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Before she could ask another question, the lead healer reached the table and bowed low. Toren had already contacted Serae telepathically with his orders, so he only needed to nod before she moved forward to check their food. It was an obvious tell to anyone with sense—the head cook would have ensured that each dish was of the highest quality before sending it out. But Toren reclined almost indolently, all save the clenched fist that the rest of the room couldn’t see.

Ria’s gaze flicked to his lap and then back to her plate. She saw, of course.

His magic pounded against his shields, but he tamped it down ruthlessly.

He could not lose control. Not now. He hadn’t established a strong enough relationship with Ria to have her dispel his extra magic in this sort of situation, and even if Mehl was in the room, he was still too mentally raw. Toren had to keep his grip.

Finally, the healer stepped back. “His Majesty King Mehl must have been mistaken, High King. There is no sign of spoilage or other problems.”

Toren held back a frown. It was good news yet worrisome. He doubted his husband was wrong about the Centoi spy, but if she hadn’t been there to tamper with their food, then why had she placed herself where she could serve Ria specifically? Had the woman hoped to infiltrate the staff for longer than a night?

He connected mentally with the healer.“No poison? No herbs that would prevent or harm conception?”

Serae gave the slightest shake of her head.“Only the standard spices. The other healers have found nothing amiss in their scans of the lower tables.”

“Thank you, Serae,” Toren said aloud. Most of the mages had already disappeared into the back hallway, but one who’d remained sent him a signal that there was no one cloaking themselves by magic. “It appears that all is well. Please forgive the inconvenience.”

“It is our honor to serve, Your Majesty,” Serae said before bowing once more and then retreating toward the entrance to the dining hall. Silently, the other healers followed.

The nobles didn’t appear particularly reassured. Not that he blamed them. Toren lifted his wine glass and took a slow, casual sip. “Please continue your meal,” he said. “King Mehl will return momentarily. I am certain he will solve the problem causing him such discord with all haste.”

A few of the bolder nobles cast doubtful glances his way, and there was a fair bit of mumbling. But as soon as Toren braved a bite of the now-cold roast, they began to eat once more, if somewhat tentatively. Except Ria. Her hand rested atop her fork, but she didn’t pick it up. He could sense her distress like his own.

It tore through him like the phantom poison. Why had he decided to make the announcement tonight? He’d told himself it would be best to make her position clear sooner rather than later, but he should have considered deception on the part of the Centoi. It was his job to anticipate such things. He’d been too distracted to think properly, and that was a danger.

He could have lost Mehl tonight.

The savory roast turned bitter in his mouth. Toren had been so mesmerized by Ria that he’d dismissed Mehl’s worried glances toward the servant. After a century together, it was easy to forget that his husband was trained as a bodyguard, and those instincts hadn’t gone away with the king’s crown. At the first sign of Mehl’s unease, Toren should have made a discreet inquiry about the new servant. His husband could have been killed chasing after her.

He observed Ria out of the corner of his eye. She toyed with her food now, clearly unnerved by the evening’s events. His distraction had put her in danger, too. Unforgivable. He needed to regain his focus. She was here to bear their child and nothing more. Certainly not to be all but claimed in the dining hall like a betrothed or wife.

It was best he remembered that.

* * *

Wasthis what her life was to be, then?

Ria stared down at her plate, but she couldn’t bring herself to take a bite. She still felt the tension of Mehl’s fingers around her forearm, and his command echoed through her head.Drop the fork, Ria.There’d been a steely, frantic edge to his voice that had forced her compliance more surely than any spell.

It had been no idle threat that prompted that tone, no matter how Toren had tried to dismiss Mehl’s actions. Not that she believed Toren’s excuse about something being amiss with a servant. What king ran from the room for something like that? And of course, she could see and feel what others didn’t—the tension the High King so carefully hid from the rest of the room. His palm probably had bruises from the tightness of his grip.

Then there was his magic. Having channeled his energy, she could not miss the building force of it at her side. Her own power vibrated from it, almost as though hers wanted to join with his. For what purpose, she couldn’t divine. But she wasn’t going to ask him. He clearly didn’t want to confide in her concerning any of this.

The High King’s fertile bed-warmer and subsequent target for his rival’s ire—perhaps that was the life of a royal consort. No explanations. No sympathy. Merely food to be rushed away and—no doubt—knives to be dodged in the shadows, all beneath the weight of the noble court’s scorn.

And she’d signed her name to this—or someone’s name. If she waited, maybe the real Duchess of Nevial would appear from the aether to relieve her of this mad decision.Howcould she have lost herself so thoroughly in less than two days?

From the increasing glances directed at the door behind her, Ria anticipated Mehl’s return before he slid into his seat. She dared only one look, but the thinly veiled anger in his demeanor had her averting her gaze at once. Had she misread things entirely? Maybe he hadn’t been worried for her but upset at her. She could have done something wrong concerning the servant.

No. That doesn’t make sense.

Unfortunately, logic made little impact on the increasing whispers of self-recrimination, especially not as the meal continued in cold silence. The tension between Mehl and Toren alone was as palpable as the airy confection served as dessert—but certainly wasn’t as sweet. If she had to guess, she would say they would all be sleeping alone tonight.

Chapter20

Rifts

Mehl managed to hold his temper until they reached the family wing, but just barely. As soon as they made it well beyond the guards at the end of the corridor, he let the façade drop. He wouldn’t hide his anger from Toren, not over this. The spy had surely gotten away because of his husband’s overprotectiveness.