Chapter Forty

“What do we tell them, Sig?” Astrid persisted.

In some ways she was like an annoying wasp which refused to accept being swatted away – hadn’t he told her, twice, to see to the horses and then clean herself up?

“The truth.”

“I am warning you, they will not like it. These Vercians have a strange sense of honour.”

Did she think he wasn’t aware of that, given what he’d done with Daphne for the sake of both his blood brother and her sister? Granted, that had been at the behest of the Masked King, but the latter wouldn’t have been in such a position of power if King Gregory hadn’t invited him to his court.

Daphne. He had tried not to think of her, knowing she was poison, trouble and, undeniably, a siren. That session in the mirrored room – compelled, maybe, compelling definitely – was creeping into his mind more and more.

“She is good for him, Asti. We have all witnessed that.”

“And what about her?”

Acting impulsively, he took the opportunity to palm her face and kiss her. It was her own fa