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I’d never seen anyone with a tattoo like Prince Urban’s before. I’d had no idea it was part of some kind of custom.
“Oh, it’s incredible,” Nicolette started, lighting up, only for Yasmin to snort.
“Idiotic, she means.”
After sending a pointed glare Yasmin’s way, Nicolette turned back to me, her eyes alight with excitement. “Only these super important magic priestess women in High Cliff can perform the ritual or it won’t work. They burn the holy trees in that region and take the leftover ashes to use in an ink to tattoo the mark of a heart within a circle right by that person’s left eye. And once that’s done—”
“Ladies,” a dry voice from the doorway interrupted, making me want to growl because I’d really wanted to hear the rest of Nicolette’s story.
I glanced up to find Soren standing stiffly in the entrance of the room, his hands folded behind his back.
My husband bowed formally to us. “I’ve come to collect you for dinner.”
“Ohh,” Nicolette cheered, leaping from her chair. “Thank God it’s time to eat. I bet he’s there. I can’t wait to see him again.” She raced from the room without waiting for anyone else. As I struggled to stand, two of Yasmin’s maids came forward to take her hands and help her rise.
Seeing how much effort it was taking me with my full, pregnant belly to get out of my own chair, my husband sighed impatiently and stepped forward to offer me a hand.
I sent him a tight smile. “Thank you.”
Nodding, he eyed the tangle of yarn I set on my abandoned seat and grimaced. “What is that?”
“Oh.” I blushed my embarrassment. “I’ve been trying my hand at crochet. Attempting to make booties for the baby.”
“Good Lord, is that what you’re doing?” Yasmin asked with a laugh. “Who would’ve guessed?”
Her words hurt, and I’m afraid I didn’t conceal the crease between my brows before Soren caught the look. With a placating smile, he leaned toward me and murmured, “I’m sure you’ll improve with time.”
I nodded at him, my smile faint.
Since Yasmin was the queen, Soren held out his elbow to her to escort her to the dining hall, because it was only right for the lady with the highest title in the room to be escorted before anyone else. And I swear, no one stood on propriety as much as my husband did.
As he led her away, I followed them, setting my hand on my stomach when the child within shifted. I loved it when the baby moved. I always wondered what she was thinking. Had my movement frightened her, or did she like the ride? I kept smoothing my fingers over her, hoping I was soothing her in case she was scared. I didn’t want my child to fear anything. I wanted her to be brave enough to rule the world if she so desired.
“Ah, there’s my lovely bride,” Caulder’s boisterous voice called as soon as we entered the dining room moments later.
I liked how enamored the king was of my sister. He spoiled her mercilessly, and she’d turned out quite content because of it. He was a good man all around: kind and generous, yet protective of his people.
There was, of course, a part of me that was jealous he’d chosen Yasmin and not me to be his wife. Yasmin and I had become engaged to our husbands on the same evening. My father had invited the king and his cousin to dine with us so Caulder could pick which sister he wanted. The unpicked sister was left to Soren by default.
Truth be told, I was glad I hadn’t become the queen. That was a position I didn’t relish. I would hate having so much of the public eye on me. And there was no fault with Soren. He’d never mistreated me. But I’d always felt more comfortable around Caulder than I did with Soren. There was just something more open and pleasant to him. Plus, I had a feeling I wouldn’t be so tense and worr
ied during all our personal contact if Caulder had ended up in my bed.
Not that any of that was neither here nor there, just silly wishful thinking. I was relieved the small splash of jealousy I had wasn’t strong enough to eat me from within. And Soren had certainly never done anything to displease me. He just hadn’t done anything to necessarily please me, either.
“Brentley’s fetching Princess Allera and Prince Urban as we speak,” Caulder was telling his wife as Soren led her to the seat next to him. “As soon as they arrive, we may begin.”
Yasmin sent him a stiff, bitter smile. “So kind of them to make us wait.”
“Yasmin,” her husband chided softly as I sat myself next to her. He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “They’ve only just arrived. They know nothing yet of our schedules or customs. Give them a chance. Please. We need this alliance.”
“Of course, darling.” My sister nodded gracefully to her husband only to turn to me and roll her eyes before whispering for my ears alone, “Soren certainly doesn’t think we need the alliance. He thinks we should’ve aligned with Far Shore instead.”
I held my tongue. But my, my. She and Soren certainly talked a lot. Besides, it probably wouldn’t do for me to disagree with my own husband, because I had to side with Caulder on this topic.
Our kingdom wasn’t even sixty years old. Being so young made us vulnerable. But worse than that, we’d grown and prospered far too quickly for our own safety. And news of our wealth was spreading. In the past handful of years, we’d become a ticking time bomb with a target on our backs. It would only be a matter of time before someone tried to take what we had, and sadly, we were sorely lacking in defense if they did. Any chance we had to align ourselves with a powerful, intimidatingly strong, and wiser kingdom, we should take, especially one with an army like High Cliff’s—not Far Shore’s.
Besides, I thought Donnelly could learn much from a kingdom as old and respected as High Cliff.
