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My teeth ground together. “Talia deserves better than what I chose for her. I can do nothing but attempt to protect her from the evils of our world until my curse is permanent and our bargain no longer valid.”
Hector grunted, still disapproving of my change of heart. Behind me, footsteps announced Talia’s arrival. My blood froze. She scurried into the unlit entryway and stopped short. I stared into her eyes for a long moment, searching for any evidence that she’d heard us. Her brows tilted up and her face appeared flushed from chasing us.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. “Who’s here?”
I inhaled with relief. “My twin brother has sent someone to meet you. Don’t worry, I won’t let him hurt you.”
With a nod toward Hector, I lifted a hand and the doors swung open. As the cool air rushed out into the night ahead of us, I considered all the ways I might destroy my brother once I was confined to my bear form.
A grand carriage rolled up the long drive. Talia, descending the front steps behind me, let out a shocked laugh. Instead of four wheels, there were six, each as tall as a man on a horse. And the carriage walls were layered to look like unfurling flower petals. The vehicle emitted an ephemeral glow. Six horses, each winged, pulled the enormous coach.
Hector shook his head. “That is the ugliest carriage I’ve ever seen.”
From within the glowing golden flower carriage emerged a man in a white suit. The trim of his sleeves and the long tails of his waistcoat glowed brightly. I frowned at the ridiculous display and took a small step in front of Talia.
“You arrived quickly,” I said. No bows were exchanged.
The suited man looked around, ignoring me for a moment. “You got married,” the man replied, his eyes snapping to Talia, “without telling us.”
“I am not obligated to tell my brother anything.”
The man tsked and turned his attention on me. “Yet he takes great interest in your well-being.”
“You are not welcome here,” Hector growled, his body tensing.
The man sniffed in mock offense. “You are not at liberty to turn me away. Besides, you should have been expecting me. The Hunters brought back a report, saying you’d cajoled a mortal into a marriage bargain. Did it work?” The man’s gaze traveled down to my feet. “Pity, I can’t tell. Although, since she’s still standing here, I guess not.”
“What do you want?” I barked.
“I wish to meet your wife.”
I cleared my throat and stepped aside. “My wife, Talia Balcázar Ferrera. Now you may return to the Sun Court.”
She bobbed a wobbly curtsy.
“There’s no need to show respect to this man,” I told her.
He tsked. “You can’t call her your wife if she doesn’t share your real name. In her world, women keep their names, but not here. Oh. She doesn’t know it, does she?”
I stepped closer to her again, allowing my shoulder to slide in front of hers. “She knows enough.”
“Oh, but does she?”
Talia drew a sharp breath and knitted her fingers into mine. Stars, I wish she wouldn’t do things like that.
“Return, Sinsorias. Tell my brother whatever you wish.”
The man leaned forward, putting his glamoured face directly in front of hers, not in a bow or a gesture of respect, but in an offensive, condescending way. I yanked Talia’s hand back, jerking her away from my brother’s courtier.
“Not yet, Romero. I will stay the night, or rather the day, as your strange schedule permits.”
“I permit you nothing.”
“You need not.” The man straightened and sneered at me. “I’ve been ordered by the king to—”
“He’s not king yet.”
“—to take your new wife back to the Sun Palace.”
