“I thought so,” Damien said with a smile, Selene still in his arms.

“Thought what?”

In answer, a woman entered their room. Selene stepped back quickly and brushed invisible wrinkles from her gown. She did not like her affection for Damien to be displayed in front of others.

The woman smiled widely as she approached them. “Grand Lord Damien, it is good to see you again.”

Damien laughed. “Grand Lady Bryren. I thought I saw wyverns flying over Lux Casta.”

“We arrived shortly before you did. It would seem our wyverns are making the city uncomfortable, so a few of my kin are taking them out into the hills.”

Selene looked closely at the woman standing in their room as Taegis shut the door behind her. Lady Bryren looked just as she remembered her. There was a wildness to her, with her leather clothing and copper hair decked out in braids. Kohl lined her eyes, accentuating their light brown color.

Her gaze turned to Selene. “Lady Selene.” She dipped her head. “I don’t think we ever met while I was at Rook Castle. I must admit I was surprised when I received news of your marriage to Lord Damien. I would like to hear more about how that came about. There were many houses pinning their hopes on Lord Damien.” Her eyes twinkled with merriment.

Selene wasn’t sure whether she liked the brazen grand lady of House Merek or not. She also confirmed what Selene suspected—House Luceras had hoped for a union between Damien and Lady Adalyn. A marriage of that magnitude would have made them powerful allies. Selene glanced at Damien. Would he share the real story behind their marriage?

“It was a union that benefited both of us,” he said.

“Spoken like a true lord. But tell me, do you love each other?”

Selene turned back with narrowed eyes. Such bold questions from a woman she hardly knew. And yet Lady Bryren’s question struck her like an arrow to the chest. Now that she thought about it, neither of them had said those words to the other. Deep down, she loved Damien. So why hadn’t she told him?

Was she waiting to see if he loved her back?

“I believe that is between Lady Selene and myself.”

Lady Bryren studied him for a moment. “I understand.” She turned back to Selene. “You’re a lucky woman. I don’t know you or your house well. But I do know the family of Maris. It is a good arrangement for you.”

Selene felt like something unspoken had passed between Damien and Lady Bryren and had no idea what it was. Seeing him so relaxed with the wyvern lady, without that shadow that had been following him since he brought down the water-wall, caused that small fire to burn in the pit of her stomach again. “Thank you.”

Lady Bryren nodded. “Now that you’re here, I believe the talks will start tomorrow. That is, if Lord Warin is doing better.”

“Is he still ill?” Damien asked.