Page 39 of A Game of Veils

Her hands close at her sides, her thumb rubbing over the ring on her left forefinger. There’s something almost defensive about the motion—as if she feels she needs to protect the ornament from me—that I file away for future consideration.

She doesn’t back down, though. Her brow knits. “What is it that bothers you so much about me? If I’ve caused you harm, I honestly didn’t realize, but I’d want to know so I can set it right.”

Is she really so ignorant about how her schemes will affect the rest of us or simply playing at it? I’ve gotten the impression she’s reasonably clever, but even the most brilliant thinker has their blind spots, and I doubt Princess Aurelia qualifies as brilliant.

It could be her awareness shouldn’t matter either. I knew it might be useful to get her to let down her guard and reveal more of herself, and she’s all but laying herself on a platter—however much she’s willing to share now.

I can’t let my frustrations prevent me from exploiting every potential advantage I’m offered.

I dip my head, smoothing out my voice with the benefit of much practice. “Perhaps I’m merely bothered by the additional chaos that’s come with your arrival. That may have been unfair of me. It’s clear you were totally unaware of what Marclinus had planned.”

There. A little of the tension in her stance relaxes.

“I was.” Aurelia lets out a soft laugh that quivers through my nerves. “I had no idea what to expect from him at all. You must know him well after growing up together, but I gather the trials were a surprise to the court too.”

“Their Imperial Eminences sprung them on all of us.”

She tilts her head to one side as if mulling over the situation. “Well, I’ve discovered he’s fond of praise, knives, archery, and rather a lot of food. How else has he liked to spend his time?”

She asks the question casually enough, but I sense her goal at once. She’s prying for information, hoping I might shed some light on the upcoming tests.

The princess is at least canny enough to realize what an excellent source of information I could be for her. I can use her trust to my advantage.

What could I tell her that would trip her up rather than boost her chances?

I hum as if in thought. “As much as he enjoys praise, he does admire the boldness of a blunt statement as well. And he’s always tickled when he finds an opponent with combat skills to rival his own, if you have any skill for sparring. He plays a lot of games—cards, board, those of sport—to pass the time, and I can tell it bores him that his companions always lose.”

Bores him so much he cackles gleefully with every win. I can’t imagine what he’d make of a prospective wife who could best him or dresses him down to his face, but it wouldn’t be a pretty picture when he’s through.

One of Aurelia’s eyebrows rises. “Hmm. I’m a believer in politeness over bluntness, and I can’t say combat or sports are my forte. I may have a struggle ahead of me.”

The subtle wry note in her voice leaves me uncertain about whether she’s poking fun at herself or skeptical of my advice.

I might as well say one true thing that’s obvious enough, in case it’ll make her more likely to act on the rest. “He does also love a good ball, of course. Music, drinking, dancing.”

“Maybe I’ll survive here long enough to participate in one of those.” She pauses and then rests her hand on my forearm. A feather-light touch, but the warmth of it tingles over my skin. “He hasn’t ever been kind to you, for all you’re supposedly a brother, has he?”

Interesting. I step even closer and set my hand over hers, holding her gaze. Does her breath quaver just slightly at my nearness?

Raul might have been on to something—something that applies to more than just him. Could it be that all the princess needed was a little kindness to break down her walls?

I summon a brief smile. “We make do as best we can with what we’re given. As you clearly recognize.”

Aurelia offers me one last smile of her own, quiet but radiant as dawn on the horizon. I’ve never seen her look at Marclinus quite like that. “Thank you for talking with me. And for listening.”

She steps back and walks out of the library. I stare after her for a few seconds, my heart thumping a little too loud, before I notice another sensation down below.

Great God smite me, I’m half hard.

The recognition comes with a flood of shame like a deluge of cold water, which solves the immediate problem.

What the fuck is wrong with me? It hasn’t been that long since a woman last offered me an affectionate touch.

Of course, the affection a few women of the court have shown was only about a momentary getting off. In the case of the few members of staff I’ve entertained, it was the thrill of a dalliance with a foreign prince. Never anything really to do with me.

Not that I’m dim enough to think Aurelia’s overtures come from anything other than a selfish place either.

Jaw clenching, I find myself striding over to the narrow windows. I look through the glass toward the tufts of cloud floating across the lightening blue of the sky.

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