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Duke Keventin pushed back his thick black-and-silver hair from his square jaw and then set his glass on the table before lacing his fingers together. Jeweled rings glowed in the candlelight. She’d already known the duke was rich, but each finger had two or three gemmed rings. Mer had seen the king each morning for the past week, and he’d never worn that many jewels. Was the duke trying to intimidate Raziel with his wealth?

What an interesting turn of events.

“Of your husband’s new policies.”

Gideon stiffened at her side.

Mer knew nothing of the changes Raziel was making in the kingdom. She smiled at the duke and feigned confidence she didn’t have. “He is a very loyal and noble king,” she answered truthfully. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

Keventin’s metallic gaze glinted. “Of course, my queen.”

“Then any new policy he’s put in place would be to better our kingdom, no?”

Gideon slightly relaxed at her reply.

“Yes, I believe our dear king has our people’s best interests at heart.” There was abutcoming. “Change takes time, don’t you agree?”

Mer smiled. The duke was trying to back her into a corner. Just what was he after? She glanced at the king. He looked completely cool and calm—except for the fingers of his hand curling into a fist in his lap. Mer flicked her eyes back up to her husband’s face. Whatever was going on was important. Whatever she said was important. There was more to this banquet than the dowager queen had let on.

It would be so easy to fall into Keventin’s trap. It was clear he was angling to humiliate the king. Part of Mer wanted to do it, but that wouldn’t endear her to him. She needed to get close to him so that she could tear out his heart.

“It can take time, but it moves faster when allies work together. You’re an ally to my king, are you not?” Mer sipped her wine again, feeling all the gazes around the table on them.

“I am, my queen. The changes that are coming will burden some of your dear gentry to the point of beggars. Not all are as loyal as I am.”

She stifled her snort.

Keventin was as loyal as a sea serpent and twice as venomous.

Mer took her time setting her crystal goblet on the table and lacing her fingers together to mirror his position. She purposefully scanned the room, her gaze touching each gaudy display of wealth, until she landed on the jewels that decorated his fingers. Much to her satisfaction, the skin around his eyes had tightened.

One point to Mer.

“If all highborn lords are as wealthy as you, surely it won’t weigh too heavily on your province.” She nodded to one of thethin waiters hovering near the wall. “A little equalizing wouldn’t be too much hardship.”

Duke Keventin laughed. “Whatever do you mean, my queen? Are my staff not up to your liking? Does the sea kingdom have such excellent staff that it leaves something to be desired among us land dwellers?”

One point to the duke for making her seem like a spoiled Sirenidae.

“No, my lord,” she said, batting her lashes, her smile turning a bit more predatory. “I have found so much to love and admire about Methi. It already feels like home.” A lie. “What I was referring to was the state of your servants. They are positively wasting away. I’ve never seen such a thin group of workers in my life.” Mer’s smile froze as the king reached underneath the table and squeezed her left thigh. A warning that she was about to ignore. She giggled and played with the stem of her wineglass. “Surely such a lofty lord as yourself could afford to fatten your people up a bit. It’s a travesty just looking upon them.”

Another point to Mer.

Duke Keventin’s lips pressed together momentarily before a forced laugh exploded out of him. The table joined in, and he sat back in his chair, his calculating eyes never leaving her face. “What a generous creature you are to care for those who are so far beneath your notice.” He grabbed his goblet and held it up. The table followed suit, toasting her. “How lucky are we to have gained a magnanimous queen.”

A creature, not a woman.

A chorus of, “Hear, hear!”

Mer’s attention never left Keventin’s as he drank deeply from his glass.

She had a feeling she’d just made an enemy.

The servant’s door swung open, breaking the moment, and waiters filed in. The scent of roasted meat, savory roots, andbuttery bread filled the air. Mer sat back in her chair, avoiding the king’s gaze. She brushed his hand off of her thigh as a servant placed the next course in front of her.

Mer glanced at the waiter, thanks upon her lips, and froze as she locked gazes with another pair of magenta eyes.

A Sirenidae.