Page 17 of Tall Dark and Evil

“I get it.” And I do. He’s written off a debt of eleven million with a wave of his hand. As he told me before, I am his bitch. “But could we avoid early morning? I have a full schedule I can’t keep up with if I’m sleep deprived. You could get your assistant to take notes at dawn.” I recall the name he shared earlier. “Peria, right?”

I could be wrong, but I think that’s the woman in blue I’d seen following him around this week. The one who witnessed my fall. She has the manners of a high-ranking servant.

“No.”

If he wasn’t enjoying himself so much, I might despise him less. “You’re trying to get under my skin,” I accuse stonily.

He crooks one eyebrow. “Now does that sound like something I’d do?”

“You tell me. I don’t know you.”

Last season, he was the well-liked, respected crown prince of Anderkan I never spared a thought for. Since the start of this school term, he’s flirted at the edge of my mind, because of his expression that first day. Determination. Rage. Passion. Now I’ve discovered another facet, more unexpected than the rest. He likes to play with his food.

Unfortunately, the food is me.

WhoisNatheran Reiks? The golden prince, the cold grieving fiancé, or this teasing jerk?

He leans his formidable frame to mine, and whisper. “We’re going to spend a lot of time together this year. That sounds like something you should work on, Frejr.”

CHAPTEREIGHT

THE FRIEND

I’m exhausted and angryfor most of the day, but by the time I get to my psychology lecture, I decide Reiks is right.I should get to know him. Understand what I’m dealing with.

This morning was a series of surprises, because I’m thoroughly unprepared for this new position I occupy, for better or worse. I would never have guessed these five royals cared about the fate of Xhera. Kids dying in the undercity. Rebels and the Pillar. Corruption in the elections of officials. I always took the students in this school for selfish, conniving, bored spoiled brats. And they’re certainly that.Some of them might be more.

The professor leading this lecture is late as usual, so I pull my e-stone tablet out of my bag and log into the globe to research Natheran Reiks.

The holographic article floats on top of my stone. Naturally, the first entry is about the current king of Anderkan, as they share their pompous name. Crowned a hundred and seventeen years ago, at age twenty-three, he’s one of the Anderkanian kings to have held the throne for the longest period of time. He’s had five sons and three daughters, most of whom have already died one way or another. His only living descendants are Natheran Reiks, and the younger princess Dyfina.

Looking at Natheran Reiks VI’s picture, I’m struck by his resemblance to, well, my Reiks. They don’t look like father and son; they look like duplicates. The only difference is that the younger Reiks’s eyes are silver-gray, while the king has dark eyes.

The article drones on about the king, his relationship with the Pillar—pretty good, despite his long life betraying his demi heritage—and the economic state of Anderkan. Great at a glance, terrible in the details. The ruling class hoards the wealth of the country.

It’s the same almost everywhere. Vanemir has made efforts to smooth the divide, but even they have a long way to go. It speaks about his harem in a few measured words. The king never marries, and keeps an ever-changing harem of young women who get replaced at the first sign of wrinkles. He’s acknowledged all his children, though, so there are worse kings.

I click on the name of the son, and find a much shorter article. He’ll be twenty-five on the winter solstice. His betrothal to Blythe is mentioned. His father arranged the match at Blythe’s birth, a few months after Reiks’s. He was schooled at the palace in his youth, but travelled to every kingdom, spending several months with other royal kids.

That explains how their pride started.

His list of accomplishments includes fencing, music, and a number of strategy games. He used to compete as a kid, but stopped after an embarrassing defeat at the hands of none other than Zale Devar.

I grin. Reiks only likes to play so long as he’s winning, then.

And he holds grudges. Oh, he might have teased Zale in a way that was outwardly friendly, but I can tell he picked a subject that stung.

I’ve gleaned more than I expected to from the few words on the page, but I’m frustrated there isn’t more.

“Oh, look who’s interested in the future king of Anderkan,” a familiar voice croons.

Caelin. I groan, refusing to turn to face the three Cs.

They rarely miss an opportunity to ruin my day.

Camil snorts. “Like awitchstands a chance with him.”

“Not only a witch, but a terrible one,” Chira laughs. “He’s fromAnderkan. He’ll never touch the likes of you—not with a barge pole.”

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