Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
Several onlookers glanced their way, plates and glasses in hand.
Thankfully, the festivities continued without much fanfare to accompany their presentation.
Maybe no one had seen that moment between them, felt how it’d stretched into eternity between one heartbeat and the next. Or maybe Aurelia was over-analyzing it.
Friends didn’t let friends walk around with food on their face.
“Your Majesties,” Kayce declared. “Prince Kacerion Weatherstone escorting Lady Aurelia Corvine, Rangers to Norenth.”
Pain flared behind her smile. Why did those titles suddenly feel like a lie?
A look of satisfaction spread across Lioness Silva’s face as she released her grip on her necklace.
“Prince Kacerion, your presence as a representative of the guild is most appreciated, and your presence as a member of the presiding family bolsters our strength. Lady Aurelia, you have our gratitude for your support of the Crown. It is an honor to have a member of the Corvines present.”
The plural of her family name snagged something in Aurelia’s gut. Family. Her family—
Lion Magnar’s warmth chased the otherworldly thought behind the door in her mind. “Norenth stands strong having the four brothers united in securing our future.”
Kayce inclined his head, but Aurelia knew the tightening of his jaw. She saw the king’s comment for what it was: he wanted Kayce home more, ranger duties aside.
Since the royal family had four sons, it was no surprise that the youngest would join the Ranger’s Guild.
Kayce utilized the guild’s full repertoire for their personal smuggling affairs, unbeknownst to the Crown, of course.
Watching the king’s subtle raise of a brow, Aurelia wondered if he knew what they were up to.
They bowed low as duty commanded, before the Lions waved them off.
Kayce’s three older brothers stood nearby. It soothed Aurelia’s frayed nerves to see them, all of them. Dressed in similar bronze tunics as befitting their station, they were roughly all the same height—each half a head taller than Kayce, much to his distaste.
Jace, the eldest and crown prince, had always made sure she wasn’t pestered too much. Growing up, he was the buffer. Sometimes, she wished he’d see she wasn’t a kid anymore. She knew she certainly didn’t look like one tonight.
Kristof, though, he knew she could handle herself. More politically minded, he preferred to observe. His quiet bearing had comforted her during more than one social event, and he wasn’t afraid to engage her on the academic level she thrived on.
Terranth? She bit back a groan. He was already digging an elbow into Kristof’s side, motioning to a cluster of ladies across the dance floor.
He was only a year older than Kayce, but Aurelia swore he was far more insufferable.
He rivaled Kayce for the position of primary instigator—probably why he did so well in his military position.
Jace’s eyes met hers when they approached, a warm amber similar to Kayce’s.
His rich chestnut-brown hair curled slightly from under a golden crown, simpler than what his father wore.
Aurelia couldn’t imagine having to wear it.
It likely wouldn’t fit over her hair. Besides, he was far better suited for it, anyway.
She had no desire for such a responsibility, not that being a daughter of minor nobility offered much.
Papa’s position as an advisor to the crown carried enough burden.
“Kacerion, thank you for coming. You’d have cracked Ma’s pearl if you were another moment late.” Jace shot a tight smile toward the dais. “Do we have Aurelia to thank for the prompt arrival?”
She frowned. Now she hoped the crown was tight.
“Hilarious, Jace,” Kayce countered. “Where’s Fallon?”
Aurelia was also looking for the tawny wolf-dog that seemed permanently fixed to the crown prince’s side.
Jace smothered a chuckle. “He seemed intent on remaining by the fire. He did assist in the hunt for this feast, after all.”
“Of course, you would seek out the dog for company,” said Terranth, his own eyes the dark blue of stormy seas gifted from their father.
A precisely groomed scruff framed his angular jaw.
Aurelia couldn’t help but admire the new growth, wondering for an instant how that would look on Kayce.
The sudden image did nothing to ease her current discomfort, and her nail caught on the skin of her thumb.
Kayce snorted, forcing her out of the foreign tic. Since when was picking at her nails a habit she couldn’t control?
Terranth’s gaze, deep enough to drown his military opponents in, flicked to her. “Lady Aurelia. Who knew a dress would be so becoming on one insistent to run amok in the clouds?”
Arrogant dunderhead. She crossed her arms. “Honestly, Terranth, if you even knew what we were up to with the rangers, you wouldn’t seem so pleased with yourself.”
