Page 33 of A Storm in Every Heart
Alix looks startled. “Calm down, we know you don’t get along. Anyway, Kastian can’t very well waltz into the court of Hydratta as if nothing happened.”
I swallow thickly. “Of course he can’t.”
“We thought perhaps Jett could go with you? He’d be helpful at gathering information, and he’s a good fighter if somethingwere to go wrong, but not in an obvious way. If we sent you with Fox, it would send the message to Hydratta that we’re expecting you to be attacked.”
I smile. “You’re getting good at navigating court politics.”
“I try. I’ve been going back and forth between reading business management books and watchingGame of Throneswhen I go home to visit my mom and Nana.”
“What’s that?”
She waves me off. “Never mind. So, are you alright with Jett tagging along?”
“Of course…” I bite my lip. “I’m surprised you’re not telling me it would be safer to stay here.”
She shrugs. “I mean, it would be safer…but even if I thought you’d listen to me, that’s not what I’d say. I don’t doubt you can take care of yourself.”
“Thank you.” I smile, a tiny bubble of excitement forming in my chest. I appreciate her faith in me, and although I’m nervous, I’m mostly excited at the prospect of doing something important.
“You have to be the one to tell Beatrix, though.” Alix presses her lips together, holding back a laugh.
The excited bubble in my chest pops. “What? No…”
She grins. “Don’t think you’re going to pawn that pleasure off on me. She’s your surrogate mother, you tell her.”
My nose wrinkles with disgust—more at the word “mother” than anything else, but I’ve never told anyone why that word might bother me. I couldn’t even if I wanted to.
“Will you come with me?” I ask.
Alix grins. “Not a chance. I already saw my mother today. I’ve sat through enough disappointed parental lectures. This one is all on you. At least Beatrix means well with her concern, I think my mother just likes being miserable.”
“I’d happily trade,” I grumble. “I hate being fussed over.” It feels too similar to pity, which is a reaction I’d do almost anything to avoid.
“Think of it as your first official diplomatic negotiation.”
I groan. “I’d honestly rather go to war.”
Alix laughs. “Yeah, it seems like that’s how everyone inGame of Thronesfeels too.”
It’s nearly 10:00 p.m. when I head downstairs to look for Beatrix. A large part of me hopes she’s already asleep…at least this way, I can say I tried to find her.
I make my way down the creaky wooden stairs, each step echoing softly in the empty house, and shoulder open the heavy door leading to the dining room.
The dining room is enveloped in darkness, with shadows growing more pronounced in the corners. The sole source of light is the full moon, which shines through the large windows and casts a glow on the polished oak dining table. My vision gradually adjusts, allowing the shapes of the furniture to emerge. Suddenly, something stirs in the shadows, causing my heart to jump into my throat.
“Gods fucking dammit!” I exclaim, jumping backwards. “You scared me.”
“Sorry,” Kastian replies, not sounding very sorry at all.
He’s sitting alone at the far end of the long dining table, his broad-shouldered silhouette just visible by the light of the moon. He’s holding a large goblet, gently swirling the liquid inside it. On the table in front of him sits an unlit candle, its wax drippedand hardened around the base as if it extinguished some time ago.
I storm across the room to the hutch where I know there are matches, grumbling under my breath. “I don’t know why you’d want to sit in the damn dark. What are you even doing here?”
Kastian shifts in his seat. “I should be asking you that.”
I stop short. “Excuse me? I’m not the one drinking alone in the dark.”
He chuckles bitterly. “Do you really want to start trying to tell me what I can and can’t do, Princess?”
