Page 24 of Tall Dark and Evil

“Not until I invite them to, no.”

What a charmed life.

Returning to my task, I spot a name that has my stomach lurching. I groan, and take a healthy gulp of wine before begrudgingly writingCamil Ostra.

“Not a friend of yours, I take it.” Reiks, while seemingly focused on his work, notices my change of humor.

“I’d call her a malignant troll, if that wasn’t an insult to trolls.”

He nods his assent. “But a very wealthy, rather cute troll.”

I make a face, deciding not to comment one way or another. If he likes her, his funeral. My silence lasts a whole minute before I ask, “Why not getherto play your scapegoat? She’d certainly be willing enough.”

“You’re rather jealous, aren’t you? Blythe, Camil, Peria. Are we going to go over every woman I’ve had a tumble with?”

“You had a tumble with Camil? While engaged to hercousin?”

“Betrothed, and Blythe was her elder sister, not her cousin. She turned up in my room mostly naked. What was I to do?”

I get the clear feeling he’s enjoying himself immensely, so I want to stop myself from saying more.

“Camil would be only too willing, and expect a crown for her effort. Besides, why look elsewhere when Alis Frejr owes me a year of her life?”

“What after this year?” I push. “You only have me for a few months.”

“I’ll be out of this nightmare of a school by then. There will be considerably fewer eyes following my every move.”

I rather doubt his father’s court will have any less interest in his actions, but if he believes so, who am I to dash his fantasy?

I’m taken by a strange desire to amuse myself as well as him, so I grasp my flute and spill a generous swirl of wine on the thick paper, smudging Camil’s name. All innocence, I say, “Oops.”

I’m gratified by Reiks’s low chuckle. “What am I going to do with you?”

“I’ll rewrite it,” I say, somewhat regretfully. Spoiling it felt good for a second, though.

Reiks takes the envelope from me, and tears it in two.

“Seriously? You’re not inviting her?”

“Anything for my feather. Even though your jealousy may cost the crown millions of gold, should we offend the richest family in our kingdom.”

“I’m not in the least jealous of anything about Camil Ostra,” I snap.

“No, just opposed to my inviting a rather pretty girl who likes to throw herself at me.”

He’s infuriating.

“Because she’s horrible to me.”

“What’s your excuse for disapproving of Peria?”

“She wasn't exactly welcoming either, and why am I justifying myself? You can screw anyone you like.”

“Anyone?” His silver eyes glint, with amusement and something else.

That’s when I realize what our heated conversation might look like.

Oh, by all the gods. I fell right into it. We’reflirting. Right in front of dozens of people who are avidly watching us and will be reporting back to the entire university within hours. How did he even manage to make me do this? Idon’tflirt.

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