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Heath’s breath caught in his throat, and his eyes flew to the man standing over his brother. King Matlock’s expression didn’t change, but Heath was sure he could see anger. Perhaps it was his unnatural sight, because the rest of the audience seemed to notice nothing amiss. On the contrary, their tension drained away as soon as Percival spoke.
Prince Lachlan hesitated only a moment before stepping forward and taking his cue.
“For Valoria!” he called solemnly.
“For Valoria,” the crowd echoed. The king’s elite knights were ranged along either wall, and they all thumped their fists to their chests in unison, over the embroidered emblem of Valoria on their livery.
It was an impressive sight, but all Heath could think of was Princess Kiana of Kyona, and the respect and affection in her eyes as she’d turned to her grandfather the king after creating her water sculpture. In your service, and for your honor, she’d said, and it had been plain that she’d meant it from the bottom of her heart.
The king gave another short speech, his face and voice still showing no sign of the anger Heath was certain he could see beneath. Then he turned and exited through an antechamber, leaving the audience free to make their way out of the throne room, the spectacle over.
“What is it?” Laura muttered from beside Heath. On her other side, her husband was chatting cheerfully with one of Heath’s cousins, but Laura’s gaze was serious as it rested on Heath’s face. “Why am I being suffocated by the tension rolling out from you?”
Heath let out a long breath. Of course Laura wouldn’t miss his distress. Part of her power was the ability to sense emotion.
“He didn’t say it how he was supposed to,” Heath told her, just as quietly. “He was supposed to swear his allegiance to King Matlock by name, not to ‘the crown’. And he was supposed to swear to use his power in service to His Majesty as well as to Valoria.”
Heath’s brow lowered as he looked at his brother, who had risen from his knees before striding over to speak with Brody.
“Subtle but significant differences,” said Laura dryly, and Heath nodded.
“Exactly.”
“No one else seems tense, though,” Laura observed, her face screwed slightly in concentration as she scanned the people closest to them, presumably using her power to read everyone’s emotions.
“Hopefully no one else noticed,” said Heath. “The wording of the loyalty oath has been a matter of substantial discussion behind closed doors, but most people would have no idea of the final wording.” He scowled. “Prince Lachlan knows it very well, though, and King Matlock most definitely noticed.”
“Are you sure?” Laura pressed. “He didn’t look angry to me. I’ll admit I wasn’t specifically looking for it, but I also didn’t feel any great surge of emotion from him.”
Heath shook his head. “He’s a king. He must be an absolute master at controlling his emotions. Trust me, he was angry.” Heath didn’t voice it aloud, but a bitter voice in his head told him that he would face the consequences of the king’s anger as surely as Percival would.
He turned, and was surprised to find his sister’s eyes fixed not on Percival, but on him.
“I’m worried about you, Heath.”
“About me?” Heath protested. “I’m not the one you need to worry about.”
She shook her head slowly. “I can worry about both my brothers at once, can’t I? However well you might hide them outwardly, you’re not good at controlling your emotions on the inside, Heath. No offense, but when it comes to emotion, you’re a tangled mess. And that’s not normal for you.”
“Yes, well, things have been…complicated,” said Heath noncommittally.
She subjected him to another shrewd look, but all she said was, “I’m glad Edmund and I came to Bryford for the ceremony, anyway.” A shadow of discomfort passed across her face, and she pressed a hand to her mouth for a moment.
“Are you all right?” Heath asked, his irritation with Percival momentarily forgotten. “You don’t seem well.”
“I’m fine,” said Laura dismissively.
Heath stared hard at her, trying to pin down the vague sense that was growing within him, of something more.
“You’re hiding something.”
Laura rolled her eyes. “That’s very dramatic.”
“No,” Heath clarified. “I mean you’re literally hiding something inside you.”
Laura stilled, her eyes widening as she studied Heath. “How…how did you know?”
“How did I know what?” Heath started, then suddenly it fell into place. It was his turn to widen his eyes, and he gaped at her. “Laura, are you…are you going to have a—”
