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“How did you come to travel with Audra?” Lady Ellaine asks, stunned.

“It’s an interesting story, really.” Lawrence smirks at Audra before he turns back to her mother. “You see, your daughter kidnapped us.”

22

Henrik

If Lawrence wereanyone but the crown prince, there’s a good chance Audra would set him on fire—or at least singe him a little. She crosses her arms, giving the prince a venomous look as magic sparks at her fingertips.

“Kidnapped?” Lady Ellaine’s eyes widen with horror. She turns to her daughter. “Audra?”

The young High Vale merely shrugs. “It’s easier to draw blood if the subject is unconscious, and what better place to do the genealogy spell than in the comfort of our own boat?”

“Audra,” Lady Ellaine says again, this time sounding aghast. She turns back to Lawrence and bows her head. “Your Highness, I hope you’ll accept my most sincere apologies for my daughter’s behavior. I promise you, I will deal with her accordingly.”

Lawrence raises his eyebrows at Audra, gloating. “No punishment is necessary. Instead, perhaps she can show me around the grounds? I’ve never been in Ferradelle, and your estate is especially lovely.”

“Of course,” Lady Ellaine says immediately. “Whenever you would like.”

“Mother,” Audra says through a tight smile. “I think we have more important things to tend to, don’t you?”

Giving her a look that even I know means Audra had best not argue further, Lady Ellaine says, “Is there anything more important than keeping the peace with our kingdom’s heir?”

The two women stare at each other for several seconds, engaging in a silent battle. Audra looks away first.

I believe she lost.

She turns to Lawrence, giving him a benign smile that might look genuine if she weren’t tapping her finger repeatedly on her crossed arms, creating a sizzle of magic that doesn’t seem to burn the fabric of her sleeve. “I would be happy to show you around. First, let us go inside and freshen up.”

“I’d like to join your tour,” Bartholomew says, thwarting Lawrence’s plans and not even realizing it.

“Of course.” Audra drops her arms to her sides, looking relieved. “Pranmore, would you care to join us as well?”

Her voice is softer when she speaks to the elf, and he blinks at her, startled by the warm affection in her tone. “I…I don’t think so.”

Clover knocks her shoulder into him—hard.

“What was that for?” He shoots Clover a questioning look, and then he slowly nods as if understanding. He turns back to Audra, giving her a nervous smile. “I mean…yes? Yes, I would like to accompany you on your tour.”

Lawrence rolls his eyes, and I conceal an ornery grin. Not well enough, however, because Lawrence catches me and smiles. Looking right at me, he says, “Clover, my delicate flower, it’s humid out here and so warm. Allow me to escort you inside.”

“Oh, yes,” Lady Ellaine says as if suddenly remembering we’re still outside. “Please, come in.”

Clover looks at Lawrence as if he’s lost his mind, but she extends her hand to him, perhaps deciding she might as well humor him and get it over with. He takes her arm and slides it through his, throwing a smug look over his shoulder as they follow Lady Ellaine up the entry stairs.

I square my jaw as I walk into the manor behind them. Clover and I aren’t together yet.

The large foyer is light and airy, with glass skylights overhead. The floor is white marble, a stone that is exclusively mined in Ladora and must have cost a fortune to ship. A blooming citrus tree grows in the middle of the space, perfuming the air with a sweet, floral fragrance that makes my nose itch. The tree is surrounded by brightly colored hothouse flowers, and a large kilikeet sits upon an iron perch that hangs from the tree. It caws when it spots us, flapping its scarlet wings.

“That’s Nielle,” Lady Ellaine says lovingly, gesturing to the bird.

Bartholomew takes a few steps toward the kilikeet, and then he pauses. “She’s beautiful.”

“You can say hello,” Lady Ellaine says. “She chatters, but she’s harmless.”

Ayan looks around, taking in the home. It appears he feels out of place, or maybe he’s hoping something will jog a long-forgotten memory.

“Why did my father choose me as his heir?” he asks after several seconds, turning to Lady Ellaine. “You said we’d discuss it once we were inside, and now we are.”