Page 24

It was… fascinating. And it made me wonder which was therealHaron Val Toric. Not once had she lied to me, but there were obviously many more facets to this woman than I originally realized. Her outburst over that man, Forol, was shocking, made even more unsettling with how willing she was to let me take over looking into him. Something didn't sit well with me about how easily she gave up the topic.

“I remember you from last year, when we requested assistance with Mother’s estate,” Hilra Kina Galmas gushed at Haron’s elbow. Her husband, Highlan Colo Galmas, nodded along with his wife’s sentiments. “I could not speak highlyenoughof your services! We had tried to employ a necromancer previously, and the results were…”

“Less than useful,” Colo chimed in.

Kina waved a gloved hand. “Yes, he was a waste of the exorbitant amount he asked for! He couldn’t even get a clearimage of her in the scrying mirror, much less a single word we could understand.”

Haron laughed lightly, clearly flattered. Her arm was looped around my elbow again, and I hadn’t let it go all night. Hearing the nobility—of which this was not even the second or third account—rain praises on her work made my own chest warm with pride. It was an odd feeling, considering I barely knew her. But she had this…way of making me feel like I had earned a great reward to be associated with her. It was unlike any experience I’ve had with another person.

“I am glad to have been helpful.” Haron bowed her head slightly. “Maybe I have you to thank for the influx of requests from the nobles? At this rate, you may be eligible for a commission.”

“Oh hush!” Kina leaned in, her voice lowered slightly. “I wish there were more honest spellcasters like you. It’s difficult to know if a practitioner’s wages are worth their quality, if you know what I mean.”

“Well, most of those rates are set by their guilds, so it’s difficult to—”

“That doesn’t stop the slimy ones from up-charging, and we both know it. Don’t act like I don’t know you ask below your guild’s set rates.” Kina tilted her head in Haron’s direction, but her next words were obviously for me. “You have found a delightful and hardworking young woman for company tonight, Prince Irin. I am so happy your paths have crossed!”

I pulled Haron a little closer, resting a gloved hand on her bicep covered in intricate black lace to the wrist. It was muscular and toned, certainly not the pliant kind of build the ladies of the court had. “I am starting to see that myself. Your praise of her character makes me grateful she deems me worthy of any of her time.”

The response was for Kina, but my eyes were set on Haron’s face hidden behind the black veil. It did well to hide most of her, but the faintest smile was visible between gaps in the lacy pattern similar to that on her dress. Knowing that beneath the fabric were the most mesmerizing, mismatched eyes and dusting of freckles across her tan face made me itch to snatch it off the first chance I could get her alone.

Kina’s giggle was a little off, finally showing the amount of alcohol she’d partaken of tonight. “Too bad she’s probably not in your stack of bride candidates. I do not envy you having to choose between all the ladies of nobility. No offense, but I’m happy to have a son already married off!”

“My dear,” Colo gently chastised his wife. “I’m sure the prince does not need reminders of all those looming decisions for his coronation. The council likely nips at his heels daily. A good night to you both, milady, Your Highness.”

Haron rose her own glass in acknowledgement before slipping it under the veil to sip. When I found she also favored goldtine, I felt another small connection bind us closer together.

“Have you found what you came for?” As soon as the question left my mouth, I dreaded the answer. It felt unbalanced to ask so shamelessly if Haron would come back to the palace and stay with me a while longer. Especially if she was planning to snap my neck by the end of the night. She was so difficult to read.

Her shoulders rose and fell almost imperceptibly. “My expectations were low to start with, but it doesn’t seem like anyone here knows more about Trisne than what I found on my own. Everyone assumes she just left Gilamorst.”

“Mmm,” I hummed noncommittally. Trying to keep my eagerness down was like trying to keep a geyser from erupting. “I will be sure to involve my spymaster to investigate Trisne’s… whereabouts as well.” It would be foolish to announce to anyone possibly hearing that Trisne Pid was, according to Haron, verydead. Considering she used the woman's body in a resurrection, I doubted it would be helpful to the investigation even if I could get its location out of Haron. She likely took note of everything worth finding.

“I appreciate the gesture, but I don’t think the culprit I’m looking for is stupid enough to be caught by the likes of the royal spymaster.”

I bristled at the dismissal. “You may be the only person in this room who so readily brushes my offers of help aside like they're bothersome bugs.”

Haron scoffed, and I could imagine her eyes rolling. Her head rolled in my direction and sent loose red curls slipping across her shoulder with the motion. It may bother other men to have their date be taller, but I personally enjoyed the chance to peek beneath the lace veil and see the enticing curl of Haron’s burgundy-painted lips.

“You would be surprised how long I’ve had to fend for myself, Prince Irin. Pardon me that I do not fall into your open arms at every hardship. Especially since you deemed my suspicions unfounded when I thought Forol could be involved.”

The sudden venomous bite to her tone had me stiffening my shoulders slightly. So she hadn't completely dropped him, it seemed. “I'd like to remind you that going off on your own… interrogations could result in imprisonment." Maybe it was her straightforward approach or the indomitable spirit I saw that first day at the guild, but I couldn’t see myself ever standing between her and a goal without being run over.

“At risk of offending you,” Haron leaned closer, her voice a husky whisper, “I would like to see you try throwing me into your little dungeon.”

A retort was on my tongue when a Highlan’s son approached us. He bowed low to the both of us and raised his head to Haron. “Good evening, my lady. We had met earlier if you remember?”

“Of course! Sig Val Lerir, correct?”

Sig’s answering smile was blinding.

“I am honored,” he said, reaching to take her free hand lightly and pulling her arm from where it looped through mine. The other still held a glass with remnants of goldtine. “Would you honor me further with a dance? I’ve heard you are quite the skilled dancer.”

Full-blown jealousy reared its ugly head out of nowhere. Behind my mask I was grating my teeth, watching him look up at Haron with those star-struck eyes. There was no fucking way I was letting her go off with this smarmy noble.

“Actually,” I cleared my throat. In a not-so-subtle gesture, my hand wrapped around her lower back to rest on the opposite hip, “I was just about to leave with Lady Haron.” I turned to face her fully. The amusement practically oozed from her as she watched my very immature attempt to whisk her away. “I have… a particularly well-aged bottle of goldtine we could share in my quarters.”

“Well, I do love a good drink.” Gently she set her glass on a nearby table and turned back to Sig. “My apologies, but it seems the prince has not tired of my company yet. Who am I to deny him, right?” The words were innocent enough, but there was a bit of edge to them that gave an entirely different meaning. One that made me equally leery and restless.