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His lips twitched as he looked past her. “Perhaps I’ll come knocking on that private suite when your brother is occupied with Miss Hardstark.”

“Perhaps I’ll light you on fire if you try.”

“I should ask your father for your presence at Hearst Hall during the summer solstice holiday, I think,” he said, as if talking to himself. “No point in delaying the inevitable.”

“Shall we get your mother’s ring resized as well?” she snarked, playing along for her own sanity.

“Lovely idea, dearest,” he said, twirling them. “Your hands aren’t quite as dainty, are they?”

In her effort not to look at him, her gaze fell on Finn and Larissa at the edge of the dance floor. They were watching the two of them closely. And she realized—

“You’re in a spat with Larissa, aren’t you?” She almost sighed in relief. “By the waters!” she swore. “And you’re using me ? What an idiot plan!”

He stared down at her, and she couldn’t help but notice the sharp angle of his jaw and the strands of gray that had fallen over his forehead. “What plan is that?”

“I haven’t the faintest clue,” she said. “But you’re trying to make Larissa angry, and it’s working.”

She watched his eyes flick over to where the blonde stood at the edge of the dance floor, as if he hadn’t thought of the idea until that moment.

“I assure you, your grace,” he said, “I’m just trying to pay respect to this outstanding dress you’re in.”

“You don’t have to call me that,” she said, suddenly tired with the game. “I may be the daughter of the king, but my title doesn’t have a formal address.”

“Oh, but you do,” he said, quickly. The dance slowed, and he twisted them once more. “You are Eversun , and that is formal enough, isn’t it?”

Her brows drew together as the musicians ended and the crowd applauded. She dropped her hands and stepped back. “What do you mean?”

“Pulling magic from the mind,” he said mockingly. “You think you’re so much better than we are. Evolved, isn’t that what you say?”

“It is evolved,” she snapped back. “To pull magic from your own mind, without draining yourself dry—without needing a familiar to boost you, nor going against the laws and draining a heartspring, either.”

The second dance started, and he drew her into his arms again. Closer, she thought.

“And yet blood is still important to you all, isn’t it? One bloodline. One king.”

She gazed up at him, their faces closer than before. This was a distinct misunderstanding between most Eversuns and Bomardi, she knew, but this seemed personal to him.

“You know as well as I do that I don’t get much out of that bloodline. I’ll just be passed on to one of you while my brother becomes king.”

“Which is why I find it so fascinating when Eversun women get up in arms about it all.” He stepped forward and she stepped back, following his lead. “Not all Bomardi drain other magicians for a boost.”

She watched his eyes flicker over her face. “Not all Eversuns can pry into your thoughts.”

His lips twitched. “No?” He lowered his head to come eye-to-eye with her. “You don’t know what I’m thinking now?”

Her eyes were glued to his as their feet glided over the floor. He had specks of blue in the gray. She could feel his breath on her face.

“I never know what you’re thinking,” she whispered.

His gaze burned as he stared down at her.

There was a tap on her shoulder, and she jumped.

Liam Quill stood behind her, a smarmy grin on his boyish face.

“Toven,” he said. “I thought perhaps I’d take Miss Rosewood for the second dance.” His eyes glinted. “As sixth in line.”

Briony stared at Liam in confusion, until Toven slipped his arms from her, sending daggers to Liam but stepping aside.

He had to defer to him.

Briony hated that she missed his arms and his sure step.

Liam smiled patronizingly down at her. “What a splash you’re making, Briony.”

“Yes, the boys of Bomard certainly are honoring me tonight,” she said, sarcasm in her tone.

She took the opportunity to glance around the dance floor. Rory was still dancing with Cordelia, and her stomach twisted.

“What did Toven talk to you about?” Liam asked.

“I have no clue,” she said. “All sorts of things.”

Liam narrowed his eyes at her. She looked away from him, and her gaze caught on Larissa as she spoke with Toven, her expression harsh. He looked bored.

Briony must have been right. A lovers’ quarrel.

When Liam tried to take the third dance with Briony after making almost no conversation with her, she was about to give an excuse when a thick hand dropped on Liam’s shoulder.

Both of them looked up to see Canning Trow smirking down at her.

“Miss Rosewood.”

His mother was third in line. She couldn’t even beg off about needing to dance with Sammy or Didion.

Liam stepped aside, and Briony accepted Canning’s hand. He pulled her in too close, and his hand rested about five inches lower on her back than what was appropriate.

Canning was entering his fourth year at school and acted as a bit of a ringleader for the Bomardi boys. He had a wide jaw, wide-set eyes, and a large nose, but he walked around like he was the waters’ gift to women.

“You’re quite lovely tonight,” he said as the steps began.

She said nothing, tired already of this.

“Where on earth have you been hiding this body?”

Her eyes snapped up to him, and she sent him a hard look as he turned her. “Do you have to be so crass? Just dance with me.”

They followed the steps, pulling away from each other and circling.

“I’ll be in year four this spring, beginning my specialization in elixirs.”

She could yawn, but refrained. “Oh?”

“But I’d be happy to escort you to class.”

“I know how to walk down stairs, thank you.”

He laughed and tugged her closer. There were more couples on the floor now, and they were hidden in the center of it. She could feel his hands getting bolder.

“My mother is third in line, you know.”

“You never let us forget it,” Briony said.

“And it would be a great match between us.”

“You think so?” She gave him a closed-lip smile. “That’s kind.”

She saw Didion on the edge of the dance floor, still waiting to dance with her. She didn’t know if she had the energy after all this.

“You really are so lovely.” He gazed down at her breasts.

“So you’ve said.”

“We’ve all been talking about it. How lovely you are.” Canning shifted the hand on her low back even lower.

“Can you not?” Briony hissed.

He tugged her closer still. “It’s an honor to be wanted by the third in line.”

“Son of the third in line.” She shoved his hands off her as the music came to a close. “Thank you for the dance.”

She spun on her heel and moved quickly away from the dancers before anyone else could accost her.

She slipped to the edge of the dance floor, near the exit. She nodded at one of the guards, who slipped out to find Anna to escort her upstairs.

“It’s so strange to me,” said a voice to her left. Veronika Mallow stood in the corner, blending into the darkness.

Briony patted down her dress and smiled thinly. “What is, Miss Mallow?”

“You must have your pick of the boys in Evermore, but you insist on catching the attention of all the eligible Bomardi boys.”

Mallow’s eyes watched her, unblinkingly.

Briony was tired. Too tired for this.

“What can I say? I’m a catch.”

Mallow lifted her chin at her, assessing her. “I find the arranged marriages between the realms so archaic.”

Briony was inclined to agree but had a feeling they were talking about different things.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

Mallow took a sip of her wine, her eyes casting over the dance floor. “Well, if we were really two realms at peace, why must we hand over women as collateral? Or our young people, for that matter?”

Briony narrowed her eyes at her. “Collateral? You mean the alternating school years?”

Turning her dark gaze on Briony, Mallow replied, “Why, yes, of course. For what possible reason would we school our young people together if not in an eternal promise not to harm them.” Mallow tilted her head at her. “Promises are only words after all. They can be broken.”

Briony stared at her until Anna coughed lightly behind her, ready to take her to her rooms. She gave Mallow one last glance over her shoulder.

Three and a half years later, she would remember that conversation when the Bomardi attacked the school, looking for Eversuns to take captive. And she would know exactly whose idea it was.