I pretended to consider this, but my opinion of him had been sealed the moment he insulted Laurie. “You can beg, but it won’t save you,” I decided.
“And that’s Lady Sworn,” Laurie interjected, winking at the faerie lord. “Isn’t she lovely? Well met, Lord Arthion. Please enjoy my mother’s party. Such a worthy cause, wouldn’t you agree?”
I allowed him to steer me away, and I could feel Lord Arthion glaring daggers at my back. That probably hadn’t been the smartest thing to do, but it had been almost an entire day since I’d insulted a faerie. A girl needed to let loose now and then.
“Who is he to you and why did I instantly hate him?” I asked once we were no longer within earshot.
“Lord Arthion is one of my brother’s most ardent supporters,” Laurie said lightly, nodding at a round-cheeked female with the ears of a deer. She blushed and curtsied. The feather sticking up from the back of her head bobbed. “He will be confirmed as the new Right Hand at Belanor’s coronation.”
My mind was still on the first piece of information he’d just given me. Suddenly I knew why I’d taken such an instant dislike to Lord Arthion, even before he opened his mouth—Belanor’s cologne. I’d smelled it. The courtier either wore it himself, or he’d spoken to Belanor recently enough that it still clung to him.
Any friend of Belanor’s was an enemy of mine.
Laurie stopped once we reached the side of the room, the shadow of a pillar casting half his face into darkness. He crossed his arms and propped his shoulder against the wall. He immediately began to watch the goings-on around us, seeing everything, memorizing small details, tucking them away for later assessment.
I knew I should look away, or hide my face behind the mask. Laurie would notice how hard I was staring at him, and then he’d be unbearable about it.
But I didn’t.
Laurie’s focus moved over me, then darted back, his eyes meeting mine. Caught. I felt my cheeks redden. Even now, I didn’t stop staring. Laurie quirked a brow. I waited for him to make one of his ridiculous comments. But he pushed off the wall, searching my gaze with an expression I’d never seen him wear before. Cool marble greeted my fingertips, and I jumped, realizing that I’d backed up against the pillar. Laurie moved so close that his chest whispered against my nipples, the barest brush that had them standing on end. I looked up at him and swallowed, unnerved by his seriousness. By the need heating between us. What was happening right now? When had Laurie started making me feel like this?
Lensa’s voice cut through us, her tone managing to be annoyed and bored at the same time. “Am I interrupting something?”
I blinked and moved away like I’d been shocked. Laurie didn’t take his eyes off me as he said, “Yes. What’s happening?”
I tried not to blush as I focused on his sister. Princess Lensa Dondarte looked much different than the last time I’d seen her—tonight, in place of the formidable armor, she wore a dress of black leather. Her heart-shaped face was accented by the loose, silver waves that hung over her shoulders and down to her waist. There was no jewelry at her ears or around her neck, but I’d bet all my money that she’d taken the time to hide weapons beneath that flaring skirt. Like me, Lensa wore dark heels where she probably would’ve preferred boots or some other thick-soled shoe that made kicking someone more effective.
Evidently the Seelie Court was strict about footwear.
“Nothing is happening,” Lensa answered, drawing me out of my thoughts. “That’s the problem. I haven’t gotten the signal from Morelli. There’s been no sign of Belanor, either, so I haven’t been able to track his movements.”
Laurie made a dismissive gesture, the silver rings on his fingers flashing. “He’s not coming, but it doesn’t matter. He was irrelevant to tonight’s outcome.”
“How do you know he isn’t coming?” his sister demanded, voicing the question I’d been thinking.
“He would’ve arrived by now. This is a good thing, Lensa. But the longer we stay, the more we risk being present when the ceasefire does end. I believe we’ve fulfilled our purpose in being here. Let’s make the switch and send you on your way, Queen Fortuna.”
“Prince Laurelis!”
“Oh, fuck. No, don’t turn around,” Laurie muttered out of the corner of his mouth. “That’s Lady Trellis. She’s married to the wealthiest selkie in the world, so no one dares to offend her. She wants one of her daughters to be the first selkie to marry into a royal family—say what you will about seals, but they’re relentlessly ambitious. Shit, she’s coming this way. Help me.”
“This is for not telling me about the cherubim,” I chirped back, patting him on the shoulder before I whirled away and pursued another person carrying a tray. This one had some kind of meaty appetizer on it. I could hear Laurie greeting Lady Trellis as I nodded my thanks at the human. The man gave me a dreamy smile in return.
“He acts like himself around you,” Lensa’s voice said from behind. She, too, had abandoned Laurie.
I moved to stand beside her, starting on another appetizer that I’d snatched. “Laurie doesn’t seem like the kind of person to hide who he is,” I remarked.
Lensa scanned the crowd, her eyes bright with the same intelligence and alertness I always saw in Laurie’s. I supposed growing up as the heir to a throne made it necessary, learning how to survive. To protect oneself. In a way, despite his childish tendencies, Laurie had never gotten to have a childhood. I felt a pang of pity for him. I felt another one when I looked over and saw that Lady Trellis had latched onto his arm, physically keeping Laurie from leaving.
“He has his weaknesses,” Lensa said finally, startling me. The pause had been so long that I’d assumed our conversation was over. I turned back to her, but Lensa kept her eyes on Laurie as she continued, “You may have noticed that he’s as vain as a peacock. Still, Laurie took his position seriously. He played the game with the courtiers because he had to.”
“And because he thrives on it,” I countered.
She acknowledged this with a tilt of her head. “True. He did thrive from being king… and now that’s been taken from him. Which is why I should mention that if you cost Laurelis anything else, I will find you and slit your throat.”
Laurie’s gaze met mine at the same moment his sister finished her threat. There must’ve been something in our faces that hinted at tension, because his brow lowered in a silent question. I gave him a reassuring smile, accompanying it with a jaunty wave. From the corner of my mouth I said, “Tabitha is scarier than you, and she already asked about my relationship with Laurie. I’ll tell you what I told her. I consider your brother a friend, and I’d fight anyone who tried to hurt him.”
The subject of our conversation finally succeeded in extracting himself from Lady Trellis. Laurie evaded her hand, his laugh tinkling through the air as if he found her charming. But he was scowling as he returned to us, his face like a stormy sky.
“Infernal creature. Barely escaped with my life,” he muttered. “Is she still watching me?”
I started to respond, but a commotion drew all of our attention to the edge of the dance floor. Lord Arthion was upset about something; he spoke to Simone in a furious whisper, the words so sharp that they sliced through the air. He patted his pockets and his eyes searched the floor. Simone pulled one of the servers aside, her demeanor calm and her movements unhurried.