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But like everything else, that had been an illusion.
“That much, I already knew.” I sized him up, standing in the center of my bedroom, that odd armor of his flat and black now that the light was gone. “Since we are all traitors to the cause, and the Shadow King would have no compunctions spiking our heads on the Keep’s walls, I have demands. You can call them requests, if that makes you feel better, but I will be getting all of them.”
As his glower deepened, I flicked up my middle finger with a grin. “One. You or Raz will teach me to control my magic. Two, you will teach me to ride a horse.”
“I’m the king’s fucking general, I can’t…” I just stared him down, two fingers raised in the air between us and he snapped his mouth shut.
“Three. One of you will teach me how to handle a sword, I do not care who. Call it…my royal training, if you want. I expect my father will be thrilled I’m eager to learn how to kill things.”
“Is that all,princess?” Zor’s lip curled up, his eyes sharp and flat.
“For now.” I turned my back on him, a minion dismissed.
A prickle of regret went through me at the way I was behaving and I shut that weak, worthless feeling down.
They’d used me. Just like they’d used Adele.
All of them, even Torin. Now I’d use them right back to make myself strong, because the day was coming when I’d have to face one or both kings and when that day came, I very much doubted Zor, Raz, Tavion or Tristan would have my back.
No, I’d be on my own. Just like always.
37
ANARIA
Iwas wrapped tightly in my blankets the next morning when Sophie came in to open my drapes. She went to peel back the bed, I shook my head.
“I would like a seamstress sent in, Sophie. I have a request for some new gowns.”
“But you have new gowns, my princess.” She gestured to the slips of fabric hanging in the armoire. “Many of them.” But from her sour expression, she disapproved, just as much as I did.
“My father wants me on display, doesn’t he?” Her hand paused on one of the dresses long enough for her face to tighten in disgust as I continued on. “For the royals who fill his throne room. For the available males?”
She glanced to the door, “Yes. There are several powerful Solarys families with sons looking for a wife. The bidding for your hand is up to five million gilder.”
“Well, that won’t make Tristan DeVayne happy, will it? He only got one million for bringing me back alive. I get five times that, simply for marrying some poor sot.”
A snort exploded out of Sophie before she could stop herself.Perhaps I could trust her after all.
“A seamstress, Sophie. She doesn’t have to be the best, but she does have to be…able to keep a secret.” After a last-minute debate with myself, I flung off my covers, and her eyes went straight to the cuffs banded around each arm.
This was my first test.
To see if I was a good judge of character. If I was a terrible one…then I supposed I’d be acquainting myself with the Shadow King’s prison instead of attending court today.
But if I was right…
“I know just the one, princess.” Sophie contemplated the iron bands, her gaze narrowing. “We shall tell them you are magic sick from your journey here. Crossing through the ward often has lasting effects and Paelonius iron is rumored to help. If we play this correctly, no one will be the wiser.”
* * *
I expectedthe seamstress would have questions, but Sophie handled her deftly, whispering I’d only just crossed over the border a day ago, and had been feeling unwell ever since. That one of the healers had provided the iron, with an order for me to stay in bed.
I attempted to act magic-sick—whatever that was—while I gave her clear, precise instructions about what I wanted.
I’d attended Evangeline Ravenshade enough times to know how a proper fitting went and within the hour she was sewing me into my first gown, a high-necked, long-sleeved affair that made me look like a spinster, but the fitted bodice was sprinkled in sapphires and sparkled like the night sky.
“I shall bring more dresses tomorrow, my princess.” The seamstress ducked her head as she stepped away. “Even if I have to work all night.”
