Page 29

“Good. I…” He takes a breath, and slight shifts in his face transform him into his typical confident persona. “There was no opportunity for a private conversation during the journey here, but you seemed cross.”

“Oh.” His concern for me lightens my mood considerably. “Traveling was exhausting. Nothing’s the matter, I promise.”

He nods. “Glad to hear it. Before we left, you and I… seemed to be getting on well, and I wanted to make sure I hadn’t damaged anything by coming here with you.”

“We are getting on, very well.” I lead him to a sofa and sit close to him. “All this mess with the trials is really against my taste, but it’s gotten us this time together, and for that, I’m grateful. Truly, I’m glad you’re here.” It would be so very easy to love you.

His shoulders relax. “I’m happy to hear that, and I’m grateful for this time together as well. Being that we have already travelled together, I wondered if perhaps you might like to go up to Haarton Castle with Lillian and me for the summer?”

The summer castle in the mountains he told me about. I thought I’d have more time—that there would be one last trip to Etherlee with our usual group of friends. That plan didn’t include spending the entire spring with Jamys, though. I couldn’t go off and have a holiday with Tomas now.

Still, my answer almost surprises me. “Thank you for inviting me. It sounds like a wonderful idea.”

The smile that lights up his face confirms the choice. “Excellent. We’ll work out particulars when we’re back in Mirador, but I’m so glad you’ll be able to see more of Ceraun.”

“As am I.”

“I’ll let you get to your bath and bed.” He stands and crosses to the door. “I’ll see you later then.”

“Yes. Please come collect me on your way down to dinner.”

“All right.” He slips out of the door, and it closes quietly.

I ring for a maid to draw a bath and sink back onto the sofa. This trip hasn’t offered the opportunity to connect with Jamys as I’d intended, but summer in Ceraun would. It’ll be good for us. And Tomas won’t be able to ruin that.

A groan rumbles through me. Every thought leads back to the same thing. Why is it that when I’m with Jamys, I’m happy for it, but the moment I’m alone, I think of Tomas?

The thoughts can’t be washed away in the bath. Actively trying not to think about someone is counterproductive and results in only thinking about him. By the time I need to go down, Jamys is a stranger to my thoughts. He takes my arm, and I have to start the process of establishing a comfort level with him all over again.

We enter the parlor where everyone has gathered prior to dinner. Tomas is in the far corner; his eyes meet mine and immediately divert away. With any luck, he won’t stay for our entire visit. There’s no reason for him to be here. Unless it’s to reunite with Ceanna, of course. She keeps close, leaning toward him in such a way that even I can’t help but look at her breasts.

“How have things been?” Rylan asks Horace.

I take a seat near them while Jamys gets wine for both of us.

“Strange times all around,” Horace says. “A few people vanished into thin air, and there were reports of odd strangers passing through, though we cannot find any trace of them either.”

“Air can do a great many things people don’t consider,”—I take the glass offered to me by Jamys—“but people cannot vanish into it.” Unfortunately, I think as I take a sip. It’s something I’d be interested in doing right about now.

“It’s inexplicable, though.” Kathlyn folds her hands together in her lap. “Gone without a single clue. Our guards haven’t been able to find anything at all.”

“Are the missing people connected in any way?” Nina asks.

“They couldn’t be more varied,” Horace says. “An old man, a stable boy, and a… lady of the night.” His voice drops for the last one as if prostitution is something princesses are unaware of.

Marcus smirks. “I can think of a couple possible connections.”

Horace laughs openly. “Your station does not hinder your sense of humor.”

“Well, don’t let our mother know he said that out loud.” Ry spares Marcus an exasperated look. “I don’t see how any of that could connect to our magic even if we weren’t on the other side of the kingdom, but we’ll be happy to speak with the people in the area. Reassure them that we’re doing everything possible to keep them safe and solve these mysteries.”

“That would be wonderful,” Kathlyn says with a smile.

“Indeed,” Horace says. “But I’m not sure it’s your magic they’re afraid of. They think they are, because magic and the Exos name go hand in hand, but the whispers are about other dark magic lurking.”

Nina scoffs. “All magic is possessed by our family.”

“The magic is split now.” He gestures to the four of us. “It leads people to think perhaps some split off elsewhere.”