He shrugged, smirking. “I still don’t quite understand why you wanted to join them. Perhaps to add some beauty? Skies and seas know they needed it with Kayce’s ugly mug.”
Jace frowned, elbowing him while Kristof narrowed his lighter blue eyes shrewdly before asking, “Captain Luddeck certainly came in full steam. Wouldn’t know anything about that?”
Well-played. Soft-spoken, though the words were sharp as any sword.
Aurelia always wondered if the second-eldest knew more than he let on about their illicit activities—even if they were for the greater good.
She refused to look at her partner-in-crime.
“Who knows what gets the esteemed captain’s sails in a knot these days? ”
“It would not surprise me if his friendliness with pirates had something to do with it,” Kayce remarked.
“Kacerion!” Kristof snapped in almost a whisper. “Allegations like that are serious. You can’t accuse a captain of conspiring with pirates without any legally acquired proof. Especially one about to take a seat for the Sea Guild.”
“Emphasis on legally,” Terranth added.
Mirth danced in Kayce’s eyes. “Who’s accusing?”
Kristof folded his arms across his leaner chest, while Terranth muttered under his breath, causing all brothers to turn a glare at him.
He ignored them, focusing on Aurelia. “Would you care for a turn around the dance floor?” A dimple appeared as he extended a hand.
“Leave the captain’s concerns with these gents.
I, for one, would truly enjoy a chance to keep your feet on the ground. ”
He wanted to dance—with her? Now? Did he not just insult her? Then again, Terranth was always one to pull her pigtails, so to speak.
Aurelia glanced at Kayce. Best friend aside, she had technically come with him. He stared at his older brother, brow furrowed like he was trying to work out a move in a game of chivet.
During winters where the western wind blew hard around Mount Fealtek to cloak the capital city in snow, chivet occupied hours of her and the princes’ time, bitterness flowing freely as they stole each other’s coin.
Their pieces maneuvered around a miniature Norenth, the game floating above any tabletop as the actual continent did.
Players tried to make a fictional living by traversing from the outer reaches to Mount Fealtek’s peak while avoiding tithe payments or going to prison.
Skies forbid someone drew a minstrel card, occupying one’s piece for several rounds as one was forcibly serenaded by the draw-er…
which coincidentally always seemed to be Terranth.
Kayce was so competitive, he often let a single game stretch on into the next day, not that the winter storms would allow them leave otherwise.
Several revelers paused their neighboring conversations to watch the princes, for Kayce looked at Terranth as though he had stolen every coin—and Kayce wanted them back.
Aurelia couldn’t say no, not with onlookers gawking at Terranth’s offer. So why did her hand suddenly feel like a dead weight at her side? Shaking it off, Aurelia managed a half-grin in return as she took his hand. “Fair warning, you may lose some toes.”
As Terranth led her away, Aurelia couldn’t help but notice Kayce’s jaw drop open. Jace reached over and promptly shut it on his brother’s behalf with a chuckle.
The strings of violins and cellos trickled over piano keys. Aurelia placed her other hand on Terranth’s shoulder, feeling the sturdiness of muscle beneath his brocade jacket. “Seems like all Weatherstone boys have a penchant for over-training,” she observed.
“And those in Weatherstone company, it would seem.” He squeezed her hand, their calluses matching.
As he guided her in a waltz, his other hand pulled her waist closer.
They turned in slow circles, weaving around couples bedecked in various jewel tones.
Gratefully, he was skilled enough to avoid much toe-stepping.
He looked over her shoulder. “The lion cub doesn’t look too pleased.”
Aurelia’s brow creased, but in their next turn, she saw what he meant.
Kayce’s gloved hand flexed over the pommel of his sword as he tracked their dance.
Jace whispered in Kayce’s ear. Whatever the words, they caused his jaw to clench.
He caught her stare, even when several dancers flitted between them.
“I don’t blame him,” Terranth continued, “I would certainly keep you all to myself if I could.”
She blew a stray curl from her eyes, ignoring the burn Kayce’s gaze ignited and focusing on her dance partner. “He wouldn’t know me any differently if I was covered in mud or half-tangled in sails. Nothing’s changed.”
And it hadn’t. Right?