“Understood,” Cormal said gravely because he was no fool.
She narrowed her eyes even more. “I guess Perian and Brannal didn’t choose to do the same.”
“No,” Cormal agreed. “Perian was gracious enough to forgive me. Brannal is watching me like a hawk.”
“I knew there was a reason I liked Brannal,” she said with a smile. “I’ll be watching you, too.”
“I expect nothing less,” Cormal agreed smoothly.
“Renny, why are you here?” Kinan interjected a bit desperately. “Not that it’s not lovely to see you, but I could do with fewer threats before breakfast.”
The Princess pouted. “Mother says I’m not allowed to join in the discussion this morning. I told her it involves me as much as you! Perian’smyfriend! You’remybrother!”
And there was absolutely no way, Cormal realized, that the Queen was going to accept both her children in a room with that group of people. Absolutely no way.
“I promise to fill you in,” Kinan said.
“I’m not a child,” she argued, face screwed up, looking like she would have stomped her foot if she hadn’t been sitting on the bed.
“No,” Kinan agreed. “You’re the second in line to the throne. And if something happens to me and Mother, then you’ll be Queen.”
She met his gaze, and her expression turned pensive. “Does Mother really still think Perian’s going to hurt anyone?”
“I hope not,” Kinan answered. “But the truth of the matter is that hecould, even if he won’t. Mother won’t want us all together if it’s possible to avoid it. And I need to advocate for myself, Renny. I have to.”
Cormal would never have told her all that, but to his surprise, it cut right through her anger.
“No, I see that.” She pouted, but it was clearly more for show now. “I really wanted to be there.”
“I’m sorry,” Kinan said with a sympathetic expression. “But I really will tell you everything that happens. And you know that I’ll do everything I can to ensure that Perian and the others aren’t harmed. They’re here to help, and they should never be punished for that.”
She nodded resolutely. “All right. As long as you do a really good job. And if Mother is about to make any stupid decisions, you tell her that she has to talk to me first.” She glared at Cormal. “She makes stupid decisions sometimes.”
“I promise that I’m fighting for Kinan and Perian and the others,” Cormal told her. “I know I made a mistake. We’re all trying to explain this in a way that lets the Queen acknowledge the same. I will take all the blame if that’s what needs to happen.”
“Please stop trying to sacrifice yourself,” Kinan groaned. “It’s infuriating.”
Cormal looked at him. “This is bigger than us. We’re fighting for a lot.”
Kinan let out a huff. “At least don’tvolunteer, all right? Don’t make that the first suggestion.”
“I won’t do that,” Cormal promised.
Not looking entirely satisfied, Kinan nodded. Then he looked at his sister.
“Scoot,” he said. “We’ve got to get ready for the day, and I’m pretty sure you don’t want us to get out of bed while you’re here.”
She made a disgusted face once she gathered that Cormal was naked, and scooted. Cormal kind of wished he’d been naked for more fun reasons. There wasn’t time for it now, either. He gotready quickly, emerging from the water closet to find that Kinan had even had some of his clothes brought here.
Cormal imagined the rumor mill was already going double time. He hoped it wouldn’t have any negative impacts for them. At the same time, it caused a warm glow every time Kinan proudly chose him.
Cormal’s stomach was in knots by the time breakfast arrived, but he made himself choke it down. He needed to be at his best. He had to be logical, eloquent… and change a queen’s mind.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Cormal
It was a sober, nervous-looking group that presented themselves at the Queen’s receiving room for ten o’clock. Molun, Arvus, and Trill hadn’t come in order to protect Trill. If they came now, there would be no hiding what Trill was—or at least, everyone would assume he was a carnalion. Althoughpeople might guess, it wasn’t confirmed right now, since Trill had already been at the castle.
