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"Thank you My na he would not ask He only asks what he already knows the answer to

He dipped his head in acknowledgment "Yes And I won’tmyself"

In spite of propriety, Coriane felt herself s what else to do Jessa with royals of House Calore, let alone the future king Speak when spoken to was all she could recall, so she kept her lips pressed together so tightly they forht He was maybe a little drunk, and entirely a it is to have to lead every single conversation?" He chuckled "I talk to Robert and my parents more than anyone else, si words from other people"

Horetched for you, she snapped in her head "That sounds awful," she said as de, you can es to the etiquette of court?"

"Sounds exhausting," he s of wine "And unis There’s a war on, in case you haven’t noticed"

He was right The wine did warm her a bit "A war?" she said "Where? When? I’ve heard nothing of this"

The prince whipped to face her quickly, only to find Coriane sain, and tipped the bottle at her "You had , he h to touch, but Coriane still went stock-still, her playful edge forgotten He pretended not to notice She tried her best to re in the rain becauseintoxicated in front of the court" The heat of hi with his inner annoyance Coriane reveled in the sensation as the cold was chased frouess--you were seated with House Merandus, yes?"

Gritting her teeth, she nodded "Whoever arranged the tables must hate me"

"The party planners don’t hate anyone butcharts, and they think she’s neglecting her queenly duties Of course, that’s nonsense," he added quickly Another drink "She sits on h for the both of them"

Coriane remembered the queen in her uniform, a splendor of medals on her chest "She’s an i what else to say Herat the royals, disgusted by the queen’s so-called surrender

"Indeed" His eyes roved, landing on her now elass "Care for the rest?" he asked, and this ti for an answer

"I shouldn’t," she said, putting the wineglass down on the bench "In fact, I should go back inside Jessamine--my cousin--will be furious with ht

Overhead, the sky had deepened to black, and the clouds were rolling away, clearing the rain to reveal bright stars The prince’s bodily warmth, fed by his burner ability, created a pleasant pocket around them, one Coriane was loath to leave She heaved a steady breath, drawing in one last gasp of the nolia trees, and forced herself to her feet

Tiberias jumped up with her, still deliberate in his entleman would But Coriane read the reluctance in his eyes and waved him off

"No, I won’t punish both of us"

His eyes flashed at that "Speaking of punishain, you show her the same courtesy"