Spray from the waterfall misted over her. “And you haven’t done so because…?”
“We’re too close. I’ve raised the boy since he was a teenager.”
Laughter rang out. A dancing couple swept across the floor in a whirlwind of pink and teal.
Uncle Jerran frowned as he watched them, probably thinking about his late wife. “I’m the closest thing he has to a father.”
Kalie shuddered. “What does he think of his actual father? Has he been to Titan?”
“The boy’s only visited Landon a few times, and as far as I can tell, his trips to the prison haven’t left him with a strong impression.” Uncle Jerran gave her an assessing look, the sort he’d used on her as an errant child. “To judge Mylis based on his father would be like judging Calida based on my sister. Or judging you by your parents’ actions, which, I’ll remind you, were far more catastrophic for the vast majority of Dalians than Landon’s assassination attempt.”
She winced. The scars left by Father’s bombings lingered, even now.
“I’ll put him on my guard on a temporary basis, and make a final decision once I get a chance to assess his character.” Kalie glanced at Hewlett, talking to a crowd of nobles under a glittering chandelier. The Count of Oakwood’s hushed threat to Grant flitted through her mind, and she narrowed her eyes at Uncle Jerran. “You have political ambitions for him, don’t you? Putting him on my guard is a means of advancement?”
Uncle Jerran gave her a small, secretive smile. “Let’s just say he’s my checkmate.”
Gods,anothermortelle reference. Kalie rolled her eyes as he limped away.
She’d have to find Wells. As the only member of her Azurian Guard who hadn’t grown up on a world with a bias against the House of Grant, he’d be in the best position to give her an honest assessment of Mylis.
A collective cry of anticipation rose, then fell into a defeated groan. Kalie followed the commotion to a cluster of young noblemen crowded around tables in the corner, leaning over whichever reckless peers were gambling their fortunes away tonight. Shockingly, Wells wasn’t among the degenerates. Kalie pursed her lips. He would probably find his way over by the end of the night.
She wasn’t the least bit surprised when she found him in a dark corner with a pretty maid, curled up together on a velvet loveseat.
As Kalie cleared her throat, Wells scowled. “What?”
The maid scrambled upright and dropped into a deep curtsey. The shadows didn’t hide her blush.
Kalie waved her to her feet. “Excuse us, please.”
The maid rushed away, straightening her hair. When she was gone, Kalie whirled on Wells.
“My staff is off limits.”
Smirking, Wells smoothed his rumpled suit. Despite the short notice, he’d found one that fit well. “She didn’t seem to mind.”
“I do.”
“Why?” Wells rose to his feet with catlike grace, and Kalie took a step back. Violins strummed a slow, sensitive tune. “Are you jealous?”
“Of course not,” Kalie snapped, folding her arms.
Mother above, she hated this man. She hated his smirk, his taunting, his shameless womanizing and his completely unapologetic demeanor. He was rude, and arrogant, and what right did he think he had to invade her personal space? He was so close that his ocean-scented cologne was overwhelming. So close that, if she looked past his smirk, he was rather handsome.
“Someone’s blushing,” Wells crooned. The violins sped up as he stepped closer, close enough that she smelled spiced Cavanna Cider on his breath. “Are you lying to me, Princess?”
Kalie didnotlook at his neatly-styled hair, or the immaculate suit emphasizing his muscular figure, or the chiseled features of his sun-bronzed face. Definitely not.
“You’re drunk. You have to be imagining things.”
“I’ve only had a few ciders. I’m definitely sober, and I’ve been told I have perfect vision in every screening I’ve ever done.” Wells stepped closer. Her heart thundered. “So I’ll ask again. Are you lying to me, Princess?”
Kalie glanced at the towering archway that led to the main hall. Her stomach dropped. Julian stood there with his arms crossed, glaring at her. Glancing between him and Wells, she dropped her chin to her chest.
Hadn’t he done the same thing, though, fawning over Selene?
The strumming violins rose from a soft, wintry melody to a rapid,airy tune that reminded her of spring. There were so many ways this could go horribly wrong, but Julian’s glare hovered on her, so she turned to Wells.
