Page 18 of Burning Crowns

Thankfully, Cam had risen to the occasion, preparing a spectacular feast of two whole red snappers cooked in Caro spices and served on a bed of tomatoes and peppers, accompanied by lightly fried potatoes and charred asparagus. As she ate, Rose felt as if the eye of the fish was watching her. She avoided looking at it and instead smiled at the prince.

‘You are most welcome to Eana, Prince Felix. It is our pleasure to host you.’

‘The pleasure is mine,’ said Prince Felix, in a lilting Caro accent. ‘I have long wanted to return to your breathtaking country, which is graced with the most beautiful people.’ He winked seductively at Rose, and Wren nearly choked on a piece of asparagus. ‘And the most beautiful magic! Truly, Eana is blessed.’

‘It is indeed,’ said Rose, holding her smile as she pinched her sister under the table. ‘Just as your country is special in its way. Caro silk is famed for its bright colours and we often enjoy your wine here in Eana. And of course, many of my favourite spices hail from your beautiful country.’

‘And yet, alas, we do not enjoy the spoils of magic,’ said Prince Felix, with a pout. ‘But we are not afraid of it,’ he added,quickly. ‘In fact, we would welcome it on our shores. Indeed, I wonder if …’ He trailed off, stroking his chin as if an idea had only just occurred to him.

‘If?’ prompted Wren, warily.

‘If an Eanan flower planted somewhere else … say, somewhere warmer … would bloom as well as it does in its native soil.’ He gazed intently at Rose. ‘Excuse me for speaking so directly, but we are a direct people.’

Wren snorted. ‘You don’t say.’

‘What I am trying to ask is this, Queen Rose. If you and I were to have children, they would most certainly be beautiful, but they would also be magical, would they not?’ This time it was Rose who nearly choked on her food. Prince Felix seemed not to notice. ‘Is it possible to spread the magic of your country to another?’

‘The closer we are to the source of our magic, which is the land of Eana itself, the stronger our magic is,’ said Thea politely, as if the prince of Caro had asked her about the potatoes they were eating rather than the possibility of Rose bearing magic children for him. ‘Prince Felix, I must say, the horses you brought with you are very fine. I was admiring them this morning.’

Rose offered the Queensbreath a grateful smile.

‘Ah!’ Felix’s eyes lit up. ‘Those are our very finest Caro stallions. They are a wonder unto themselves.’

‘Then perhaps you should mate with one of them instead,’ said Wren under her breath.

‘They are a gift to the queens,’ he went on, with great excitement. ‘Six for each sister. You’ll find the Illonian breed are the fastest horses anywhere on this earth. I’d bet my castle on it.’

‘Then I’m afraid you would lose it, Prince Felix. As they could not possibly be as fast as our desert horses,’said Rose, sweetly.

Felix leaned forward. ‘Is that a challenge, Queen Rose? And if it is, what would you wager on it?’ He leered at her. ‘Will I win your hand in marriage if one of my horses beats your own?’

Wren looked between them. ‘This is either the best or worst proposal I’ve ever heard.’

‘Prince Felix, you are far too kind,’ said Rose, between sips of wine. ‘We cannot accept such generous gifts.’

‘But we’ll keep the olive trees,’ said Wren, swishing her fork around.

‘The trees are from my mother,’ said Felix. ‘But the horses and the jewels –’ he smiled widely at Rose – ‘those are gifts from me. Hand chosen for the most beautiful maiden in Eana. This is but a small measure of the kind of treatment you can expect as a bride of Caro.’

‘Rose is queen of Eana,’ said Wren, pointedly. ‘This is the kind of treatment she already deserves.’

‘And I am not yet anyone’s bride,’ said Rose, keeping a tight leash on her temper. She had done this song and dance once before, and it had ended in tragedy. She was not interested in being bartered again, and certainly not to Prince Felix of Caro.

He held up his hands in supplication. ‘Apologies,’ he said, with a toothy smile. ‘I meant no offence. Indeed, I seek only to please you.’ He waggled his brows. ‘And you should know, I take pleasing women very seriously. In Caro, it is an art.’

‘Oh my,’ said Thea, quietly.

Wren wheezed into her napkin.

Rose’s cheeks flamed. ‘Prince Felix, we hope to have a long and prosperous alliance with Caro.But I’m afraid I simply cannot acceptanythingfrom you at the present moment.’

Prince Felix frowned. He looked, almost reluctantly, to Wren. He cleared his throat. ‘Queen Wren—’

‘Don’t bother,’ said Wren, cutting him off. ‘I’m afraid it’s a no from me, too.’ She skewered the fish eye with her fork. ‘In fact, make that anever.’

‘Very well,’ said Felix, taking a large slug of wine. ‘Queen Rose, you will see I am both a very patient and very persistent man.’

Rose steadied her voice. ‘Whatadmirablequalities.’

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