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“Even if he did, I think he would still look down on Luccan.” The way he’d said it led me to believe that. Now that I had some distance, Roar’s beliefs struck me as inconsistent. He’d pretend to be engaged to me, a blood slave, but dislike a person who was born out of wedlock? There had to be a history I was unaware of.

“Perhaps. Sometimes nobles are willing to overlook a slight of blood. Though they rarely forget.”

I got the sense he was speaking of his father, a known Falk bastard.

We climbed the steps to the manor house. At the top, Vale instructed the two Clawsguards we’d brought with us to wait outside.

“There will be no need for you to hover in my friend’s home,” Vale said when one looked ready to protest. “He has protection too.” He gestured to the gate, and the guards fell back to stand on either side of the door.

Luccan Riis’s home rose before me, three stories high, an unassuming off-white color trimmed with the red shade of House Riis. The only unusual thing about it was a spiderweb painted over the front door. Another nod to Luccan’s noble house.

The door opened before we could knock, and to my surprise, Luccan stood before us. “Saw you out the window. What have I done to earn the pleasure of a visit from Vale and hisstunning wife?” Luccan winked and in spite of myself, heat rose in my cheeks. I knew little of this tall, broad male, save that his father was the king’s spymaster and Clemencia liked him. But with his long red hair and dark brown eyes, Luccan was very handsome. He also had the most stunning pair of wings I’d ever seen; red veined with orange and yellow so that they almost looked to be made of flame.

“What are Filip and me? Gryphon dung?” Sian arched a playful eyebrow.

“Compared to the new princess, I’d say so.” Luccan openedthe door wider. “Thank the stars you don’t smell like it, or I wouldn’t be letting you in.”

“I’d like to see you try to stop me from coming inside, you prick. Somecabal brotheryou are,” Sian muttered.

“I do love that term that Princess Saga cooked up. It’s clandestine and mysterious! She has such a way with words, your sister.” Luccan shot Vale an amused glance.

The prince rolled his eyes, like he did when Saga used the term, but I suspected that was simply to irritate his sibling because the smile on Vale’s lips told me he was warming to the term too.

Despite Luccan’s ribbing, he exchanged playful shoulder punches with Sian as we entered the home. Filip watched the exchange with longing in his golden eyes. I suspected that the younger son of House Balik didn’t have as close a circle of friends.

“How did you know about Neve and me? You weren’t at the gathering this morning at the palace, or were you?”

“It’s the talk of the city.” Luccan grinned.

As Luccan’s father, Lord Riis, had intended.

“Right.” Vale seemed momentarily astonished before collecting himself. “Might we use your sparring facilities?”

The eldest Riis son’s eyebrows rose. “Of course. We’re having a bit of fun now.” He cut me an amused glance. “Did you bring your wife to show off, or . . .” His nostrils flared. “Is that blood?”

My brow furrowed. None of us had been injured, only the two Clawsguards and they were on their way to the castle. How was Luccan smelling that?

“Luccan has a powerful sense of smell,” Vale explained. “Nearly as strong as a vampire’s.”

“And you still loved Clemencia’s perfume?” My hands slapped over my mouth. Burning moon! I couldn’t believe I’d said that!

Luccan’s eyes brightened. “You and your lady-in-waiting spoke of me, did you? Where is she?”

“I’m not sure. She had to take leave.”

Technically, the truth. I didn’t know where Clemencia was at this exact moment. And if Lord Leyv Riis hadn’t told his son about what had happened last night, then I shouldn’t either. I’d let Vale handle that.

“Oh.” Luccan’s face fell a touch. “Pity. She was such a light at court.”

“Yes, she is,” I agreed.

He turned back to Vale. “Now, the blood?”

“First, why weren’t you at the castle this morning?” Vale replied. “All the other Sacred Eight were.”

He, too, wondered what the Lord of Tongues had told his sons.

“After Vale threatened to cut off the king’s hands at the feast, I wanted a bit of distance from the palace,” Luccan continued. “Arie and Thantrel wanted some as well. As we live in the city, Frostveil guards had no objections to letting us slip out. We plan to return soon though, unless there’s a reason we shouldn’t do so?”