Deean offers me a slap on the back of my head as he passes, but eventually finds his seat. It’s hard to think he’s nearly two years older than me.
“Where is your other brother?” Mother asks, taking a sip of wine.
Deean shrugs. “The last time I saw him was with…”
His sentence dies when Marcel, our oldest brother, strolls in. It’s not his presence that keeps us quiet, but the woman he strolls in with.
She is full-figured with most of her hair pinned up, only leaving a few curly strands to wander over the deep complexion of her skin. Her lips are painted a deadly red and she has on a dress to match.
Deean raises his eyebrows at me when I look back and together our gazes float to our mother.
“Family,” Marcel announces himself, adjusting a button on his black coat that runs wild with gold stitching.
Marcel looks more like my father and me. Same russet skin and thick black eyebrows that arch over hazel eyes.
The woman bows and goes to sit in the chair across from me, next to my brother. She doesn’t get halfway before a cane occupies her seat.
My grandmother, appearing out of nowhere, blocks the woman from joining us at the table.
My mother raises her eyebrows at me as she takes a sip of wine, covering up a grin.
“Marcel,” my grandmother says, “did you miss the part about this being a family breakfast?”
My grandmother’s lips thin out as her eyes focus on my brother. Sensing how vexed she is, he answers quickly, “She simply wanted to know what breakfast in a palace was like. What’s the issue?”
“Because she hasn’t had that experience before?” Deean whispers while cutting into a sausage, but Marcel waves him off.
“Are you, his wife?” Gran asks her.
The woman looks around the room, flustered. “No, but?—”
“Betrothed?”
“Not yet, but?—”
“Did you get an invitation to this breakfast from either my son—your king—or my daughter-in-law—your queen?” The girl doesn’t try answering this time. “I thought so.” My grandmother turns to a guard. “I’m sure you’re a lovely girl, but this is a family affair. This man will escort you out.” The woman looks towards my brother, who looks to have forgotten her entirely as he eats like he’s the only one at the table.
The girl doesn’t wait to be escorted out, she gives a half bow before running out of the room.
Gran takes her seat and cuts her eyes at Marcel. “Must you be so careless?”
“You’re the one who kicked her out. I cared enough to let her at least join us for breakfast.” Marcel licks a finger.
Gran mumbles under her breath. We all know she isn’t in favor of Marcel taking the throne after my father. His every move has been the subject of her scrutiny. But if a part of him cares, he’s good at not showing it.
“Good morning to you too, Mom,” Father says, directing the conversation to something more positive.
“Iann my boy,” Gran shouts, ignoring my father and waving off the servant who offers her wine. “It’s been too long. Tell us what you found in Diamondhead.”
“Yes,” Marcel says before taking a sip of wine. “Do tell us all about your grand adventure.”
Gran doesn’t turn to him, only exhales loud enough for us all to hear.
My eyes lock with Marcel and his annoyance subsides. “No really. Tell us, brother.”
This time, he says it with sincerity. I straighten myself in my seat, ready to share every detail. “At first, we thought the entire trip was a waste. Found nothing for two months and every clue we had about the diamonds hidden deep in the mountains led to nothing but dead ends.”
“So, you found nothing?” Deean interjects. “That’s rather boring.”
