Page 128 of A Court Bright and Broken

“His glamour causes others to actuallywantto give him whatever he desires,” I explained. “They do it happily—at least they’re happy until later when it wears off. I’m fairly sure it’s howhebecameking. And I know it’s helped him gain more power and riches than any king in Fae history.”

“And your sister’s?” Raewyn asked.

“Mareth can communicate with animals, and as far as I can tell, get them to do whatever she asks. I don’t think it’s really compulsion, though. She says she asks. Even if shecouldforce them, she wouldn’t use it that way. She has no lust for power.”

“What about Pharis?” she asked. “He seems positivelymadeof lust.”

I bristled at the memory of how my brother had pursued Lady Wyn, even after he knew how I’d felt about her. But Raewyn had never met Pharis—had she?

“You know my brother?”

She shook her head rapidly. “No, of course not. But I knowofhim. Everyone does, just as everyone knows of you.”

“Right,” I nodded in understanding.

“I suppose he does have a reputation,” I admitted. “He’s not as bad as all that, though. He’s always been a loyal friend to me, and I to him. And I know he wouldn’t want me discussing his glamour. He finds it shameful… just as I find mine.”

Raewyn leaned forward, a little line forming between her brows.

“Why shameful? I thought glamours were good, that they helped you in life.”

“Some of them do for sure,” I said. “Some of them are less… impressive.”

I licked my lips, inhaling deeply through my nose and debating. I’d promised her total honesty, but I couldn’t betray my brother.

“If you don’t mind, I really don’t think it’s my place to talk about Pharis’ glamour,” I said. “Mareth is different—she delights in hers and doesn’t mind who knows it.”

Hesitating, I drew another long breath and prepared for humiliation. “But if you still want to know… I’ll tell you about mine.”

Raewyn nodded eagerly.

My heart pounded as I confessed something I never discussed with anyone except my siblings.

“I am what’s known as… an Exalter. That means I have the ability to enhance the glamours of others.”

“That doesn’t sound so bad,” Raewyn said. “I’m not sure why you’d feel shame over it.”

I shrugged, shifting uncomfortably in my chair. “It’s the glamour of a helper, not a ruler. I can’t really do anything on my own.”

What I didn’t mention was how I’d been ridiculed over it my whole life by my own father. Why would he do that if my glamour wasn’t a mortifying embarrassment?

Unlike other parents who had their children’s glamour symbols tattooed in a prominent spot in glowing ink as soon as they developed, Father had hidden my symbol.

It had been tattooed high on my ribcage, beneath one arm.

Sometimes I wondered if he’d have pushed me aside and made Pharis his heir, had my brother notalsobeen born with a “lesser” glamour.

As it was, our sire had always made the both of us feel inferior about the way we’d been born—though he certainly didn’t mind using our abilities whenever it suited him.

Raewyn looked puzzled. “To me, it sounds like theperfectglamour for a future king. What could be better than being able to help as many people as possible?”

I blinked. Blinked again. “I’ve… never thought of it that way.”

“It seems rather obvious to me,” she said then added with a smile, “No insult intended against your intelligence.”

I chuckled. “None taken.”

She went on, explaining her point of view.

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