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“Did you see the look on the priest’s face?” Lord Castemont started as he cut into a slice of roast duck. Tyrak shifted in his seat, quietly picking at the sliced carrots on his plate as he eyed the Lord. “He couldn’t believe he was one of the only people who’d ever meet the Invisible King.”

“The Invisible King?” Aunt Berna questioned.

“That’s what they’re calling him.” Lord Castemont gave a sly smile. “There’s an air of mystery about him, and the people are intrigued.”

I nodded. “The Invisible King. I like it. Looks like I’ll be able to stay anonymous.”

“Which means there will be less of a scene when your Aunt Berna and I are wed. You’ll be able to enjoy the day with us without a spectacle.”

Motherfucker. Really? He was going to make me break it to her now? I looked at the half-eaten pheasant on my plate, my anger toward Lord Castemont rising at a fever pitch. “Yes,” I answered with a smile. “It’ll be much easier. I’m looking forward to it.”

Aunt Berna’s face lit up. “I never even thought of that. You’re right.”

Lord Castemont’s face went blank, but I could see the fury peeking out from behind his eyes. “I’ll keep petitioning the Court until they give me a definite answer.”

“You do that,” I answered with a sarcastic smile. Tyrak’s eyes were glued to me in warning. Whether he was warning me out of protection for his Lord or for my own sake, I couldn’t tell.

“I will,” Lord Castemont answered. “The meetings have been going well.”

“I’m sure they have. For years now.”

Aunt Berna placed her fork down on her plate, all traces of joy gone from her face. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but you two need to cut it out.”

Three pairs of eyes landed on her. “What are you talking about, dear?”

“This bizarre power struggle. The snide comments, the passive-aggressive remarks. It’s been going on since he was sixteen,” she explained, her voice even but stern. That was the Aunt Berna I knew, not the doe-eyed puddle that fawned over Castemont. The Aunt Berna I knew called people out on their bullshit, like this, and she was finally calling him out on his. “I don’t know if it’s because you’re envious of Cal’s position as King,” she pointed to Castemont before pointing to me, “or ifyou’reenvious of our relationship. But you both need to stop.”

My ears heated with embarrassment and outrage, and I took a sip of water to try to combat it before I spoke, but Lord Castemont beat me to it. “No envy here, darling,” he offered. “I simply want to guide Cal to be the best man he can be.”

“He can do that on his own. He’s already one of the best men I know.”

A strained silence settled over the room. But I could tell Aunt Berna didn’t feel the tension. She stared Lord Castemont down, unflinching in her intensity.

“Really, Bernadet? After all we’ve shared? After everything I’ve done, this is how you speak to me?”

“No one asked you to do those things, and I’ll speak to you how I wish. You are not courting me, and you are not my husband. You have no authority over me.”

Lord Castemont sat back in his chair, inclining his chin as he looked across the table at my aunt. It was meant to look leisurely, but it was purely antagonistic. He knew that. The problem was…so did she. “You’re a very strong woman, Bernadet. I’ve always admired that about you.”

“No,” she answered, folding her napkin and placing it on the table as she shook her head. “You’re not complimenting your way out of this one, Evarius. Especially not with a backhanded one like that.”

“That’s not my intention.”

She narrowed her eyes and leaned in. “Isn’t it, though?” Her voice was nothing above a whisper. “I think I’ll retire for the evening.” She stood, smoothing her skirts. Lord Castemont rose too, but she shot a hand out. “Alone.”

My eyes followed her as she marched out of the dining room, her steps echoing down the corridor. “What the hell, Cal?” Lord Castemont spat.

I inhaled, staring hard at the Lord. “That was your doing.” My eyes flashed to the corridor as the last of her echoed steps faded away.

“She won’t leave me, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”

“Believe me. She won’t.”

Chapter 28

Four Years Ago