Page 29 of When Wishes Bleed

I shook my head, choosing to keep my hands bare.

“You don’t think the King and Queen have anything to do with it, do you?” Mira asked, her eyes widening.

“I certainly hope not.” If a member of Tauren’s own family wants him dead, how can I possibly prevent it? They have constant access to him.

The clock began to chime, striking the hour of dinner, and Mira pushed me across the room and out the door, closing it behind us. She wore a simple, black cotton dress and Brecan emerged from his room in a black suit.

“Why aren’t you wearing your House colors?” I asked them. Mira had the ability to weave anything; why did she choose something so plain?

“Because while we are here serving as your escorts, we represent you, not our Houses,” Brecan replied primly. “And we can’t look like your equals. We need to blend into the background, not steal the show.”

“I’m sure Ela and Wayra will be thrilled when they see you,” I deadpanned.

Mira giggled. “Bay won’t be upset. It was his idea. Ethne will love it, too.”

Fire and Water agreeing with one another? I was shocked to hear it.

But now it made sense why Wayra and Bay each sent an escort. The Houses were split. Water and Fire versus Earth and Air. The two opposing sides were equally represented with Brecan and Mira.

We walked together through the hallway to the stairs, taking them carefully down to the main floor, where we were met by a woman in white who asked us to follow her. She led us farther into the castle where everything was white and gold and shiny. The ceilings boasted immaculately painted frescoes with clouds and cherubs that looked so real, I thought they might swoop down and pinch our cheeks for sport.

The panels that lined the walls were inlaid with gold flake. The white marble floors shone like glass, pure and clean, in stark contrast to our dark apparel.

We finally arrived at a pair of tall double doors that parted when the woman knocked. The room held nothing but a blunt, rectangular table.

The royal family was already seated.

All conversation stopped when my heels clicked on the floor. Tauren stood and straightened his jacket, gesturing to the seats next to him. His father and mother stood, and I noticed that although they weren’t wearing crowns, their clothing matched. Each wore deep teal suits, hers more femininely cut than his. The insignia of Nautilus had been sewn into their jackets, directly over each of their hearts.

Tauren was as tall as his father, but where his eyes were molten gold, the King’s were the color of burnt toffee. There was kindness, but also something weary in their depths.

The King’s eyes reminded me of Tauren’s brother, whom I hadn’t seen since the night of the Equinox. I hadn’t seen him since I arrived or been formally introduced to him yet, and there was no setting at the table for him.

King Lucius and Queen Annalina returned the bow I gave. Her golden hair was the same hue as the eye color she’d passed to her son. Tauren stood proudly next to them as they greeted us.

“Miss Sable,” the King hailed, holding out his hand for mine.

A flash of bitter pain shot through my middle just before he placed a kiss on the back of my hand. It disappeared as quickly as it pierced through me, but the feeling flustered me. When I regained my wits, I was still clinging to the King’s hand. He’d kissed the back of mine, which I gathered was a custom here. I couldn’t deny the fact that I had enjoyed the attention from the Prince, even though I knew Tauren hadn’t meant anything by greeting me that way. He’d probably kissed the backs of a thousand ladies’ hands.

I pushed the thought away and returned my hand awkwardly to my side. “King Lucius,” I replied. His eyes shimmered kindly, but I didn’t miss the worried glance he slid to his wife.

The Queen’s eyes were sharper. She gave my hand a quick shake and offered a brief smile before dismissing me to greet Mira just as coolly. She barely even deigned to speak to Brecan.

My eyes unfocused as I looked at Queen Annalina’s forced smile.

A feeling, not one of pain or shock, but one of wariness clung to my fingertips. The Queen cleared her throat and I blinked out of the daze of attempting to clasp onto the fleeting feeling. Though interrupted in my reading, I knew it would linger and I could further explore it privately, later.

Tauren placed another kiss on my hand and leaned in to whisper, “To erase my father’s.” I swallowed thickly as he guided me to the seat beside his. Shivers radiated from the spot where his hand warmed my lower back.

Brecan and Mira settled into the chairs situated across from us, while the King and Queen sat at either end.

With a nod of the King’s royal head, the servants sprang into action, bustling to and from the kitchen. Ice water was poured into our glasses. Long stemmed glasses of wine were placed in front of us. Hors d’oeuvres were served, and once we were all satisfied, a calm fell over the table.

King Lucius regarded me for a long moment. I studied him just as shrewdly. His hair was as dark as Tauren’s, but some strands had turned to salt, especially around his temples. Deep wrinkles bracketed his mouth and streaked across his forehead. As he opened his mouth, the worry lines deepened further. “I won’t bother lying to you, my dear, as I’m sure you could see through any falsehood I attempted.”

I inclined my head in thanks, waiting for him to continue.

“My son explained what happened on the night of the Equinox. In detail.” I opened my mouth to defend my actions, but he stopped me. “Thank you for coming.”

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