Page 45 of The Lord of Whispers

Of course, he knew. Powers fading or not, the Lord of Whispers had enough resources to know the truth ofthoserumors.

Then the high lord paused.

“But you know the rumors that are going around about me and Alarie? Well, they are,” he said.

He held my gaze, waiting for my response.

“I know, Jay,” I said, mimicking the matter-of-factness of his prior response. “That’s why I mentioned it to begin with.” And then, in response to Jay’s questioning gaze, I said, “Alarie told me.”

Jay nodded his head as if he had expected my answer.

“I guess you had a change of…heart… about Alarie’s role with the House, then?”

He had told me Al was off limits because we needed her to stick around for House Vitruvian’s sake.

“No,” he replied. “She’ll keep her same role, and I still have long-term plans for her, too. Alarie knows what she has signed up for. That’s why we have chosen, for the time being, not to make our”— the high lord paused, looking for the right word—“relationshippublic just yet.”

“Well, if that’s what she wants…” I trailed off.

“But you bring up a valid concern, Luke. The whispers about Alarie and who she’s dating… I don’t see any need to change the ones floating around about you two,” he said.

“So, what are you asking me to do then, Jay?” I asked, the muscles in my jaw feathering.

“You two just keep doing what you’ve been doing, Luke. You work great together,” he said.

* * * *

“Where’s your other half?” Rhett asked.

We sat in one of House Rein’s carriages, a relatively new number bedecked in golden accents, on our way to Port City for the House Bellamy Winter Gala.

“Al? You know I don’t bring girls home,” I replied dismissively. “My mother takes personal offense to any woman I bring around that she did not personally handpick,” I explained, unsuccessful in keeping the irritation out of my voice. “Anyway, Jay wanted Alarie to stay back and attend the Winter Gala with him since I couldn’t be there.”

“You going to make it?” Rhett teased.

“What are you talking about?” I retorted, incredulously.

“Are. You. Two. Going to be able to make it apart this long?” he asked.

“You spend almost as much time with her as I do these days,” I shot back.

“It’s not the same, and you know it. You two have been damn near inseparable since the day she showed up at Court,” Rhett pointed out truthfully.

“You jealous, mate?” I teased. “Look, I promise she hasn’t replaced you. You’re still my best bud,” I joked.

“You know I have plenty of other peoplea lot prettier than youto keep me preoccupied,” Rhett retorted.

I pretended to be wounded, as though Rhett had stabbed me in the shoulder.

“So, are you going to seal the deal any time soon with her? I’ve never seen you take this long to go after what you want,” he said.

“It’s not like that with Al, Rhett,” I answered.

“Luke.It’s me. I play third wheel with you guysall the damn time. You don’t have to pretend.”

“I’m not pretending. Well, I am. But not in the way you are thinking. It’s Jay—”

“Whatin the helldoes Jay have to do with this?” Rhett interjected incredulously.

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