“Lord Savoy,” Sully corrects her stiffly. His arm tenses under my touch as he casts his gaze around the cozy room.
High-backed, well-worn brown leather chairs and low oak tables dominate the space. A few huge paintings gifted by famous alumni line the walls, and a linen-and-silver-swathed table has been set up for our luncheon. A fire crackles quietly in a stone fireplace with a wide hearth.
I’ve never set foot within the Phrontistery’s staff lounge. I actually haven’t returned to campus since I left almost five years ago. And Tereza has only been overseeing it all — for her family — for the last year or so.
Tereza’s step hitches, and she clasps her hands together, shifting her gaze between us uncomfortably. “Lord … Savoy?”
My stomach sours a little at the confirmation that Sully has decided to claim his maternal lineage. In order to be with me, I have no doubt.
Tereza’s questioning glance bothers me just a little more than Sully claiming that title, though.
“Official paperwork filed this morning,” Sully says with a shrug, placing his hand on my lower back and guiding me around Tereza toward the table. “Not that the title hasn’t always been mine.”
Tereza blinks at that for a moment, her mind obviously working overtime. In the same moment that she realizes the previously unclaimed title is inherited, I realize that she thought I had bequeathed it on Sully to make him more eligible. Or rather, that my father had bequeathed it at my request.
I instantly bristle. It’s funny how such slights bother me only when they’re directed at someone I love.
That’s such a short list. Even shorter than the list of names I wrote under the influence of the intersection point —
Sully’s hand slips to my waist, squeezing, then pulling me against his body. And I realize that my essence has risen along with my ire.
Tereza’s gaze is firmly fixed to my feet now, her hands twisting together tightly enough that her knuckles have whitened.
“It’s through my mother,” Sully says smoothly, though it’s uncharacteristic for him to bother with being … diplomatic. “Everyone will know soon enough. Assuming the clerk at the courthouse hasn’t already leaked the information to the media.” He smirks in my direction. “Eli already has me running errands. First, Zurich early this morning …” Then he snaps his mouth shut as if catching himself from saying too much.
I narrow my eyes at his obvious teasing, even as a little thrill of … something … shimmers through me. Elias … the Earl ofHereford, who also holds a seat on the World Council, and who was one of the names on my apparently not-hallucinated list. Elias is involved in whatever Sully has —
“Well,” Tereza says, stiffly but vigorously, as if she’s grasping for the graceful exit that Sully has flung her way. She skirts the table to take the seat opposite the one Sully has pulled out for me. “That sort of leak can be mitigated. I know the editor-in-chief of —”
Sully waves a hand in her direction, sliding into another chair. “No need.”
I see four place settings, but I’m not certain who else is to join us. After closing the patio doors behind us, Roz has quietly taken up position next to them. She won’t eat. Not even if asked. And Tereza knows better than to ask.
Tereza lifts her golden-hazel eyes to meet my own, and I politely remove my sunglasses. Though only because Sully has seated me with my back to the windows. She clears her throat. “Your Highness …”
Sully shifts his chair so he’s close enough to curl his foot around my own, our ankles touching. Not even attempting to do so with any subtlety.
The contact settles me back into my skin, and I flush a little at the sharpness of his gaze. He doesn’t seem to remotely care that Tereza will read into that look and know … know he’s in love with me? Overtly obsessed with me?
Tereza’s gaze flicks between us. As I assumed it would.
Sully smirks — of course and always — at my reaction, then slumps back in his chair with his typical feigned disinterest. His gaze, hooded and playful now, still rests on me, though.
Refusing to be flustered, I ignore the flush across my face — and in other areas — and take a sip of the water set to the side of my plate. “I appreciate you making time for me, LadyLandenberg.” My use of her title is intentional, and I side-eye Sully to make certain he notices.
His smile widens in delight.
“It’s my pleasure, Your Highness.” Tereza pulls her phone out, pressing a few buttons, then sliding it into her lap. “Though a few of the kitchen staff have remained over the break to see to the students who stay on campus, I ordered —”
“The unwanted brats,” Sully interjects, his tone flat.
Tereza clears her throat, more annoyed than flustered.
Sully has a way of bringing that out in people he doesn’t particularly care about. And his list of loved ones is even shorter than mine.
Actually, I think our lists would be an almost perfect match save for one new addition on my part. Rian.
Oh, fuck.
