The news agencies would be even worse. In their rush to beat out their competition, they’d fictionalize half of the story, and distort and slant the rest to the point it wouldn’t even be recognizable. They couldn’t bother to get the counties they were reporting from right most of the time, and that included the ones they broadcasted in. Sad really …
Alura excused herself from him so that she could go network with the others she was hoping would accept her as a future visira of the empire.
Bastien made straight for another round of whisky while dodging his older brother. One word from Quin and he would knock the bastard out again.
And that was the last lecture he wanted his mother to repeat tonight. He knew Cabarros didn’t fight amongst themselves. They weren’t Andarion eton Anatoles. Backbiting to that level wasn’t part of their court. Cabarros guarded each other’s backs.
Family first. Family above all.
*
“So … that’s how it’s done, eh?”
Alura paused at the rich, deep voice in her ear as she reached for a glass of champagne. She cut a sideways glance to see Barnabas Cabarro there.
Bastien’s uncle Barnabas bore a striking resemblance to his older brother, the emperor. Only he wasn’t as tall.
Or nearly as frightening.
At least not in appearance. Alura, however, knew exactly what kind of treacherous beast the leader of their military really was. She’d known it since the night he’d come to her and hand-selected her for this mission that stuck in the craw of her throat.
But she had no choice.
If she didn’t do it, hers would be the first head he’d take.
“I thought you weren’t going to speak to me in public. Isn’t that what you said?”
Barnabas grunted at her as he pulled the glass from her hand, then drained it. “You’re pregnant, love. Can’t be seen drinking in your delicate condition.”
Alura bit back a fierce groan at the reminder. “We both know that’s a lie. So have you figured out the work-around?”
“I’ve got someone lined up who will give you everything you need, including a sympathetic shoulder when you miscarry in a few months.”
“What if I really do conceive by then?”
Barnabas’s dark eyes turned chilling as he met her gaze. “Then you and your brat will be joining Bastien and the rest of my brother’s family in their graves.”
CHAPTER 2
Bastien tensed as Ember approached him. Instinctively, he cupped himself in expectation of what she was about to do. Not that he really needed to. Of their own accord, his balls had shriveled and jumped straight back inside his body as soon as he saw her coming.
To his instant relief, she paused in front of him and crossed her arms over her chest. “Congratulations, Captain. Welcome to the Wyldestarrin family.”
Those cordial, formal words with their undercurrent of leashed venom sent a chill down his spine. It was the first time she’d spoken to him since Alura had crashed the palace party and announced her pregnancy.
As if on cue, Alura came dashing up to his side to take his arm. The hem of her voluminous pale green wedding gown swept against his legs, then pooled around her feet. “Emmy! I’m so glad you came, after all. I thought you were planning to boycott my wedding.”
Ember raked a cold look over him that said she was gutting him slowly with her thoughts.
With a rusted-out spork.
She smiled at Alura. “Why should I lose a zusa over the actions of an inconsiderate asshole?”
A tic started in Bastien’s jaw. “Pardon? You broke up with me, not the other way around. You’re the one who wouldn’t even return my messages or acknowledge me!”
Ember held her hand up to silence him. “Just stay away from me, Bastien. I’ve nothing to say to you ever again.” And with that, she turned and walked over to where their sisters had congregated.
Bastien glared in furious indignation. How dare she! This wouldn’t have happened had she not challenged him to date her sister. It wasn’t like she hadn’t known how he’d react to her caustic response to his question. How he’d react to a direct challenge.
He was a surly, cantankerous ass and Ember knew it better than anyone!
“Don’t worry about it, baby. You’ll always have me.” Alura kissed his cheek, then went to join a group of her friends.
Was it just him or was there irony that as soon as Alura had said that, she skipped off and abandoned him?
Just like everyone else.
Yeah, he was a total outcast at his own wedding reception. This was a far cry from the wedded bliss he’d imagined the night he proposed to Ember.
Right family.
Wrong bride.