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His shoulders relax.
“Of course not.” Poppy’s black eyes land on me. “Perfect Wisteria could never do anything wrong.”
Her words nearly cause me to flinch until I realize that I can’t take anything she says to heart. She’s upset right now. So upset that she thought marryingFlorianwas a good idea.
“At least the council won’t bug you about marrying him anymore,” Cypress whispers to me.
Father clears his throat. “The council won’t know. Nobody will. I will send my guards to arrest Florian. I willquietly dissolve the marriage and nobody will be any wiser to what’s happened.”
“WHAT?” Poppy screams.
He ignores her, looking at me. “If the dragons find out, they’ll insist I send my second born daughter instead. Thatcannothappen.”
He’s right, of course. Because as much as Poppy wishes it were so, she could never be the heir. Her magic simply isn’t strong enough and the council would eat her alive. She doesn’t even possess the cunning attitude required—she’s way too passive. Though, maybe she’s not as passive as I once thought. If she were, she never would’ve run off and gotten married. However, her delivery of the news lacked sense. If she had been smart, she would’ve waited to tell Father of her marriage until she was in front of the dragon king. That’s the only way she could’ve stopped the marriage.
Father turns to Poppy again. “You will speak of this marriage to nobody.”
I stiffen as I feel the magic in his words.
He turns to Cypress and I. “That goes for the two of you as well.” He doesn’t bother with compulsion on us—it wouldn’t work. “I’m going to go talk to the guards and have them detain Florian.” He looks at Poppy one last time and shakes his head. Without a word, he turns and leaves the room.
Cypress lets out a low whistle. “Wow. He is furious.”
Poppy huffs and turns to leave.
I ignore her and glance at Cypress. His eyes are wide with shock—an expression I’m certain mirrors my own.
“How can somebody related to us lack so much intelligence?” he asks.
I laugh at his question, bumping him with my elbow. “That’s not a nice thing to say about our sister.”
“I’m serious. She’s got royal blood in her, blood that has been bred by design to be powerful and smart. Clearly, something went wrong with her,” Cypress says.
I don’t know what to say, so I keep my mouth shut. I’ve often wondered the same thing—not that I think my sister is unintelligent, but she is very different than Cypress and me. If I didn’t know any better, I’d question if she were adopted. But that can’t be so. The dragon shifters would figure out if she were. They’d be insulted if we offered them a bride lacking royal blood. And while the dragons aren’t dangerous they also aren’t passive.
“I’m going to go talk to her.”
Cypress cocks an eyebrow. “Are you sure you want to tonight?”
“No.” Especially not after what she said to me. “But she’s our sister. She needs somebody on her side. Father certainly isn’t going to ever take her side.”
“Of course not. You’re the heir and that is exactly how he and the rest of the fae want things.”
I study my brother carefully. His eyes stay blue, but there is bitterness in his words.
He puts a hand on my shoulder. “Good luck with Poppy. Just remember not to take the things she says to heart—she’s jealous.”
She’s jealous of me and I’m jealous of her.
How can she not see that she’s got it made? She’s so lucky not to be stuck in the fae court.
“I’ll be fine,” I promise him, though I doubt the words as I say them. Poppy is really upset and I don’t imagine she’ll be able to be consoled tonight.
Cypress lets his hand fall away, so I turn and head toward Poppy’s room. I can hear her sobs through the door. I knock lightly on it and twist the knob.
“Poppy, can I come in?”
“If you’re here to lecture me, save it.” She wipes under her eyes.
