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A moment passed between them with unsaid words that she wished were kisses before she cleared her throat. “Torin Blacksteel”—she turned to the girls, who stood like they had just been hypnotised by his dark magic. Kaydence’s mouth was practically hanging open—“meet the empress maids from House Air who will be helping me whilst I am here.” She put out her hand towards Torin. “Lorta, Kaydence, meet Torin Blacksteel.”

They both bowed low, their eyes still wide. She couldn’t quite tell how they were feeling. Astonished? Awed?

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” he said with a smoothness that could have charmed the underwear off a woman of faith. Their faces turned scarlet, and she hoped hers never did that around Torin. It would give him too much satisfaction. “I trust you will take good care of the heir to your coven.” He nodded in Emara’s direction, and his eyes lingered for a second longer than they should have on her face.

“Of course,” Lorta blurted.

“It’s an honour,” Kaydence repeated.

His presence in the room was so staggering, it held every morsel of power and dominance, and for just one second, she saw what he would be like as commander of the Blacksteel Hunting Clan.

Charming, violent, and desirably wicked.

Her breathing halted.

“Well, since everything seems in hand here, I am off to dress down Stryker for having the balls to even touch one of my letters. I will see you at dinner.” His eyes dragged from her face with a smile. “It was lovely to meet you, House Air.” He gave a small bow before the three women, and then took his leave with a grin.

When the door shut, a gust of cool air broke through the room and she wondered if it was her or her maids.

Lorta turned to her, mouth wide. “Okay, let me get this straight. You have both Artem Stryker and Torin Blacksteel as your guards?”

Kaydence was still silently dazed, her eyes a glittering sign of a youthful crush as they still stared at the door.

She couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Yes,” Emara breathed out. “And the third in my cluster is Magin Oxhound, in case you want to fawn over him as well.”

Lorta gasped. “We heard that House Air had gotten a fantastic cluster to protect our empress, but we had no idea!”

Emara laughed, feeling her cheeks heat once more. “They are seriously not that big of a deal.”

Kaydence let out a laugh of her own that was sweet and quick. “You must be the only female in this kingdom not to think so.”

Lorta looked over Emara, admiration filling in her eyes. “I have never wanted to be someone more than I want to be you right now,” she admitted.

Emara laughed as her head dizzied at the girl’s reaction. “Trust me, there are plenty of other girls you could be right now.”

Were her trio that infamous across Caledorna?

Lorta gathered herself, smoothing out her dress. “Okay, let’s get started.”

Lorta had hurled questions towards Emara quicker than a hunter could move, as Kaydence measured her hips, bust, and length.

What is your favourite colour?

What is your preferred fabric?

How much tulle is too much tulle?

Black or grey?

Hair up or hair down?

Diamond or emerald?

Who would she rather kiss, Torin or Artem?

Emara had answered every question she could, but she had pushed her lips together at that question.

Tightly.