city. “What’s taking so long?” I ask, sticking my head out the window.
“I’ve been ordered to wait,” the coachman says. He’s an older man, with fine wrinkles lining his face. He stutters a little.
I grumble to myself, knowing full well that Princess Fera has ordered the delay. No doubt, she finds it amusing. I purse my lips, thinking of the unpleasant mortal. She's nothing like Briar, although they share the same status. Briar is humble, while Fera has no regard for others. She seems to imagine she can do and say whatever she pleases with no consequences. I find that highly unpleasant. My lips curl into a scowl as I think of the accusations she made at tea. While she isn't far off in pinning the murders on a creature of the Underworld, she was foolish to blame me. Mortals have little regard for the Gods anymore it would seem.
“Maybe something is wrong with the gate,” Briar guesses hopefully.
I study her coolly. She looks ravishing in the black gown of shadows, with her hair combed and the grime cleaned off of her. I've been careful since our intimacy the other night to avoid looking at her too closely – it's too tempting now that I know she may be exactly what I need. The only question that remains is whether or not she orchestrated the plot to betray me with her father. A girl like Fera might have, but Briar doesn't appear to be like her at all. Briar sighs softly, looking out the window. She's either innocent or the best actress I've ever met.
Suddenly, light footsteps approach and a breathless messenger swings the door of the carriage open. “The Princess sends her regrets, she would like to meet again with you both to apologize,” the messenger pants.
I snort. “I don’t think so.”
“It might be a good idea,” Briar says, turning towards me with a glint of hope in her eyes. “It’s never good to burn bridges.”
“She’s a mortal princess in a long line of princes,” I say tiredly. “Her bridge is insignificant.”
"Kane," Briar murmurs. She furrows her brows as if I've upset her. "I'm nothing more than a mortal princess in a long line of princesses."
I suck on my teeth, gaze locked with Briar’s. “Fine.” I wave a hand in surrender. “You may go, I’ll wait for you here.”
A small
