Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
“I feel as though you forget, often, that you are the prince’s consort. Do you? Is your mind afflicted?”
“I—no,” I snapped at him.
He huffed out an annoyed breath. “You do realize that if you decided you wanted the entire entryway of the palace redone in pink marble, that would happen.”
“Is there even such a thing as pink—”
“If you wanted everyone who visited the palace to have to wear green from head to toe to be received, that would be a new requirement.”
“Why would you think green would be—”
“So certainly, if you wanted crumbling old scrolls to be translated before they turn to dust, I would think that would be directly at the top of your list.”
“Really?”
“Frankly, I’m surprised you didn’t have that work started the moment you learned there was information about you in the archives.”
“I had no idea I could give a command and that would be it. Done. No questions asked.”
“I’m sure Varic would have ordered it for you, but he’s been busy.”
Understatement of the year.
“But honestly, Jason, you can do whatever you want. You’re the prince’s consort, and as such, I bet Varic thought you already had someone working on that.”
He probably did. “I need to find someone capable of—”
“You need a team. Perhaps start by asking Althea and Eyphah, Lady Eudora’s children. They are both scholars and archaeologists and have recently returned from a dig in Spain. I know both crave entry into the hypogeum, but as the children of a courtesan, they’re not allowed entrance.”
I scowled at him.
“What?”
“You should be cadeyrn, for fuck’s sake. You know everyone, your memory is scary, and you’ve been alive for—doesn’t matter. The king should have named you.”
“Yes. He should have.” He glanced over at the king. “But he didn’t trust me, and then it turned out that I was right and Gideon was everything I said he was, beginning with a traitor. Now the king can’t look me in the eye.”
“But—”
“More importantly, when he found out Gideon and I were lovers, he couldn’t even imagine how a secret like that had escaped him.”
The king could have saved himself years of heartbreak if he’d only listened to Zev.
“It’s all the fucking,” Zev said flatly. “When you fill your days with pursuit of only the flesh, it’s hard to notice anything else.”
I was glad the king was on the other side of the room and lost in his thoughts. It was best he didn’t hear this conversation. Though lately, the king was so distracted—sometimes happily, and other times, like now, he seemed almost in pain. I wasn’t sure he would have done anything to Zev even if he had overheard us. Not that I was going to take that chance with the life of my friend.
I was about to say something when I noticed Zev bowing. Standing, I found Sabira there, smiling at me.
“Hi,” I said, utterly enchanted with her.
Moving forward, she put her hand on my cheek. “You know, if any man had ever looked at me as you do, perhaps I might have wanted to keep one for more than a night.” Her laugh made me grin.
Curiously, she turned to Zev then, put her hand in his hair a moment so he straightened, and then put her hand over his heart and whispered something to him.
He nodded, and his lip curled ever so slightly in the corner.
“I want to know about that,” I told Sabira. “Both you and the queen. I want to hear.”
“Pardon me?”
I cleared my throat. “I would be interested to hear why you like him so much.”
“Well, he is very charming.”
I groaned, and Sabira chuckled.
“First,” Zev said, like I was tiring him, “perhaps mention to the countess who you want added to the guest list for your wedding.”
I had to think a second. “Oh, yeah, would you please add Lady Eudora and her children, Althea and Eyphah. I want to speak to them.”
“Of course,” she agreed with an imperious nod. “At least Eudora can read, and I understand her children are both educated.”
I tsked at her. “You hate all the courtesans.”
Zev gasped, but Sabira cackled evilly. “I do hate them, you’re right. But if you want them, you shall have them. Any other whores you’d like in attendance?”
“No, Countess.” I sighed deeply. “May I hug you?”
She tutted. “You never have to ask. We’re family. Do you ask Isabella?”
“I did at first.” I stepped forward and wrapped her in my arms.
She melted against me, hugging me tight. We stood there together, embracing, and when we eased back, I was surprised that the king was right there, close.
“Sabira,” he husked.
She crossed her arms. “You’re weighed down with all this, Messina. Why not give it in its entirety to Varic? It’s not your place to protect Decimus anymore over a promise you made to your father.”
His face clenched like he was in pain, and his eyes narrowed as though to keep himself from crying. When he started shaking, I reached out and grasped his shoulder.