Page 41 of The Lord of Whispers

Her green eyes popped open. The happiness on her face changed to a pinched expression.

“I can’t, Luke. I’m going to the Winter Gala here. With Jay.”

“It’s really warm there and there are beaches,” I said, tempting her, tugging at her arm looped into mine.

She looked back at me, clearly contemplating. She looked torn.

“Did I mention I own my own island?” I bragged, trying to sway her.

“What! Your own—No, I can’t,” she replied, letting out an exasperated breath. “I already told Jay that I would stay here and go. And with you out of town, he’ll need me here.”

“Ok. You’re missing out, though,” I said, managing to sound only slightly disappointed.

Unconsciously, we were both heading to Bar Louie, our favorite bar. We’d probably run into Rhett at some point, if he wasn’t there already.

“Speaking of the Silver Court. Luke, can I ask you something?” she said.

I looked at her, arching my eyebrows as if to say,go ahead.

“Why aren’t you going with Jay tonight to the High Council meeting?”

I tugged my lips to the side at Al’s question.

“Well, Al, I don’t know if you’ve noticed,” I joked, “but I’m not really a high lord, you see. So, I don’t have a seat at that table.”

“But yourHousedoes. And, well…” she hesitated. “It doesn’t seem to be being filled.”

I nodded, understanding where she was going with this.

“You’re right, Al. My father rarely comes to Court. House Bellamy is aligned with Jay on most things, so we have essentially just given Jay a second vote for his disposal on the High Council.”

“But why, Luke? Why doesn’t your dad just have you in there on behalf of your House instead of here working for Jay? Couldn’t you attend the High Council meetings in your father’s stead?” she asked.

I gave her a smile much smaller than normal.

“My father has just never cared about what he views as High Court politics. He has always been this way. You know, before the war, Grey and Jay approached my father about taking on King Vandros. And all he cared about then, and all he cares about now, is his port and the silver that passes through there. He only agreed to throw in his lot with Grey and Jay because he knew war was bad for business.”

“And now? You’re here. And he’s there. So why doesn’t he just let you handle it?” she asked.

“He wants me back home. Or, more accurately, my mother wants me to come back home. They don’t want to encourage me to stay here. When I came to the High Court, he thought it was a waste of time. That all I did was go to parties and chase skirt. And, if I’m being honest, Al, he wasn’t always entirely wrong.”

She gave me a skeptical grin as if to say my father may still be right.

“So, are you planning to just work for Jay’s House forever?” Al asked.

“No, Al. And Jay knows it too,” I replied sternly.

Jay and I both knew that my time with House Vitruvian was growing short.

“I’m going to be on that High Council one day, and it is going to be under my own name,” I promised, my determination laid bare.

We passed by a small fair that was in town. It was a dinky fair, not like the magnificent one that visited Vlaise every spring. The bright lights of the rides didn’t quite show through the remaining daylight, but soon the sun would set and the sky would light up with the incandescence of the fair’s attractions.

“Oh, Luke, let’s go to the fair!” Al exclaimed excitedly.

I smirked at her excitement.

“Yeah, ok, but I’m starving. Let’s grab something to eat first,” I said.

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