Hearing the tightness in his voice, Alexandra glanced at him, then took a closer look at the flush darkening Philip’s face. Was that anger or embarrassment? “And?”

“He strongly suggested that you tighten your hold on Vania’s leash before she gets hurt. It seems she’s too aggressive in her efforts to coax a Kaeleer male into her bed. He said if she’s that itchy for a male, she should invite her Consort, since that’s why he’s here.”

Personally, Alexandra thought Vania acted like a slut. But Vania was also generous about sharing the use of her males with visiting Queens—a generosity Alexandra never refused whenever she visited that Province. She had kept no steady lover in her own court for more than twenty-five years—ever since she had asked Philip to see Leland through her Virgin Night. It wouldn’t have been fair to any of them if she had asked him to warm her bed after that when he really wanted to be her daughter’s lover, and the other men she had considered since then had been far more interested in the power they might wield as her Consort than in giving her pleasure.

But remembering Vania’s generosity—and the fact that no male currently warmed her bed, either—made Alexandra defensive. “She wouldn’t have to be ‘aggressive’ if this court remembered to provide visiting Queens with the basic amenities.”

“I mentioned that,” Philip said through gritted teeth. “And was told that there are no males in this court whose service requirements include that duty.”

“I find that hard to believe. Not every Queen who comes here would necessarily have a Consort at that moment or have brought him. There must be some arrangement—” She stopped, shaken by the depth of the insult. “It’s because we’re from Terreille, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Philip said flatly. “He said there are a few males in the Second and Third Circles who would normally be willing to accommodate a guest of the court if asked, but because Terreillean Queens don’t know how to enjoy a male without mistreating him, no Kaeleer male would willingly offer himself.” He hesitated. “He also said there are no pleasure slaves in Kaeleer.”

That verbal slap hurt as much as a blow because it was a reminder that, for a few months, Daemon Sadi had been a pleasure slave in her court.

“I see,” she said tightly.

“Despite his anger over the situation, Lucivar actually seemed concerned,” Philip said, sounding baffled. “Mostly because Vania’s fixed her efforts on Prince Aaron.”

“Aaron is a very handsome man, and—”

“He’s married.”

There wasn’t much she could say to that, not when she could feel waves of anxiety rolling off of Philip. Vania’s marked attention toward a married man would be a sharp reminder of his own vulnerability.