Page 72 of Rise of the Phoenix King (Crown and Crest 4)

I swallow, looking at Clover. Lady Julianna strokes her hair as the two share a quiet conversation. Clover seems a little better now, crying no more. Sensing my gaze, she turns to look at me. Seeing her like that, with her tear-stained cheeks, nearly kills me.

I look back at the count. “I wish to marry your daughter, my lord. I want to be in a position where I can protect her, and I cannot do that unless I keep her close.”

He’s not surprised. Denny must have spoken with him already.

Count Flauret turns to Lawrence, asking a wordless question. The king sits back in his chair, brooding. After a moment, he nods.

“If Clover agrees, you have my permission,” Count Flauret says. “I cannot think of a man to whom I would rather entrust my daughter.”

“I’m sitting right here,” Lawrence mutters to Ayan.

“Apologies, Your Majesty,” Count Flauret says, his face softening marginally with the barest touch of humor.

“You still must wait until Audra marries me,” Lawrence says to Clover. “I’m not budging on that.”

“I’ll marry you,” Audra says quietly. “You’re a snake for trapping me like this, but I’ll do it for Henrik and Clover.”

We all turn to her, astonished.

“And for my kingdom,” she says quietly. “We must show a united front, as you said. And judging from this evening’s gathering, we’re failing miserably.” She turns her tired eyes to Lawrence. “We’ll sign an official betrothal agreement in the morning. That should be sufficiently binding. Stop wielding your power over Henrik and Clover and let them marry.”

You could hear a pin drop.

Lawrence rises, walking across the room to meet her.

She extends her hand to stop him from coming too close. “That doesn’t mean I’m giving you permission to touch me now.”

He drops his hands, smirking with triumph.

Audra narrows her eyes. “Stop looking at me like that, or I’ll change my mind.”

Lawrence wipes the smile from his face, but he can’t control the glint in his eyes. Audra turns from him with a long-suffering sigh and heads toward the door. “I’m going to bed. Clover, unless you’re going home with your parents, why don’t you stay with us?”

“She’s going home,” Count Flauret says, his tone saying the subject isn’t open for discussion.

Now that Camellia is dead,sort of, Clover is no longer obligated to stay in the castle as a lady-in-waiting. Nor is she engaged to Lawrence. She’s free to return to her parents’ estate.

I suspect the only reason she’s remained here is because of me.

Lyredon and Ayan follow Audra, and the knights step into the hall. Lawrence approaches Clover and her mother, waiting for Clover to look at him.

When she does, he pulls her in for a hug. “Don’t do that to me again, all right?”

Jealousy stirs in my chest, but I recognize the move as friendly, not much different than how I would comfort Brielle.

Well, maybe a little different.

“Okay.” I step up beside them and clear my throat.

Lawrence smiles as he releases her. At a mock whisper, he says to her, “Henrik the Envious.”

She snorts out a soft laugh, smiling. Perhaps it would bother me, but she reaches for my hand, connecting us.

“We’ll give you two a moment,” Pranmore says, ushering Lawrence, Bartholomew, and even Clover’s parents out the door.

When we’re alone, Clover hugs me tightly. “I was terrified.”

My spine stiffens, and I draw in a sharp breath, feeling inadequate. She should have never found herself in that position.

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