Page 51 of The Rose in the Shadows

“It’s my pleasure entirely. You know I love these opportunities to see my daughter,” President Jonan replied curtly.

Only then did I notice the resemblance between him and the Queen. They had the same tilt of the eyes and hitch in the nose. Her lips were fuller, and her skin relatively paler, but their similarity was undeniable. No wonder President Jonan kept his shoulders tight with barely disguised rage. Anyone with eyes could see how mistreated the Queen must be. The Dragon only sneered as he proudly met the eyes of his father-in-law.

“I’m sure,” he taunted. “As you know, Clara and I have sent our two daughters off to study at the finest school in Athenia, so I know well the pain of missing a child.”

Clay had sisters?I made a mental note to ask Iris about that the next time I saw her.

President Jonan huffed in response, and the Dragon smiled toothily, before turning his attention to the couple who stood to President Jonan’s left.

The man’s hair was thick and golden, falling in well-trimmed waves, and adorned with a pompous diamond-encrusted crown. His purple sash trimmed in yellow marked him as the King of Promissa. His wife also wore the color of her nation proudly on a long velvet gown with a high neck and daringly low cut back. Diamond cuffs sparkled on each of her wrists. Like the Athenian Queen, she wore bracelets that stretched across the back of her hand, connecting to rings on each of her middle fingers. The only difference was that while my Queen wore golden carved dragons, the Promissan Queen’s dragons were made of diamonds.

The Promissan King grasped my hand eagerly, bowing his head to kiss my knuckles as I quickly dipped into a rushedcurtsy. I felt the Dragon stiffen behind me, undoubtedly irritated that his adversary had acknowledged me before him.

“My dear, I must admit I had heard tales of your beauty, but it is truly unparalleled,” the Promissan King gushed.

I smiled softly. Apparently, political insincerity was consistent across cultures. He released my hand, and I stood, only to dip once more in respect to his Queen, who grinned happily at me.

“Quite true, Ledger,” she agreed with her husband. “You look lovely, my dear.”

The Dragon bristled beside me again, and I could feel the heat beginning to roll off his skin as his temper riled. Clearly, he had had enough of being ignored. My arm was still linked to his, but he released me suddenly, instead placing his palm on the small of my back and stepping closer. Uncomfortably closer. He hung against me as if an air of familiarity existed between us. An air of familiarity that insinuated things I didnotwant to be insinuated.

What in all of creation did he think he was doing?

“We are quite proud of our young Lady Moore,” the Dragon cooed. “She’s our very own blessing from the Gods. After all, how else could you explain the sudden reemergence of House Hyrax other than the Gods expressing their favor of my great nation?”

The Promissan King smiled with narrowed, calculating eyes. “How else, indeed? It is good to see you again, Vyncent.”

I fought the urge to laugh in surprise, covering it with a cough. I’d never heard the Dragon’s name before. No one in this kingdom would dare disrespect him by not addressing him by his formal title. And yet this foreign King had engaged my ruler into a battle of wills with just one word. One word I committed to memory.

AsVyncent’shand wrapped possessively around my waist, pulling me tighter to his hip, I pledged myself that one of thesedays, I’d find the perfect opportunity to call him by his name in the most disrespectful way possible.

“You as well, Ledger,” the Dragon echoed, his voice sharp. “Although we hoped you’d bring a shipment of silks and cotton. We are still waiting for that.”

“And you shall have it, of course!” The Promissan Queen promised. “But there is that matter of a fair price. Perhaps if Athenia cannot afford our request, you could supplement some costs with a shipment of steel weapons.”

The Dragon bristled and narrowed his eyes at her before turning back to her husband as he continued the conversation. The fact he refused to engage with a woman on the matter of politics didn’t necessarily surprise me, but it gave me yet another reason to hate him. He and the Promissan King continued prattling on about trade deals and foreign affairs as I scanned the room, eager to escape this mindless posturing.

Across the hall, my friends danced. Rankor twirled Lorelai throughout the room while Iris bounced from partner to partner merrily. Their joy was positively palpable. Even Camilla grinned and laughed as Kent dipped her low in the music's crux. Yearning hit me at once. I longed to join them, to drink away the stress of the evening and lose myself in the music that filled the room.

They weren’t future Council members though. They didn’t have the responsibilities I did.

As I sighed and turned my attention back to the conversation at hand, I briefly met eyes with Clay, who stood nursing a drink at a table across the hall with his attention entirely on his father and I. He raised an eyebrow questioningly as if he doubted my ability to continue playing this role successfully.

“Well, I, for one, have had enough politics for one evening. Wouldn’t you agree, dear?” The Promissan Queen asked me.

So much for hoping I’d be able to spend the night simply smiling and keeping my mouth closed. My stomach flipped nervously. If I said the wrong thing, there would certainly be consequences from the Dragon. As if thinking the same thing, he looked down at me, almost daring me to speak out of turn as his grip on my waist tightened. I stood frozen as all three of the most powerful Descendants in the room waited for me to speak.

“I’m still learning so much about my future role as a Council member of Athenia,” I told the Queen. “So, I’m grateful for the opportunity to shadow his majesty this evening as I prepare for my trials.”

The Promissan King chuckled. “Well, of course, you are, as any good leader would be. But I must agree with my wife. This is a party, after all! So, tell me, Theadora, is it true that you know nothing of your origins?”

His voice was laced with hidden meaning, and I shivered against it. “That is true, your Majesty. I remember only waking in the infirmary. I hope that one day the grace of the Gods may return my memories, but for now, I can only work towards fulfilling my duty to the people of Athenia.”

The Queen grinned as her eyes grazed over my chest, taking in the Mark of Hyrax, which was again displayed brazenly. Without asking, she took a step closer to investigate it, as if she doubted it was really on my skin. Her fingers were ice cold as they grazed my flesh.

“Marvelous,” she mused. “A blessing from the Gods indeed, to Athenia and the world. I’m sure we will have many little Hyrax Descendants in no time. Did you know my father was a necromancer? He was one of the last few to live. He was hopeful of producing an heir, but of course, the blood of Zion was far too strong on my mother’s side.”

“You don’t say.” The Dragon chuckled as if he very well knew her lineage. I didn’t doubt that he did. I suspected he had memorized the lineages of every person in this room.

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