Page 83 of The Exile's Curse

"They should marry," Sejerin Silya said abruptly.

Apparently she wasn’t going to worry about protocol either. Lucien clenched his jaw against the desire to ask her if she had lost her mind. "I beg your pardon?"

"Marriage would restore the balance," she said as though she was saying something perfectly sensible.

Maybe he had hit his head after all. Maybe he was back in the cave, still dreaming.

"You can't be serious," Chloe said, outrage clear in her tone. "We were merely trying to survive the night.”

Mikvel laid one of his hands flat on the table, nodding. "Silya, these are not Andalyssians. They are not bound by our customs."

Relief swept through Lucien's gut. Good, someone was going to be sensible.

"But you are, Your Majesty," Silya said. "You took an oath to maintain the balance. We already have the difficulty from the council being incomplete for so long. Now you have another transgression. One which took place during your wedding hunt. Perhaps the goddess sent the storm to show her displeasure."

If she had, wouldn't that mean she had no issue with Chloe and him spending the night in a cave? Lucien's fingers flexed and he gripped his hands under the table, fighting to stay calm. His gut told him the sejerin was lying. But to try to use his power on her would be a flagrant breach of protocol. It would only make things worse.

“That’s superstition and foolishness,” Mikvel said, squaring his shoulders. “Seers don’t always get the forecasts right. This is merely one of those times.”

“Perhaps. But if the balance is skewed, the land is cursed.”

“That is also superstition and nonsense,” Mikvel said, his voice firm. “Curses don’t exist.”

Silya scowled. “You know nothing of the old times. Of what can be done when power is used wildly and with no regard for the balance.”

Like Illvyans did?

“This is not the old times, Sejerin.”

“You do not hear the land protest the balance broken as I do,” she retorted. “Do not be so sure.”

Mikvel looked pained all over again. “Nevertheless, we are discussing what has happened today. Not old magic and mysteries.”

“Mysteries that keep your land safe, Your Majesty. You would be wise to remember it.”

“Sejerin, do not forget yourself,” Roland said.

Silya shot him a look.

"You both know the queen cannot be crowned if the sejerin and the priests do not confirm the balance," Silya continued, sounding slyly triumphant.

"Are you saying you won't?" Mikvel said flatly. "We are working to rectify the issue with House Elannon. This seems minor compared to that."

"I'm not saying we won’t. I'm saying we could not." Silya looked too smug at the thought.

Lucien's heart sank. She clearly thought she had something over Mikvel here. Something the king might bow to rather than risk a scandal. But why was she forcing his hand? What was she gaining? Or, if not her, whoever it was whose interests she had in mind. "The balance is broken when propriety is so clearly ignored. Not to mention that...wrongdoing between them." She gestured at the space between them.

"Wrongdoing?" Chloe said indignantly. "Do you mean the bond? We needed that to stay alive.”

Mikvel winced. "Lady de Montesse. In Andalyssia, bonds are uncommon magic. And they are never shared between unmarried members of the opposite sex. They are rarely used outside the priesthood or the seers, in fact. I understand that you were in need, but—"

"Forbidden," Silya finished. "Balance broken must be restored. It is the king's to uphold, and he cannot hold his oath and let this pass. It would leave him unworthy in the eyes of many."

Fuck. Lucien resisted the urge to rub his suddenly throbbing head.

Honore cleared her throat. "Your Majesty, may I be granted a few minutes with my officers?" She managed a smile. "This is...a complicated situation, but I'm sure we can come to a resolution."

"What if we just leave?" Chloe said. "You could say I needed medical attention. Send us back down to Elenia. No one needs to know what happened."

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