Page 14 of Heir to His Court

He’s taunting me on purpose!

That is why you should fail to react,Darkan said.Or if you must, do so in a strategic way that will teach him not to bait you again, or at least, to be more clever. You should be ashamed these childish barbs are successful. If you wish to indulge him, at least force him to exerteffort, Aerinne.

That sounds like politics.And I sounded sulky.

Indeed. Practice on Baroun. I give my permission. He will survive any retaliation he metes out as long as he does not touch you.

It struck me, then, that for all our years of feuding, Baroun neverhadtouched me. We’d skirmished—but he’d never struck a significant blow. Scrapes, minor bruises, but nothing more than I’d received on a training field. Had Baroun also known about me all this time? It wasn’t inconceivable.

“Aerinne.” Renaud’s voice, a cold command, no hint of Darkan’s mental presence.

You truly didn’t know? I thought you were always in my head.

The Prince stared at me, unblinking. Had Juhainah somehow blocked him? She’d told me she would teach me how to do so.

“The people were upset already, Prince,” I said. “They had just suffered you when my form emerged. I caused significant damage to the District during the fight, which alarmed them as well. I offer reparations, of course.” From my personal funds, which wouldhurt, damnit.

Bitch, please,I imagined Juliette’s voice, what she would say before laughing herself silly.Like you’ll have to worry about money anymore.

I withdrew a staff and chased her out of my head.

“I do not want your reparations.” Renaud glanced at Baroun, whose expression was now neutral.

“Then what do you want in return for not punishing the people?”

“That is an interesting question, my halfling. I am tempted to demonstrate what I want, but I suspect it would only distress those present. Lord Étienne, you will forgive me my lapse earlier. I believe some of your House and allies were harmed.”

My father set aside his wine and stood, his ease that of a man who had no idea the monster in the room was crawling out from under the bed. Or that therewasa monster in the room. I knew he knew. His acting was simply that flawless.

“The bonding is a trying time for any pair. We will put the matter behind us.”

“We don't have a body count yet,” I said. “Is that all it takes when a High Lord loses his composure? An apology?”

If you tell him no after he has already descended past mere heat into a rut,Nora had said,he will come for you. . . he would chase you, and he would destroy everything in his path. . .and the High ones are never punished.

The males looked at me. Numair glanced away first, not entirely on my side in this.

“We all fear,” my friend said, and I strained to hear, “losing. . .control like that. I hope I never—”

He halted his extremely unpolitic words. The brief glance Renaud gave him wasnotfriendly. Baroun only looked amused and contemptuous, though it was a mask.

“This has been a trying day for everyone,” my father repeated in his warm diplomat’s voice. “Prince, we will take our leave with your permission.”

“You have it. I would be grateful for a few moments alone with the Lady, if you would permit it.”

Baba paused, but nodded after a moment. We were all so polite, our words shining like fangs. Like circling sharks, waiting for the first hint of blood in the water—but until then, we would all pretend none of us were prey, and none of us predators.

Baba glanced back at me. “Aerinne?”

“I, too, desire a few moments of the Prince’s time.”

My father pursed his lips. “I remember that tone of voice. Maryam was not always pleased with me either. A mate’s displeasure, especially when one’s mate is a High Lord, is a difficult thing to navigate—for the High Lord or their bonded.” Another not so subtle warning for us to both mind our behavior.

It disturbed me, though, that just like that he turned the deaths of several citizens into a disagreement between a couple. When Baba passed me, he paused briefly and squeezed my hand, kissing my cheek.

“Patience, Nyawira,” he murmured. “Within, not without.”

I nodded slightly to acknowledge his message. I would not win anything by kicking and screaming and fighting overtly against Renaud. If I wanted freedom, if I wanted change, if I wanted the power to ensure the innocents in my District and the city were safe from High Fae madness, I would have to accept Renaud, and deal with him in private.

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