Page 40 of Princess of Air

She rearranges her fingers into a rude gesture around her wineglass as she takes a sip.

“Being in town was fun,” Marcus says. “And now we look like we’re having a preview of this summer’s visit to Etherlee.”

Lounging about the sitting room in our most casual garb does bring on that feeling. Jamys is stiff and uneasy about daring to be comfortable in front of anyone, but not so uneasy as I am at the mention of returning for our annual stay at the shore.

I make every effort to keep my voice casual. “Glad to have this experience then, because I don’t believe I’ll be going to Etherlee this summer.”

My siblings all frown, but Tomas doesn’t direct his attention to me. He understands.

“Why not?” Ry asks.

“Jamys has invited me to spend the summer up in Ceraun.” I return the smile he flashes at me at the mention of it.

Nina clicks her tongue. “Will you be married by then?”

“There’s been too much excitement with the trials to set a date.” Jamys crosses his ankle over his knee, the forced attempt at looking relaxed comical. “I’m certain we’ll have it planned soon, though.”

“Well, you’re quite welcome to join us at Etherlee if you so choose,” Marcus offers Jamys.

“Thank you.”

I shake my head. “Of course, but I don’t think we’ll go.”

“Can I go?” Ceanna bats her eyes at Marcus.

“Perhaps.” His smile is tight.

The idiot shouldn’t have mentioned it in front of her. Apparently, Ceanna has moved on from Tomas, much to Marcus’ chagrin. All I know is that he calmed her fears when Tomas “fell” off the balcony.

“Can we get back to the present, rather than planning our summer holiday?” Rylan rakes his fingers through his hair. “Where do we start on finding the people impersonating royal guards?”

“I’m not sure if anyone gave them information that would have guided their search,” Tomas says. “The proprietor of the establishment where the missing woman worked said they didn’t seem to find her information helpful.”

Rylan chuckles. “That’s quite the description of her when we all know you’re on a first name basis with the madam of the brothel.”

Tomas rolls his eyes and leans his arm on the back of the sofa. “Let’s not get into a match over who has participated in the most raucous behavior.”

I groan. “Do spare us.” Please. Please. Please.

“It’s relevant to the business at hand,” Nina says with a mischievous grin. “Didn’t you know the woman who vanished, Tomas?”

My shoulders tense, and I try to will it away. It doesn’t matter.

“Yes,” Tomas huffs out. “However, I met her outside of her… place of business.”

“Saved a little coin, did you?”

He throws a pillow at Nina, and I pop a shield in front of her.

Tomas turns to me, exasperated. “She did not deserve your help.”

“I didn’t want her to spill the wine on the furniture. Be a more thoughtful guest.” I’ll miss this part of our holidays together—the teasing and rivalries. Perhaps in time, I can enjoy these things with Tomas without thinking about everything else we’ve been.

“Anyway,” he says, “we became friends.”

Nina looks skeptical, but it’s Rylan who unknowingly prods at me. “There are worse ways to start a friendship than by—”

“I would really love it if you could wait until after I’m married to make it so glaringly obvious to Jamys that I grew up with a pack of miscreants.” In case I wasn’t already wretched enough, I’m now using Jamys as an excuse to spare myself from finding out uncomfortable things about Tomas’ past. Things that wouldn’t matter even if Tomas were an option for me and cannot matter since he isn’t.

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