Maris was the first to speak. “Father, you mean Chasan’s marriage to Luna, don’t you?”
Tebald’s cheeks rounded above his beard as he smiled. “No.” He shook his head. “I did not misspeak, daughter. I meant my marriage. I’ve had a change of heart. It’s been some years since your mother died. I’m not yet an old man. I’m certain a young bride will invigorate me. A young rose like Luna is the perfect tonic.”
My vision clouded for a moment, rage chugging thick as tar in my veins.
“Father,” Chasan growled in a voice I had never heard him use with his father before. “Don’t do this.” The prince clutched the knife at the side of his plate, his eyes narrowed darkly, and for a moment I thought he might plunge it into his sire. I wouldn’t blame him for that. The thought of the old man’s hands on Luna filled me with a similar impulse.
My reaction was physical—a sick churning in my stomach. Luna had gone pale, the faint pinkness that had been tingeing her cheeks fading away. I lurched from my chair, the blood rushing in my ears as my chair clattered violently behind me.
People stared at me. The king stared at me, but I did not care. I was past caring, past playing the biddable, submissive prince of Relhok.
Chasan rose, too, tossing his napkin down. “She’s not marrying you.”
The king turned his gaze to Chasan. “Have a care, son.”
I cleared my throat, warning myself to stay calm. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”
The king turned that cruel smile of his on me. “Prince Fowler, I fear you’re forgetting the conversation we had.” He sat back down. “I warned you, did I not? And you claimed you understood your place.”
I nodded once, inhaling thinly through my nose, fighting to control my temper. “I know my place.”
Chasan stabbed a finger toward the floor. “You’re not putting your rotting paws on her, old man. Not ever. She’ll never marry you.”
A hushed awe fell over the hall. Maris gaped and then quickly looked down, ducking her eyes.
King Tebald lifted his drumming fingers from the arms of his chair and stroked his graying beard. “You risk much standing here saying such words to me, my son. You know men have died for less.”
And yet Chasan didn’t back down. “I do.”
Maris reached for her brother’s arms and tugged, trying to bring him back into his chair. “Chasan, no . . .”
He pulled away.
The king leaned forward. “You know and yet you speak these things to me. You’re either very brave or very stupid. Either way, taking a bride and begetting an heir who is more respectful to his sire strikes me as a fine idea indeed.”
I fought back the urge to launch across the space separating me from the king and wrap my hands around the old man’s neck. I stared at the king, my jaw clenched hard, fighting for restraint.
Maris whispered her brother’s name in a beseeching tone. He paid her no mind, simply shook her off.
My gaze found Luna, still bloodlessly pale. That expressive mouth of hers trembled as though burdened with too much pressure. I looked from her back to the king, then to her again. Her features were tight and pinched with desperation for me to hold silent. I shook my head and opened my mouth.
“Perhaps you would like to retire for the evening, Chasan. You seem quite flushed and agitated. Not yourself at all. Usually you are much more composed.” The king arched a bushy eyebrow at his son, offering him a way out; a last reprieve.
I seethed, my hands knotting into fists at my sides. Somehow I managed to hold my tongue during the exchange. I had to keep it together. I could not lose the king’s trust. Not if I wanted to get Luna out of here before she was forced to marry the old man.
The king snapped his fingers and guards appeared. “See that Chasan makes it to his chamber. We would not want him to collapse en route.” He smiled again, but his eyes stayed cold and lifeless. Tebald managed to convey absolute menace even when only kind words dropped from his lips.
The guards moved to either side of Chasan. He gave his father one last long look, and then departed the great hall.
It was as though, as always, Luna could see me. Sensing her stare, I turned to look at her, hoping to convey to her that she had nothing to worry about. We were still going to escape this place. Sooner rather than later. She wasn’t going to marry Tebald, just like she wasn’t going to marry Chasan.
She gave a hard shake of her head at me, her eyebrows dipping low over her eyes, commanding me to do nothing.
I nodded once, more for myself than for her since she couldn’t see me.
I would hold silent and pretend as though Luna marrying an old man who reminded me so much of my father did not send my body into revolt.
The dinner continued, this time with the king salivating over Luna. When he hand-fed her a bit of meat with his pudgy, beringed fingers, I couldn’t stomach it any longer. I rose from my chair.