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A pleasant flush of heat warmed me through as he focused all his attention on me. It was nice to be looked at like I was something precious, not just a creature to profit from. After pulling out my chair and making sure I was seated, the lord went back to his seat at the opposite end of the table.

“This is quite large.” I gestured to the table and the platters of food, meats, cheeses, fruits, and breads of every sort. Pitchers of juice sat on a smaller table to the side. “Are more joining?”

“It’s middling. Not as intimate as where you ate the day we met, but not as grand as my formal dining room. And today it is just us.” He paused. “We can move, though, if the size makes you uncomfortable.”

“Not if it means leaving this spread.” My stomach gave a loud growl.

“Take what you wish,” he urged with a dry chuckle. “I instructed others not to interrupt us, so no servants will swoop in. I thought you might like privacy to discuss matters.”

Matters. That had to mean the engagement.

“Very well then.” I poured a cup of apple juice before piling food onto my plate. Food had to come before our discussion.

The warden watched me. An expression between amusement and astonishment rippling across his face as he picked at a plate of fruit. It appeared I wasn’t the only one experiencing many firsts. I suspected that he hadn’t seen someone starved of good food in the quantities they desired.

A roll dusted with a fragrant spice I didn’t know the name of called to me, and I took a huge bite. A groan escaped me. “What is this?”

“A cinnamon roll,” he replied.

“Whoever came up with this is a genius.” I devoured the roll, not at all caring that I looked like an animal. Once I finished, my hunger had somewhat dimmed, and I decided it would be kind to put an end to the questions swimming in his eyes. “So you wish to know my answer, my lord?”

The warden took a bite of his own food. “If you’re ready to speak it.”

I was. In such a short time, my hesitation had vanished because why would I rebuke such an opportunity? Such a gift?

I nodded. “I am. I will do it.”

“You’ll become my fake fiancée?” He set down his fork.

“I will. For passage to the Summer Court and a sum of gold.” Unable to stop myself from pigging out, I took a bite of a wedge of cheese. For a moment, my eyes shuttered closed in ecstasy. Burning stars, everything tasted delicious!

“Money is no issue. You will have whatever you wish and go where you wish.” His eyes gleamed. “Thank you, Neve. You have no idea how much this means to me.”

“No one wants to be forced into a marriage.” I wetted my tongue with the sweet apple juice. Blood slaves were not required to wed, but some were forced to mate and produce more slaves. “The practice is backward, isn’t it, Warden Roar?”

He smiled. “When in private or in my castle, please do call me Roar. As my fiancée, that is only natural. And you don’t mind me calling you by yours?”

“I don’t,” I said, though inside I squirmed a little at the thought of being so familiar with a high lord. To calm myself, I took another bite of fruit from a platter.

Though I’d slipped with Clemencia, I’d been careful to stick with formalities around the warden, just as I always did with lords in the Blood Court. Using his given name openly and with him would take some getting used to.

“Wonderful. At court, we will need to be more formal, but it is unnecessary here, in my home and among my people.” He winked as if sharing a joke. “Now, as you said, the practice of arranging is backwards. Actually, the Courting Festival has been out of fashion for many turns. That King Magnus is bringing it back so suddenly is curious.”

“Why do you think he brought it about?”

Roar shook his head. “Since receiving the invitation, I’ve pondered that many times and still cannot say, though I hope to learn his reasonings when we arrive in Avaldenn.”

Upon hearing the name of the capital of the Winter Court, I froze. Soon, I’d be in the company of the king and queen and would stay at the palace! And the Winter Court was rumored to be very cutthroat. I needed to ready myself . . .

“You mentioned a tutor,” I said. “I’m afraid that I will require a lot of instruction before we go. Maybe more than you can imagine.”

“I’ve thought that through,” the warden said with a nonchalant wave of his hand. “Once we sign the contract, those lessons will begin today, if you’re up for it?”

“How long until we must travel again?” I’d slept for so long, I wasn’t sure I recalled correctly what he’d said before.

His eyebrows furrowed. “We have five days, including today, before we must set out. We must leave early on the sixth to make it to court on time.”

That wasn’t much time at all. I shoved another wedge of cheese into my mouth. “Then, I agree, we must not delay. Let’s sign the contract and get on with it.”