A few days later, near the end of their midyear break and after Yenni had confirmed—with great relief—that she had passed all her midyear exams, Weysh flew her to his family’s manse. Now he stood in front of the familiar white double doors with their engraved borders, his stomach a knot of nerves. He wished he could smell what Yenni was thinking.

At Yenni’s request, he didn’t reveal her royal lineage to his family, and just as well. His maman had gone into a fit over Yenni, sending him multiple notes a day through the hourly post, based on the assumption that his Given was simply a wealthy international student. Watcher only knew what it would have done to her if she realized she was entertaining a princess.

Montpierre would be dining with them as well, which was the main source of Weysh’s apprehension. But he couldn’t keep running from his problems, and he refused to let Montpierre keep him cowed. It was important to him that his family meet Yenni. As his Given, she was his family too. He would simply have to do his best to maintain his composure. It was Weysh’s first meeting with Montpierre since his outburst, and he wasn’t sure if he was glad to have Yenni with him for support or worried about embarrassing himself in front of her.

Beside him, Yenni wore the Prevan uniform for formal events. She hadn’t had the chance to buy any dress wear before the mugging. Weysh had offered to buy her something, but predictably, she’d refused. It was just as well—many students wore their uniforms outside of school as a sign of prestige, and as with anything she wore, Yenni wore it well. She was decked out in a long-sleeved green dress that clasped up to the neck, accented with two rows of silver buttons. She also wore black gloves, tall black boots with a small heel, and a sloping, wide-brimmed hat.

And—Weysh smiled—the ivystone necklace he’d given her.

Weysh raised the fancy brass knocker and gave the door a couple of raps. “We don’t have to stay too long,” he said under his breath as he waited for the door to open. “If you want to leave at any time just give me the word, en?”

Yenni squeezed his arm and smiled knowingly at him. “I will try to last as long as I can,” she said, tugging at the neck of the dress. “I am eager to get out of these clothes.”

Weysh bit back his own retort about getting Yenni out of her clothes.

Good. Be good.

But something must have shown on his face, because she squinted at him. Thankfully, Genie opened the door and saved him.

“Master Weysh, welcome home,” she said, her eyes twinkling.

Weysh laughed. “Master Weysh? Really, Genie?”

Genevieve simply pursed her lips, holding in laughter.