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“You’re scaring me,”Ria sent.

Toren pressed his nails into his palms, a grounding pinch of pain. Control. He could maintain control.“Try not to react,”he cautioned—for her and himself.“Ber is near the city, but the spies have lost track of him. Still, we need to see the reception through, or there will be a panic.”

She stiffened slightly, but only for a moment.“I understand.”

Then Ria tipped her head toward Ryssa’s and whispered something. The two ladies laughed lightly, the breathy sound difficult to hear over the noise, but it was enough to make the courtiers around them relax. How did she manage it? Toren could hear the hint of strain around the edges of that laugh, yet none of the nobles appeared to notice.

“I had to hide much while living with my father,”Ria explained.“But I don’t want to linger on that. I would rather know how much longer we must be here, because I need to go to the library as soon as possible.”

“The library?”That odd comment certainly provided a distraction.“My brother is near, and you want to read?”

Exasperation slipped through with her answer.“I have an idea, but I need to consult the Rites and Rituals book you mentioned. Please. It may come to nothing, or we may be able to stop Ber now.”

She had an idea that might end his brother’s threatnow?

Toren studied the regal line of Ria’s jaw as she inclined her head toward a courtier like a born queen. He couldn’t imagine what she might have in mind, but he trusted her absolutely. Whatever it was, she believed her plan held promise. But what could she have learned in a single turn around the room?

Possibly nothing—but he would give her the chance to see.

Chapter54

Of the Blood

Mehl longed to toss every single courtier out into the hallway and slam the door shut behind them. Ber could be anywhere, waiting to strike. How could they just sit here? This very room held an entrance to the secret tunnels, and even though Toren had sealed the escape passages with magic, that was no guarantee of safety.

When Toren’s energy was heightened, he struggled to wield the spells passed down by the royal family. If he’d made an error, Ber could have gained entry. And that wasn’t the only possible weakness. The banished prince had already found a way to manipulate the servants’ amulets. What if he had secret knowledge that would allow him to enter the tunnels, too?

Sir Macoe had slipped out to check the passages, and their most trusted bodyguards were quietly sweeping every room in the palace. It didn’t help Mehl’s restlessness. He shifted in his seat, and the strap binding his knife to his thigh pinched like a rebuke. He wanted to be outthere, doing his best to protect his family, not watching snide courtiers pretend to be nice to Ria while casting sidelong glances toward the thrones.

But ultimately, leaving to track Ber wouldn’t be the wisest choice.

Though he would far rather toss away his overrobe, draw his concealed knife, and join the other guards, an action like that stood a good chance of causing a panic, and panic would only benefit Ber and any spies he might have sent. Far too much harm could be done under the cover of that chaos, when proceeding as normal would allow anything unusual to stand out. Observing the gathered nobles for signs of treachery might be less satisfying, but it would be more practical.

“I know you’d rather join Macoe,”Toren sent suddenly.“But I need to escort Ria to the library after this. Will you accompany us?”

“The library?”Mehl asked, doing best to hide a frown.“Why?”

He felt more than saw Toren’s shrug.“She has an idea that might help, but she needs to look something up first.”

Mehl couldn’t imagine what Ria had in mind, but it must be worthwhile if Toren was considering it.“Naturally, I’ll go with you. As satisfying as it would be to stop Ber before he can get near, I will not leave you unguarded. But what of Ryssa? She shouldn’t be alone, either.”

“We’ll leave our bodyguards with her outside the library, I suppose.”The side of Toren’s hand brushed his in the slightest caress.“At least this reception is nearly over. I know it must pain you in a situation like this.”

Indeed.

Mehl studied everyone who neared Ria, from the courtiers to the servants hurrying by. Unfortunately, it was impossible to tell for certain whether the nobles’ insincere smiles and cutting glances hid actual malice or was typical snobbery. Nor did the servants show signs of anything but industriousness, barring the occasional well-hidden exasperation. It could have been any normal court event.

By the time Toren and Mehl stood, indicating the end of the reception, he’d still seen nothing of note. Were they all innocent of spying for Ber? As Toren said a few parting words of thanks, Mehl scanned the nobles’ faces once more, but there was nothing to indicate a plot afoot. Any collusion with Ber was thoroughly concealed, if it existed at all.

Toren offered his arm to Ria to escort her out, and in such a close crowd, Mehl slipped behind his husband to follow, Ryssa beside him. From the gasps of the court sticklers, he’d committed a terrible offense. The king exiting a room behind a princess presumptive? Horror of horrors. The most daring would gossip about it for days—but he welcomed that if it would distract them from insulting Ria.

Not that Ber’s imminent arrival wouldn’t consume most gossip for weeks.

Once they left the secondary throne room, Toren led them in the direction of the library. It didn’t take long for the crowd of nobles to thin into small clusters, then fade altogether, until the four of them were alone. Well, as alone as one could be with a pair of bodyguards trailing behind.

Mehl caught Ryssa’s eye. “The Centoi emissaries should arrive by evening,” he said, keeping his voice low.

Her nostrils flared. “I see.”