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His voice was icy.“She’s on a mission in the desert until the court departs.” Caelia’s face fell at his response. “Maybe you can find something else to occupy your time, like flirting with Xavier.” He spat the words with contempt, his anger towards Caelia for playing with Raenisa’s feelings clear.
Caelia’s eyes flashed with indignation. “I’m not here to flirt with anyone,” she said, her voice rising. “I have a rightful claim to the throne as heir, and I need to prepare myself for when I assume my role.”
She paused for a moment and then looked up at us defiantly. “No one can tell me who to love, Theron.” Her words were strong and sure, but there was an underlying vulnerability in her eyes that caused a flicker of sympathy for her to run through me.
“It’s not love to keep someone on the side so you can follow your dream with no thought of hers. “
Theron met Caelia’s gaze without wavering, which only seemed to make her more determined. “How dare you?”
She stood tall despite how outmatched she was in the situation. She had to see how in the wrong she was, right? Who could profess to love someone while they kept them a secret?
Xadrian sauntered in with his usual sly grace, sensing the tension in the air. “Ah, what’s this? A battle of wills?” He declared with a smirk. “Let me throw my hat into the ring.”
He reached out and placed a hand on Caelia’s shoulder while giving Theron a knowing look. “You can’t be too hard on my sister, Theron,” Xadrian said in a jovial tone. “She’s just trying to find her place in the world, like all of us.”
Theron didn’t take the bait and instead gave Xadrian a stern glare. “Then she can do it without stringing Raenisa along.”
“My sister’s relationships are her own business that I’d never dream of interfering in. Just like no one would try to separate you from your charming concubine, right?”
He smiled, but the threat was there, and Theron growled. My eyes locked on Xadrian’s necklace, the silvery metal glinting in the candlelight calling me like a Sirin. I tore my gaze away from the jewelry and focused on the conversation. The tension was thick; anger emanating from Theron like a storm cloud.
“Be careful with your threats, Xadrian,” Theron said in a low voice. “Or you’ll get more than you bargained for.”
Xadrian laughed, his eyes glinting with amusement. “I don’t want to fight you, Theron. I’m here to enjoy the... festivities. The show at the emperor’s party last night was particularly… pleasurable. Wouldn’t you agree?” His gaze lingered on me and Theron’s grip on my waist tightened.
“I think it’s time for you to move along,” he snapped.
Caelia narrowed her eyes. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me where Raenisa is.”
“Why? Did you stop courting Xavier?”
When she refused to answer, he stood, dragging me up with him. “Didn’t think so.”
A wave of relief filled me as we left the tension behind and headed towards the food spread out in the banquet hall. But before we could reach the table, Theodas Vennorin and his brothers waylaid us. Theodas sneered at Theron, his brother with the silver eye beside him smirking.
“Theron and his whore. What a surprise.”
“What do you want?” Theron demanded, his voice taking on a dangerous edge.
Theodas stepped forward and crossed his arms. “We just wanted to talk,” he said in a flat tone. His brothers moved closer to surround us.
“About what?”
“There’s a rumor going around that you’re trying to steal my position,” Theodas said, advancing another step toward us. “That would be unwise.”
Trevyr’s smile was bitter. “Vennorins don’t take it lightly when someone takes what’s ours. We repay it in kind.” His eyes darted to me, making his intentions clear.
Theron stepped between us, blocking their view of me with his body. “Kael, why don’t you go ahead and find a table? I’ll be there in a second.”
I held his stare for a long moment, a sense of unease creeping over me. What was Theron up to? I didn’t want to leave him by himself, surrounded by enemies. I spun, looking for Raenisa and the other Harvestmen before I remembered they weren’t here. When did I start thinking of Raenisa as an ally rather than an enemy? And why should I care about what happens to Theron? I hated him. They’d be doing me a favor, right?
I turned, walking away towards the food, but that wasn’t my true destination. It was time to find Rhazien and end this charade once and for all.
As I stepped onto the patio, I felt the weight of someone’s gaze on my back. I looked behind me and discovered Tannethe staring at me, her sharp eyes drilling holes into my skull. She had been waiting for me to separate from Theron, and she had me cornered.
“You’re a sneaky one, aren’t you?” Tannethe said, her voice dripping with contempt. “I’ve been watching you. It’s bad enough that you’ve wrapped Theron around your finger, but now you’re after Xadrian.” She tsked. “Someone has a thing for second sons.”
Anger boiled inside me, but I kept my temper in check. “I’m not trying to steal anyone from you,” I said, glowering at her. “Maybe if you weren’t so insufferable, you wouldn’t be so desperate for attention.”
