Page 79 of A Courage of the Chosen

“Thanks, Brodie,” I add.

Callahan’s uncle rumbles another laugh.

“Lord Sellar is the last of the nobles you need to meet, Elsie,” Reyne tells me. “You’re free to mingle now, if you’d like.”

“Thank fuck for that.” It slips out before I can stop it.

Reyne snorts, and Lord Sellar raises a brow at my language. Maybe cussing in front of him isn’t smart. I need to present a good front. But my shoulders twinge from holding my posture, and for a second, I just want to be Elsie, amongst people that know me as that.

“Told you,” Brodie sing-songs.

“Want some wine?” Reyne asks.

I nod eagerly and she hurries off to grab me a drink, Eòghann appearing out of nowhere to escort her, a naked hungriness in his eyes as they rake over the form-fitting dress.

As I step down from the dais, I immediately feel more anonymous than being stood in plain view of everyone, although it’s hard to ignore the eyes that peer my way as I move closer to Callahan.

“I understand you aren’t at court much, Lord Sellar?”

His grin is polite but guarded. “Indeed, Your Majesty. I suspect that’s about to change, given tonight’s events, and my work with Lady Calder. Less of a need for me to operate in such secrecy.”

As if her name summoned her, Lady Calder appears, clad in a gown that’s somewhere between pink and lilac. She curtseys before me for the second time this evening. “Your Majesty.”

Since our conversation before using the Black Truth, Lady Calder has dropped all pretense around me, and is slowly becoming a useful ally. I could grow to like her. Her mind is keen, and she isn’t afraid to speak her opinion.

“Perhaps we should have a drink Lord Sellar? Continue the discussion we didn’t get to finish during our last meeting.” She leans forward. “And to give our queen a moment of peace.”

He doesn’t mind the interruption one bit, if the heat in his eyes as they rake over Lady Calder is anything to go by, and she preens under it.

“Come and find me later,” I tell her before she departs.

I can’t afford to forget what else needs to be done tonight. The traps we need to set.

Am I speaking to the easiest council members first? Completely. I’m dipping my toe into a political chess-game, and warming myself up before taking on the conversations I know will be more challenging.

“Of course,” Lady Calder replies with another curtsey.

That’s going to get old real quick.

Lord Sellar offers her his arm. “Lead the way, my lady.”

Before he leaves, he turns to me and takes my hand, where he presses a kiss to the back of it as he bows again. “I look forward to getting to know you better, Your Majesty.”

Callahan growls, and it only makes his uncle laugh as he ushers Lady Calder away, who is already chatting animatedly with him.

“Was that necessary?” I say to Cal, in the first moment we’ve had alone since Cait arrived to my rooms. “He’s your uncle. He’s just being nice.”

“He’s doing it to piss me off. He wasn’t kidding when he said he’s been waiting for me to choose someone.” Callahan lowers his head so that his breath skitters over the shell of my ear. “You did amazing, Elsie. Màiri would be proud of you.”

The sentiment means a lot, coming from him, and I allow myself a moment to believe it.

“I don’t know whether to thank or throttle whoever made this dress.” The heated statement is just for me, a lust-soaked hush in my mind.

“I’d like to see you try and throttle her. Cait isn’t someone you want to mess with.”

“You sound like you approve?”

“Oh, I do. All that fire in Reyne is hereditary, and Cait is hilarious.”