Page 50 of A War of Crowns

“Of course.” Seraphina dismissed him with a wan smile. “Please relay my warmest regards to your wife and daughter.”

Again, the Count of Wellane bowed before fleeing from her presence as if the Enemy himself nipped his heels. She hardly blamed him. She had just placed a target on his back and handed the Duke of Coreto a bow.

Wellane was right. Coretoshouldhave been next for consideration. And the duke was unlikely to soon forget such a slight.

But she had more immediate problems to contend with. The moment the Count of Wellane ceased blocking her view, she saw Lord Tiberius striding toward her with a smile on his lips.

Seraphina reached for what was left of her wine and downed it all in one go.

“I have come to beg a dance from the fairest queen in all Avirel,” Tiberius announced the moment he stepped atop the dais housing the high table. He swept into a deep bow more fitting for an empress.

Seraphina’s lips quirked. “I am the only queen in all Avirel, my lord,” she couldn’t help but observe.

“Well, yes. But only if one wishes to exclude the poor queen consorts and dowager queens,” he countered on his rise. “And yet, even if Avirel were drowning in queens,youwould still outshine them all,” he added on a husky purr, his voice like dark velvet.

Clearly, he was determined to make this difficult.

“You flatter me,” Seraphina breathed, already on her feet. She didn’t even remember standing. “But I fear I am in no mood to dance tonight.”

“A walk in the gardens, then?” he suggested, seemingly unperturbed by her initial rejection. “I had hoped we might have an opportunity to speak before you left for Nerina Reef.”

Seraphina’s stomach roiled. Her pulse fluttered. “Very well,” she agreed, turning to make for the double doors leading out to the palace gardens. The march of booted feet trailed in her wake. “I desire privacy, Sir Arkwright,” she bid over her shoulder withoutbothering to see if the captain of her Queensguard was truly following her.

She knew he was.

The night air was pleasant—warm and heady, and scented with the glorious perfume of the many roses her gardeners favored. Overhead, the stars glittered and the moon hung heavy and full. It was a magical sort of night.

Beautiful. Romantic.

The moment she passed beneath the dark shadows cast by a trellis, Seraphina turned to face the man she had once loved. Her tongue was primed to tell himnoonce and for all. It was now or never. She had to tell him. She couldn’t, in good conscience, sail to Nerina Reef knowing she might have to barter herself to secure Mysai’s safety without first telling Tiberius no.

But before she could utter a single word, the former mercer’s son pulled from his doublet a large, flat box which he opened to reveal what was perhaps the most opulent necklace ever crafted.

At the sight of it, Seraphina forgot how to breathe.

The many diamonds decorating that fine-spun choker glittered in the moonlight—layers upon layers of jewels that would have dripped down the throat. It was exquisite. It was excessive.

Seraphina stared at the deluge of diamonds, her mouth agape. “By the Light, Tiberius, did you raid a diamond mine?”

He chuckled at the question and extended the box to her. “You know I would raid any and all diamond mines for you. Do you like it?” He did not wait for her to answer, though, before he asked, “Shall I help you put it on?”

“Tiberius—”

“You will make it glitter all the more beautifully.”

“Tiberius.”

Tiberius finally stopped fishing the necklace out of its box long enough to meet her eyes.

When he did, Seraphina gathered up enough courage to whisper, “My answer is no.”

The silence that followed was a poignant beast.

Tiberius’s jaw worked. He visibly swallowed. His voice was little more than a shred of sound when he finally asked, “You are rejecting me?”

The question was a knife to her heart. “It is what is best for Elmoria, Tiberius.”

The man huffed out a breath and turned away from her. “I suppose this would explain why you have yet to invite me to Nerina Reef, hm? Because you were always intending to set me aside? To cast me from your favor?”

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