LOGINThe grand hall leading to Amias's chambers was empty except for the guards stationed at each door. Yet Amias couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. He continuously looked over his shoulder as though someone was following him, but there was no one behind him except Caelum."Your Majesty, is there something wrong?" Caelum asked, watching him carefully."Do you feel that..." He trailed off and stopped, glancing down the empty hall. "It's nothing. I must be tired.""Or would you like me to send the other guards away?""No, I don't think that's necessary. If the Drakharns were to strike, you wouldn't be able to hold them off on your own. Leave them.""And your bath, what if the Drakharns try to enter while you're bathing?""Don't allow them in. Don't allow anybody in."Caelum nodded and stepped back, taking his position outside the chambers. Amias entered and shut the door behind him.He stood there for a moment, breathing heavily as his eyes moved around the room. Something
The dining hall was almost silent except for the clashing of utensils and the low murmur of conversation. Plates sat half-eaten. No one wanted to be the first to speak. Then Genevieve slammed her fork down on the table. The sharp clink cut through the room. "So the Drakharns will be living here with us." Every head turned toward her. She sat back in her chair, arms crossed, lip curled in disgust. "It's bad enough that I have to marry one of them, and now they get to live with us." The Dowager Queen, her mother, set down her own spoon. "Genevieve. Your manners. Do not speak of them at the table." Genevieve didn't even look at her. She pointed across the table, her eyes fixed on Amias. "No," she said firmly to her mother, "I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to Amias. His Majesty, not you." The Queen's face shifted. She didn't speak again, but she looked at her daughter with a hard, warning stare, the kind that said she would regret this later. Nessa, who was seated beside her,
"No matter what you think I have of yours, you have no right to barge into my council chamber in that manner," Amias snapped, his jaw tightening. Vaelor smirked, moving even closer and ignoring the murmurs around them. "I wasn't mistaken. You look exactly like her." Murmurs filled the room at his bold accusation. Amias stiffened, but his voice did not waver. "I don't know who you think I look like, but you are mistaken." "You might have a thing for wigs. Or perhaps disguises." Vaelor reached toward the edge of Amias's hair, his gaze sharp with suspicion. Just before he could touch him, Cedric, Vaelor's cousin, stepped forward and stopped him. "I thought you wanted to speak to them about Genevieve," Cedric reminded him. Vaelor dropped his hand with a heavy sigh. Amias relaxed slightly. He had heard how fearsome Vaelor's army was, with even seasoned soldiers refusing to go near him. Slowly, Vaelor turned to his cousin. "Until I find what I seek, the marriage agreement is off."
Amias entered his room, breathing heavily, almost panting.The mirror caught his attention.Still in the dress from the Gilded Lily, he stood before it, staring at the woman looking back at him. The veil was gone, ripped from his face, but the makeup remained — the powder covering his skin, the light red on his lips.His fingers slowly touched his face.The powder first.Then his lips.One after the other, he touched the remnants of the disguise he'd worn that night, as though making sure they were still there.His hand moved to his hair next. He grabbed the wig and ripped it off, tossing it aside.Water splashed against his face as he hurriedly washed away the powder and makeup. Once his face was clean, Amias lifted his head and looked into the mirror again.There he was.Amias.Not Lysandra.Not the woman behind the veil. Not even Azubah.Just Amias.The realization did little to calm him.With a shaky breath, he stumbled toward the bed and collapsed onto it, staring up at the ceili
Amias turned her eyes to meet his. They were wide and guileless, carrying an almost childlike innocence."How do you mean, my lord?" She shifted so she could meet his eyes properly, testing herself not to flinch and look away.She caught a glimpse of his hazel eyes. She stiffened, almost as though watching him awaken.He pulled away, studying her carefully. "Take off your veil. I want to see what you look like."Amias hesitated. "I don't understand, my lord.""Take off your veil.""I can't.""You can't?""I'm not going to," she said firmly.Vaelor sat there in stunned silence. Rather than annoying him, her defiance seemed to make him even more intrigued. He found it strange that someone had dared to refuse him so openly."Why?""I'm a virgin," she replied quietly. "A virgin isn't allowed to take off her veil."He chuckled. "Who said this?""The King. Those are his orders," she lied.Vaelor arched his brows, processing all that she had said."Then what is a virgin doing at a brothel?"
The Gilded Lily was filled with drunk men calling for more wine, and ladies hanging over their shoulders and leading them into private rooms.Amias worked the aisle, scrubbing the floors with a rag and a bucket of water. She had been placed among those working on the upper floor.Her eyes were vigilant, flicking into rooms and searching for Lord Vaelor before each door was closed shut."Move aside, you wench!" a harlot snapped, kicking Amias's dirty water aside as she fought with another. "I was here first!""Madam Yara chose me to serve the Lord," the other harlot argued."Enough, you two!" Madam Yara reached the end of the corridor, her chest rising as she looked between them. "Neither of you shall serve him."A loud bang sounded as a door slammed shut and a maiden rushed out to Madam Yara."What does he want?" Madam Yara demanded."He refused the ladies you brought for him. He claims none of them are what he wants," the maiden replied."What then does he want? These were our newest







