“Do you mind if I take the books back to my room?”
For a second, I think she’s going to deny me. But fear wins out over her sense of protectiveness. “One night,” she says, “and then you return them.”
“You have my word.”
Imerys snorts as she shuts the book. “I have more than that, Princess. I know where you sleep, and if they’re not back by noon tomorrow, I’ll send Gossamer to fetch them.”
I find Thiago in the stables, examining a handsome golden colt with the crown princess. “Vi.”
“Your Highness.” Lucere moves away from his side with a furtive smile, as if she’s trying to suggest there’s something more happening here.
“How was your ride?” I paste a smile on my lips, even if I don’t feel it in my heart.
“Wonderful.” Lucere glides out of the stall, still putting distance between them, though her eyes linger on my husband. “Thiago brought down a stag, and he will be the main course at our banquet tonight. He was glorious.”
Thiago’s lashes lower. “The poor bastard broke his leg in the chase. It was mercy, Lucere. Not any particular interest of mine in hunting.”
He’ll hunt for food, but I’ve never known him to partake in it for sport like some of the southern kingdoms do.
“What do you think of him?” Thiago asks, turning my attention to the colt in the stall.
I pat that velvety nose. The color of his coat shines like a newly minted coin, though his mane and tail are as silver as moonlight. The arch of his face hints at elfin blood, and as I run my hands down his legs, I admire the quality of his structure. “He’s gorgeous. Absolutely breathtaking.”
“A gift,” Lucere purrs, “for Evernight.”
Thiago’s gaze cuts toward her, and he strokes that glossy coat. “A gift worthy of a royal fortune. I fear my offering last night was a mere trinket in comparison.”
The rubies are already around her neck, though she’ll choke on them if she knows Thalia was the one who chose them.
Lucere strokes the gems as she demurs. “Of course not. I shall be the envy of the Alliance. I fear this small exchange is barely worth a single ruby.”
Thiago smiles at me. “He’s yours, Vi.”
Lucere’s eyes flare, and her smile freezes.
“A worthy mount for my beloved.” Thiago nods gracefully to her. “Thank you. Wherever the Princess of Evernight rides, all folk shall know of the generosity of Ravenal.”
“You’re evil,” I tell him as we link thoughts. “I think she’s going to bite through her tongue.”
There’s a touch of wickedness about his mouth, but he offers me his arm. “I fear I’ve abandoned you too much this morning. Shall we take a walk around the gardens? Lucere was telling me that there’s a lovely little grotto with a waterfall.”
Oh, I’ll bet she was.
“That would be lovely.” And then, because she’s been eyeing my husband like a piece of steak, I smile at her. “Thank you for the gift. I will always cherish him.”
“What’s wrong?” Thiago demands the second we’re in the gardens where no one can hear us.
“Besides that bitch salivating all over you?”
His eyes hood. “She’s going to be the future queen of Ravenal. We have to play nicely.”
I sigh. “I know. That doesn’t mean I like her.”
“I’m not particularly fond of her either.”
Really?
His expression darkens. “I have a wife, and she knows it, and yet she’s constantly trying to touch me in places she shouldn’t.”
“Should I know about these places?” I tease.
“I nearly shoved her off a cliff this morning,” he says with a sigh, raking a hand through his hair, “when she put her hand on my thigh.”
This time my eyebrows arch.
“Don’t look at me like that. Lucere reminds me of your mother. Because she knows she has something I want, she pushes me. I’m not her fucking pet, but she’s trying to treat me like one.”
I didn’t think of what it would be like to deal with that from the other end.
“If you push her off a cliff, who’s next in line for the throne?”
He looks at me. “Corvin. Though it will probably go to Imerys. They’re very matrilineal here, and he’ll back his sisters.”
“I like Imerys.”
“I’m not murdering a crown princess,” he says dryly. “Even if she has grabby hands.”
“I’m fairly certain Eris would volunteer if you gave her the eyebrow.”
“The eyebrow?”
I mimic one of his favorite expressions; cool, calculating, off-with-her-head…. “I jest. We need Ravenal—ruling princess aside. And I don’t like to think that I’m starting to sound like my mother, so no pushing anyone from the battlements. But if she touches you again, I can’t promise I’m not going to draw my dagger and challenge her to a duel.”
“Mmm.” His voice drops. “Now tell me what’s wrong. The guards are gone.”
“I think there was a fetch in the library.”
He goes so still, I wonder if he heard me. “They shouldn’t be able to find you while you’re wearing that bracelet.”
“I know,” I whisper, stroking his arm. Just two lovers stealing a kiss in the gardens. No one from Ravenal needs to know that one of the Heartless might be stalking the shadows of Ravenspire.
“Are you certain it was a fetch?”
“The bracelet felt cold, and it was almost tugging me toward whatever was in the shadows. Imerys thought she saw something too.”
“Did you see it?”
I shake my head. “Just a shadow.”
Thiago’s thumb rubs over the back of my hand. “You don’t go anywhere without either myself or Eris from now on.”
“It might not have been the fetch.”
His eyes narrow, and he leans down, close enough to kiss me. “I don’t care. Nowhere, Vi. Not alone. I didn’t spend thirteen years winning your heart only to lose you now. Promise me.”
With a sigh, I wrap my arms around his neck. “It shall be a great hardship, but I shall glue myself to your side until we leave Ravenal. All day. All night….”
“Mmmm.” His gaze drops to my lips. “Why
