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Valeen passed behind Hel, ran her hand along his shoulders, then bent down and kissed his cheek. He thought she whispered “play nice” into his ear but he wasn’t sure. Once she sat beside him, Hel looked at her, and if Thane had to guess they were having one of their silent conversations. It always bothered him when they did that. Evenbefore.

Hel took another inhale from his civar. The smoke cloud hung above the dinner table and Thane’s mother looked absolutely unhinged about it. She swatted at the smoke with her napkin and mumbled something under her breath.

“The conversation has been riveting in your absence,” Hel drawled. “Orlandia and friends were just saying what a joy I am to have as a guest.”

Orlandia raised her chin in defiance and scoffed. “It’s incredibly rude to smoke while dining with royalty.”

“Oh,” Katana said, setting down her glass. “I was going to ask, Orlandia, do I still resemble a trollop or am I more presentable?”

Hel laughed. “Do I even want to know?”

“No,” Thane said. “We need to discuss what the council’s next move will be. Will they send another assassin before they bring their armies? We need to prepare for that.”

Orlandia pressed her bright red lips together and dabbed the corner of her mouth with a napkin. “You actually look quite lovely, Katana.”

“Well, thank you,” Katana said. “I was going to compliment you on your dress. Red is your color.”

Thane blinked at Katana in surprise. Either she was just that nice or she understood that his mother would like compliments. Could it be possible that his mother and Katana would get along?

“Well, look at that,” Orlandia crooned. “Someone with manners.” Then she sneered at Valeen. “Katana is lovelier than my son’s last conquest. Thinner too. I always told the staff Layala needed a few less treats.”

Thane choked on his bite of food and fumbled his fork; it clattered loudly onto his dinner plate. Did she truly just say that?

Katana flushed and whispered to Valeen how beautiful she was. Although Valeen didn’t seem bothered by the rude comment as she sipped her drink then said, “Orlandia, I really don’t want to do this with you tonight.”

“And I don’t want you at our dinner table. It’s disrespectful. This whole affair is. Why, with you breaking my poor son’s heart and flaunting your new relationship in front of him, it’s disgusting.Youare disgusting.”

“You’re on dangerous grounds, Orlandia.” Hel flicked his lit civar at her and it bounced off her chest and onto her plate. “You’re awfully fucking mouthy for someone that is lucky to be alive. You mate bonded yoursonto mywife. If his heart is broken,youare to blame. That was never part of the deal. If you say one more godsdamn word of insult to her, I’ll stop your heart with a snap of my fingers. Is that understood?”

Leif and Fennan both were half laughing behind their glasses of wine. While Piper’s eyes darted back and forth between Hel and Orlandia.

Orlandia shifted in her seat and nervously pawed at the curl dangling on the side of her face. “I had no idea she was your wife. She was a baby. You do understand that wouldn’t have made sense to me or my late husband. All Tenebris said was that we were to expect a child born with a lily mark, to keep her safe, and then take her to the Void when she was of a proper age.”

“You’re alive because you’re his mother.” Hel pointed at Thane. “That’s it.”

She stupidly scowled at Hel. The lack of fear of him was going to get her killed. Did she think because Hel was his cousin that it would stop him? She knew he was the Black Mage. Thane closed his eyes and blew out a slow breath. Maker above. “Mother, enough. I would like to enjoy my dinner.”

“Fine but I’m only protecting my son.”

“I know,” Thane said gently, and in some ways, he did appreciate it. In her eyes, her son’s former fiancée was living in their house with a new love. If he had a child in this situation he would probably react the same way.

A male servant came through holding a large bouquet of pink lilies and white roses covered in a sheer cream cloth. “Delivery for the queen.”

Orlandia grinned and tossed her napkin onto her plate and adjusted her crown as she got up. Her heels tapped loudly on the way toward the door. “I wonder who they could be from? I have many admirers.” She took the vase. The servant lifted the cloth and immediately stepped back into the hall. Now that the flowers weren’t covering his face, Thane realized he didn’t recognize him. And he knew every servant in his house.

Thane slowly stood, worry gnawing at his gut. “Who are they from?”

She lifted the card with a huge grin. “‘For the queen of nothing, love Pricilla’. Hmmm I don’t know a Pricilla. And that’s rather rude. My husband may be dead, but I still hold the title of Queen Mother.”

Hel immediately jumped up. Silverware clattered and glasses tipped. Valeen shouted, “Throw the flowers away!”

Thane ran toward her, but she took a deep inhale of the blooms. As if in slow motion, the vase fell from her grasp and shattered on the floor. Then her eyes rolled back, and she was falling. Thane caught her before she hit the ground. “Mother, look at me.” Her lips were already turning a deep blue, her skin fading to an awful shade of grayish white. Thane’s heart crashed hard. “Mom!”

“Help me,” she croaked and clutched at his shirt.

“Hel!” Thane shouted. He didn’t have the power to stop this, but Hel did.

“I-I love you.” Her head fell to the side, and she breathed out slowly.