“Fine,” grumbled Kell, turning back up the stairs. “I’ll do it.”
Tolners and Vis were standing outside Rhy’s room. Kell was a few strides shy of the chamber when the doors burst open and a figure came striding out. A figure that most certainly wasn’t Rhy. The guards’ eyes widened at the sight of him. The man obviously hadn’t gone in that way. Kell pulled up short as they nearly collided, and even though it had been years—too few, in Kell’s estimation—he recognized the man at once.
“Alucard Emery,” he said coldly, exhaling the name like a curse.
A slow smile spread across the man’s mouth, and it took all Kell’s restraint not to physically remove it. “Master Kell,” said Alucard, cheerfully. “What an unexpected pleasure, running into you here.” His voice had a natural undercurrent of laughter in it, and Kell could never tell if he was being mocked.
“I don’t see how it’s unexpected,” said Kell, “as I live here. What is unexpected is running into you, since I thought I made myself quite clear the last time we met.”
“Quite,” echoed Alucard.
“Then what were you doing in my brother’s chambers?”
Alucard raised a single studded brow. “Do you want a detailed account? Or will a summary suffice?”
Kell’s fingernails dug into his palms. He could feel blood. Spells came to mind, a dozen different ways to wipe the smug look from Emery’s face.
“Why are you here?” he growled.
“I’m sure you’ve heard,” said Alucard, hands in his pockets. “I’m competing in the Essen Tasch. As such, I was invited to the royal palace for the Banner Night.”
“Which is happening downstairs, not in the prince’s room. Are you lost?” He didn’t wait for Alucard to answer. “Tolners,” he snapped. The guard stepped forward. “Escort Master Emery to the Rose Hall. Make sure he doesn’t wander.”
Tolners motioned, as if to take hold of Alucard’s sleeve, and found himself propelled suddenly backward into the wall. Alucard never took his hands from his pockets, and his smile never wavered as he said, “I’m sure I can find my way.”
He set off in the direction of the stairs, but as he passed Kell, the latter caught his elbow. “Do you remember what I told you, before banishing you from this city?”
“Vaguely. Your threats all seem to run together.”
“I said,” snarled Kell through clenched teeth, “that if you break my brother’s heart a second time, I will cut yours out. I stand by that promise, Alucard.”
“Still fond of growling, aren’t you, Kell? Ever the loyal dog, nipping at heels. Maybe one day you’ll actually bite.” With that he pulled free and strode away, his silver blue cloak billowing behind him.
Kell watched him go.
The moment Alucard was out of sight, he slammed his fist into the wall, hard enough to crack the inlaid wooden panel. He swore in pain and frustration, and an echoing curse came from within Rhy’s chambers, but this time, Kell didn’t feel bad for causing his brother a little pain. Blood stained his palm where his nails had sliced into the skin, and Kell pressed it to the broken decoration.
“As Sora,” he muttered. Unbreak.
The crack in the wood began to withdraw, the pieces of wood blending back together. He kept his hand there, trying to loosen the knot in his chest.
“Master Kell …” started Vis.
“What?” he snapped, spinning on the guards. The air in the hall churned around him. The floorboards trembled. The men looked pale. “If you see that man near Rhy’s rooms again, arrest him.”
Kell took a steadying breath, and was reaching for the prince’s door when it swung inward to reveal Rhy, settling the gold band atop his head. When he saw the gathering of guards, and Kell at their center, he cocked his head.
“What?” he said. “I’m not that late.” Before anyone else could speak, Rhy set off down the hall. “Don’t just stand there, Kell,” he called back. “We have a party to host.”
*
“You’re in a mood,” said the prince as they passed into the dignified splendor of the Rose Hall.
Kell said nothing, trying to salvage the man he’d seen earlier in his bedroom mirror. He scanned the hall, his attention snagging almost instantly on Alucard Emery, who stood socializing with a group of magicians.
“Honestly, Kell,” chided Rhy, “if looks could kill.”
“Maybe looks can’t,” he said, flexing his fingers.
Rhy smiled and nodded his head at a cluster of guests. “You knew he was coming,” he said through set teeth.
“I didn’t realize you’d be giving him such an intimate welcome,” snapped Kell in return. “How could you be so foolish—”
“I didn’t invite him in—”
“—after everything that’s happened.”
“Enough,” hissed the prince, loud enough to turn the nearest heads.
Kell would have shrunk from the attention, but Rhy spread his arms, embracing it.