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That brought me relief, and I closed my eyes, sinking deeper into the steaming bath. I wasn’t looking forward to dining with the king and queen, but for now, Clem had things in hand. Stars bless her.

“If only you’d been there when I ran into Calpurnia and her friends last night.” The words flew out of my mouth before I could stop them.

Clemencia had been reaching for a jar of conditioner, but my words made her freeze in place. “Why’s that, my lady?”

Blazing stars. One moment of trust, of relief, and I lost composure. I needed to be more careful, even around Clemencia.

“I was coming back from the harem with an escort and ran into Calpurnia Vagle and the Ithamai sisters. They harassed me, chased me.” I drew in a deep breath. “They’re displeased that Warden Roar is already engaged.”

“I had wondered.” Clemencia scooped out the conditioner and resumed massaging my scalp.

My eyes widened. “You did?”

“High Lady Ithamai has made it very clear that she wishes to unite east and west by marriage. She has been speaking with the warden for many turns, visiting merchant families too, if they have enough influence. And Lady Calpurnia . . . Well, that would be a good alliance for her house.”

“The queen was a Vagle, and she has vast power,” I murmured. “So how would allying her house with Roar via Calpurnia be to their advantage?”

“Warden Roar controls many gold mines. The crown has always been envious of the Lisika wealth and the seemingly endless gold that comes from his mines. A connection would benefit the Vagles and, hence, the Aabergs.”

“I see.”

“My lady?”

“Yes?”

Clemencia let out a soft breath. “You need to take care around them. Those ladies are powerful. I have not seen most of them use magic, but I’ve heard tales of many Sacred Eight abilities. And then there’s the power of reputation. Theirs weighs so heavily; it’s enough to crush most fae.”

“I’m aware,” I huffed. “Painfully so, as a weak fae of common birth, I need to take care.”

“I will help you,” she affirmed. “That’s what friends do.”

“Thank you, Clem.” My throat tightened as I thought of Anna. She’d been stouthearted too, the best of friends.

Not had been. She is my dearest friend.

I’d save Anna if it was the last thing I did. This arrangement between Roar and me would secure my safe travel south, where I could find us a home. Then, I’d hire someone to extract Anna from the Blood Court.

I tried not to ruminate on the vast quantities of coin one would need for such a dangerous mission because it didn’t matter. I’d do anything, pay anything, to get her out. And Roar would get me started with a heavy purse.

The sound of broken glass and a burst of swearing interrupted my thoughts. I sat up straighter and cast a glance at Clemencia. “The warden is awake. I need to speak with him.”

Clemencia finished with my hair as I scrubbed my skin. Once done, she presented me with a towel as fluffy and white as the faintly flurrying snow outside. Another wrapped my hair, and I dressed in a simple but elegant dress, the color of dark red wine from the Summer Isles. Here, nearly all my gowns came in various shades of red or gold. I didn’t mind, though I preferred shades of blues and purples, but appearances were important at court. They signified power, and that was the name of the game of houses.

Once ready, Clem disappeared to her room, and I entered the suite’s antechamber. Roar sat in a chair, one foot rested on the opposite knee and a hand over his eyes. The glass he’d broken remained on the ground, and as no stain covered the floor, I assumed he’d been trying to drink water.

“Are you well?” I kept my voice soft, so as not to startle him.

He groaned and opened his bloodshot eyes. “Not at all. The king kept me there all night, drinking and . . .” He trailed off.

“I understand.” A true fiancée might have been upset, and perhaps I should have pretended, but what was the point? “You didn’t want to stay.”

“I didn’t. Though I’ll admit, I wish that my frolicking around in a harem all night long affected you a touch more.” He sighed and looked away, still hurt that I’d spurned him.

I frowned. It almost felt like he was trying to make me feel sorry for him, but I did not take the bait and instead decided to pivot the conversation. “Why does the king think his actions were appropriate?”

“I really can’t say. As a bastard-born Falk, one would think he was averse to siring bastards and, by extension, having a harem, but he is not.” Roar shook his head. “King Magnus is a fae of mystery.”

The fact that Magnus had a harem made me think his wife was removed from him. Though they’d made no such appearances at the tourney.