I frown, craning my head. “Did Tereille decide to come?”
Numair gives me an odd look. I shrug.
Juliette lowers her voice to the barest whisper. “Do you think he knows abouthim?”
“I don't know.”
“I don't think it's an execution he has in mind,” Numair says, an edge in his voice.
No shit. That’s blatantly obvious even to me. . .but he still doesn’t know everything, and it’s not like Fae don’t kill things they’ve fucked.
Numair eyes Prince Renaud with the kind of challenge that sparks street duels. I smooth my expression, hoping no one sees my guilt. I haven't shown any of my family the letter and I should have—I should have warned them.
My father's face tightens imperceptibly, tension around his eyes and mouth. “You've drawn his notice, Maitu. Lay low the rest of the negotiations.”
He is so human, even after decades as the consort of a High Lord. I think my mother coddled him. No. . .she must have wanted to preserve him. Everything I love about him, she loved. Even Faronne’s enemies gentle in his presence.
. . .sometimes I suspect it’s witchcraft. He never has revealed what shape the magic in his blood takes, but we know it’s there. Tata Fatma, Murungaru, and Lela are witches.
Your mother may have elevated a pretty mortal pet to favored concubine butwedhim? As herequal?We thought she’d finally fallen to an Old One’s madness.
Because of course she simply couldn’t have loved him.
There must have been a good reason—stop thinking like a puerile human. No, Muri knew something, or had devised a deeper plan. It is why I watch him. I will find out.
But you like Baba, Darky.
Irrelevant. I often like my enemies as well. If you call me that again, it will become a significant regret of your lifetime.
Internally, I shrug.He did knock her up.
Darkan’s silence is withering.I almost think she was breeding him. It’s incomprehensible Muriel Kuthliele fell accidentally pregnant to some lovely young?—
He was forty.
—doe-eyed mortal courtesan?—
A University Lit and Poli Sci professor pursuing a doctorate?
—I think not. But I am uncertain why. I cannot argue with the subsequent result, I suppose. It came out well enough.
I know he's just needling me butstill.Realms, my subconscious is. . .interesting for lack of a better term.
Baba glances at me. I reach out and take his hand, squeezing. The tension clears from his brow a moment as he smiles down at me, eyes crinkling at the corners. I don’t tell him the Prince will not allow me to lay low. Let him hope a little while longer. He needs it even more than we do.
He slides an arm around my shoulders and draws me to him, tucking me at his side. “You’re doing very well. My only regret is that we didn’t have more of you.”
Juliette wheezes.“Mwana wa Tata.?1 Mythrowing stars. One of her is more than enough.”
I go cross-eyed. “Numair, pinch her.”
“Ahhh. . .I’m not sure if?—”
She bares her teeth at him. “I’ll bite your nose off, boy.”
“Ciana ciakwa,”?2 Baba murmurs. “Court faces now.”
Dinner is called and we leave the forest courtyard to walk down another flower-strewn path.
