Page 63 of Crown of Slumber

The third throne was occupied by the king’s younger brother, who had identical blond hair but was clean-shaven, his eyes a warm brown. He glanced between me and Aurelia with a slight frown as he rubbed his square jaw.

“We perplex them, beloved,” I murmured to Aurelia.

“Indeed,” was her only response. Her eyes remained stoically fixed ahead, her expression betraying nothing as we made our way down the aisle of soldiers. When we reached the foot of the dais, she curtsied and I bowed.

King Tyrone waved his hand. “No need for that. Aurelia and I are old friends, after all.”

Aurelia stiffened next to me but replied easily. “That we are, Your Majesty. I understand congratulations are in order for your coronation. Apologies for missing the ceremony, but I had important matters to attend to in my own court.”

A carefully crafted deception. She hadn’t downright stated she was sorry to have missed it—because she wasn’t. And even if it was only a matter of signing a single document, the excuse was still valid.

Clever firebird.

Tyrone smirked as if he saw through the politeness. “I must admit I was… surprised to receive your notice. I would not have believed it unless I had seen for myself. Is it true you are engaged to be married?”

The entire room seemed to hold its breath with anticipation. Aurelia lifted her chin with a smile and said, “That is why we are here. Prince Fenn and I have reached an agreement between our kingdoms and are delighted to announce the happy tidings.”

Tyrone scratched his chin, frowning as he glanced between us. “I see.”

A tense silence fell between us. Aurelia and I remained perfectly still under his scrutiny.

After a long moment, I couldn’t help myself. I forced a chuckle and asked, “Have we passed your inspection, Your Majesty?”

Tyrone’s eyebrows lifted, his gaze finally snapping to me with a glare. “I am simply caught off guard. It wasn’t long ago that myentire kingdom expected this woman to become their queen. And now you show up to announce a rather abrupt engagement that we knew nothing about.”

“It is not my obligation to inform you of my relations with other kingdoms,” Aurelia said brusquely.

“It is if you intend to maintain good relations withmykingdom,” Tyrone snapped.

“Is my fiancée to keep you apprised ofallof her lovers?” I demanded.

Tyrone’s mother choked on a cough, then pressed a hand to her chest as she cleared her throat.

I smiled wickedly. “Forgive me. But if King Tyrone expects my future wife to keep him so informed, then that must mean he expects a missive for every person she takes to her bed. Is that not so?”

Tyrone’s cheeks turned red. “I did not?—”

“Truth be told, this arrangement happened rather suddenly,” I went on. “There wasn’t much time to send proper notice. I even had to send a courier to inform my mother, for which I will be soundly chastised. She will be incensed that she did not receive the news in person.”

Tyrone’s brows furrowed. “Why the rush, then? What led to such a rash development?”

“We wanted to smooth relations between our kingdoms,” Aurelia provided. “We had come to a business arrangement, but… it was prudent for something more binding to bring our kingdoms together after so many years of strife. A union of marriage seemed like the best way to bridge that gap.” She turned and flashed a rather convincing smile at me, which I returned.

“And, of course, it doesn’t hurt that we are wildly attracted to one another,” I added with a chuckle.

Aurelia inhaled a sharp breath beside me, the corners of her mouth twitching and her eyes closing in exasperation for the briefest of seconds. It took all my restraint not to bark out a loud and obnoxious laugh.

Yes, I was putting on a show for the Autumn Court. But I was also putting on a show forher.And the way her fingernails dug into the skin of my arm told me she was well aware of my efforts.

Tyrone cleared his throat and shifted in his seat, his frown deepening.

“We were passing through your lands,” Aurelia said, her voice gentler, “and we knew it would cause grave offense if we did not announce ourselves. Please consider this a gesture of good will between our kingdoms. Your court is thefirstplace we have made this official announcement.”

“Aside from your own?” Tyrone asked.

Aurelia’s expression froze, her body rigid.

Shit.

---