"Not really, no." Liam studied Siotha. "Congratulations on that, by the way. Or, condolences, depending on your point of view."
I tilted my head, noticing his pale green eyes and light brown skin. "You're a half-blood."
Ferris winced and ran a hand down his face. I bit my tongue, realizing I shouldn't have blurted that out.
"Yes," Liam said, sounding almost amused. "I am."
"But I thought you and Mare?—”
"Were siblings?" Laiserian interjected. "They are."
The elder prince and Liam exchanged strange looks. I couldn't for the life of me read them, but whatever passed between them in the silence, Liam stepped back, as though afraid.
"Ah.” Laiserian pivoted toward the entrance. "She's arrived."
The doors creaked open, held apart by a pair of brightspears. A stunning Fireborn entered, and the room hushed.
A ruby gown trailed behind her, edges hemmed with gold. Hair like fire gathered on her head and fell in curls around her face. Her eyes locked on me, and she strayed from her escort, despite their protests.
Lady Brighid ignored Ferris, ignored Laiserian. Her mouth twisted into a smile. “Muirashi’s controversial Paragon. I learned you were here only recently.”
“My apologies,” I said. “I did not mean to crash your wedding.”
“Crash?” She smiled. “No. I was just thinking, how lucky I must be. For something as mundane as a lady’s wedding to become so much more: an event that will go down in history.”
Chapter 56
Mare
Brighid would have been beautiful, had she not looked so terribly sad. She seemed less a bride and more a corpse, dressed in her finest before being lowered into the ground.
I turned away from her to see that a third Solheart had departed the queen's entourage to join us. My limbs stiffened, and I reached for my sword belt. My fingers swept through the air—I had not worn Cierthine tonight.
Lord Sorley dressed in blinding white. He looked no different than he had in Vaf’s memory: clean-shaven with a wide jaw and a memorable beauty spot under his eye.
Reese’s father, Lord Tiernan, nodded to Sorley. “She’s lovely, Eamon.”
“Isn’t she?” Sorley smiled. Slimy, self-satisfied. I wanted to rip it from his face.
My mouth moved before I could stop myself. “This is unusual, isn’t it?” I blurted out. “For a Solheart lord to marry a lesser Fireborn?”
Sorley took a step toward me. “Unusual for a first marriage, perhaps. My late wife already bore me legitimate children. I simply yearn for companionship.”
Every word of his response sent fire rolling through my veins.
Lord Tiernan's eyes narrowed. “You will not speak until you are spoken to.”
“Oh, it's alright.” Sorley waved his hand. “She's a special case, is she not? A Paragon in the making?”
“She is not a Paragon yet.” Reese’s father glared at me, waiting for me to apologize, to bow my head.
I would not. I would rather peel my skin off than apologize to that monster. Setting my jaw, I glowered at the men before me.
Reese’s brother met my stare. A smirk slowly spread across his lips.
A warm hand touched my shoulder. “Excuse me, dear,” Brighid said, slipping between Reese and me. “I need to greet my guests.”
Smiling sweetly, Brighid offered a hand, and Sorley took it.
