Page 109 of The Never List
“But don’t ask for that,” Layce says once we finally reel it in. “There’s no way the two of us are going to distract you while you’re doing your best to get to know the rest of the Legends. The winter solstice isn’t that far away—”
“Six weeks,” I say.
Somehow, we’ve made our way back to the heavy.
“That’s how long I have left.”
“That’s how long you have left until you become the Legends’ mate and the future queen of Lumathyst,” Ivy says, leaving no room for argument as she raises her teacup between us.
Layce mimics her, and finally, I do, too.
“To six weeks, then,” Layce says.
“I love you both,” I say, not only because it’s true but because of the ticking clock I have hanging over my head. I don’t know how many more opportunities I’ll have to say that to them.
“Yes, yes, we love you, too,” Ivy says, eyeing our raised teacups.
I smile at her, clinking my glass against theirs. “To six weeks.”
We sip the rest of our tea and spend the next two hours talking about everything and nothing, and by the time the server alerts us that Pierce’s carriage has arrived to take my friends home, I feel so much more secure in my own skin in the only way a night out with your best friends can do.
I follow them out of the teashop, hugging them both more times than would likely be acceptable in a normal situation.
“See you both soon,” I say as I release them.
Tears fill my eyes, a mixture of happiness and sadness brewing beneath my skin as I watch the carriage until it’s out of sight.
I scan the area for any sign or sound of Pierce’s velomage, but when I see and hear nothing, I turn back to the teashop, prepared to wait until Pierce arrives to take me home.
I head back toward Pierce’s private table, my mind buzzing from all the things my friends and I discussed. I pause two steps away from the table, noting a man sitting in my spot. He looks vaguely familiar—
The breath stalls in my lungs as the man turns around, sliding away from the table to face me.
“Ah, Rylee Gray. There you are,” he says, motioning to the table in a gesture for me to sit down. “I’ve been dying to speak with you.”
Adrenaline races through my veins so fast it hurts, my heart pounding against my chest as I bow, dipping my head.
“Your majesty,” I say before I do as I am told and take my seat across from Pierce’s father.
31
Rylee
Brooks Bertrand looks so much like his son, but in a more casual way, where Pierce is infinitely more refined.
I do my best to quell my rising nerves, my eyes darting around the teashop as if the other kings will arrive at any moment.
“Please,” he says after my previous server has brought over a fresh teapot and cup for him. “Relax.” He eyes the undoubtedly tense set of my shoulders.
“I’m not entirely sure that’s possible, your majesty,” I say, electing to stick with the truth.
Brooks Bertrand chuckles as he pours hot water over a strainer full of tea leaves, lifting the thing in and out of the cup as he looks at me. “I suppose that’s fair. I doubt any of the other kings singled you out when you were in their sons’ cities.”
I shake my head, my mouth suddenly dry, but I can’t bring myself to reach for my abandoned teacup. I’m trembling and hiding my hands beneath the table. Whyishe singling me out? Why is he here? Where is Pierce?
The thoughts race through my mind in a chaotic way, and I struggle to draw in a full breath. He’s not Baydel; thank goddess for that. He’s never done anything like Baydel didthat first night, but being alone with a king… It feels more like a trap than a friendly chat.
“I can assure you, I mean you no harm,” he says as he continues to dip that tea in and out of the water. “And none of the other kings know I’m here.”
