Page 65 of A Cage of Crystal

He leaned farther back in his chair and tipped his face toward the sky. “It’s been a long day. A day that has felt more like months. So forgive me if I’m beyond caring whether you imbibe.”

She studied him, studied his too-relaxed posture, his loose limbs. Maybe courting Aveline had done a number on his brain. Or was it more that…

Her pulse racketed as realization dawned.

“Did Larylis tell you? Is that why you’re being so lax about this?”

“Tell me what?”

“About…my lie.”

He swirled his glass and watched her over the rim of his cup. “He tells me many things. He’s my brother.”

She felt suddenly small. Abashed. While she couldn’t blame Larylis for wanting to relieve some of the guilt he carried, she hated that he hadn’t warned her in advance that he’d be telling Teryn the truth. “So you know I’m not truly with child.”

An amused grin lifted his lips. “I do now. What an entertaining twist.”

Heat seared her blood and crawled up her cheeks. “Did you just…trick me into confessing—”

“Seven devils, Majesty,” he said with a roll of his eyes. “Drink. Enjoy yourself. Or don’t. I care not about whatever lies you’ve had to tell to get what you want.”

She was flustered beyond belief, unsure whether Teryn had been teasing her or if he still was. Either way, it didn’t seem like he was at all concerned about reporting her actions to her parents.

“Fine,” she said, snatching the glass from the table and bringing it to her lips. She swallowed half the glass in a single gulp, then drained the rest between bites of cake. While she knew she should savor the wine’s taste—it was a lovely vintage, after all—she couldn’t help but fear it would be taken away at any moment. If one servant exited the door, if one of her lady’s maids came looking for her, she’d have to return to her ruse.

Just a few more days, she reminded herself. Her cycle was due soon. Or was it overdue? It didn’t matter. As soon as she could release herself from her lie, she could have all the wine she wanted. Then maybe, justmaybe, her remaining days at Ridine would be somewhat tolerable.

“Your Majesty,” Teryn said, refilling both their empty glasses, “I think we should get to know each other better.”

“I suppose,” she muttered, mouth full of cake. She gathered another forkful, noting her movements were growing sloppy. Damn. She should have known better than to drink so fast. Especially with how long it had been since her last drink. Even so, she’d enjoy the wine while she could, no matter how drunk it got her. Rebelling against her own good sense, she drained the rest of her glass and poured more. She chased that with the rest of her cake. With her nerves so unwound, she leaned back in her chair and released a satisfied moan, luxuriating in the sugary fullness of her belly, the burn of the wine, the lightness in her head.

“Tell me, sister. What is your deepest secret? Aside from the one I already know about, of course.” He said the last part with a wink.

“My deepest secret…is that I have no secrets.” She snorted a rather unladylike laugh at her lie.

“Then what is your greatest desire?”

That she could confess. “That I was back home at Dermaine with my husband.”

Teryn’s expression fell with pity. “You've been treated unfairly, Majesty. You deserve better.”

“You don’t need to tell me that.” She lifted her chin, and a wave of dizziness had her swaying in her seat. “I already know.”

“It must be so hard for you to be here alone. Without friends. Without family. All the while watching Princess Aveline get everything she wants. Her home, her lover. And what do you get?”

His words rang true, yet they sounded wrong coming from his lips. Why was he saying these things about the woman he adored? A shudder ran down her spine, and the warmth from the wine, the tingling in her mind and stomach, no longer felt so pleasant.

She stood on unsteady feet but forced herself to seem composed. “I’ve had enough cake,” she said, voice slurred. “I’m going to bed now.”

“No, you should enjoy yourself more. Besides, do you really want people to see you swaying through the halls? Courtiers talk, you know.”

She glared at him, but a swirl of nausea had her dropping back into her seat.

Teryn brushed past her, pausing at the door that led to the kitchen. “If ever there is something you want, do tell me. You’ll find I make a formidable ally and a terrifying enemy.”

She forced herself to turn around in her chair. “Is that some kind of a threat?”

“An offer, Majesty. We’re on the same side.”

---