“I doubt that. I’m going to spell this out: I have no interest in your husband. I have no ambitions toward being the Hon’s seventy-third or however many wives he has plus one. If he forces himself on me, I will kill him or die trying.”

“You’re that dedicated to this wizard Relos Var? You must love him a great deal.”

I scoffed under my breath. “Hardly.”

She gave me an inscrutable look just as Segra returned with bland porridge, handing the bowl to Veixizhau. My heart sank as I smelled the stuff. Not porridge. Gruel. Gruel made from meat stock.

Veixizhau set the bowl on the table. I stared at the mess for a moment before I proceeded to eat it, anyway. It tasted weird, and I wondered what meat they’d used. Probably nothing I’d recognize. Or would want to.

I looked up at Veixizhau. “Well? Have I reassured you?”

She raised an eyebrow at me and smirked. “Yes, you have. Honestly, you’ve never even been with a man, have you?”

I paused. In Jorat, we placed no particular virtue on the idea of being “untouched,” but I knew that it wasn’t like that everywhere in the empire. I certainly didn’t like the glee in her eye. “I’m married.”

“Are you really, though? I don’t think that’s true.” She laughed. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell. Honestly, I’m delighted.”

I felt uneasy. “Why?”

“Unmarried women have a very … special … place among our people. You’re so rare and so valuable. And an unmarried woman who’s as gullible as you is like a shiny diamond.”

“What?” I looked down at the gruel. It didn’t seem sinister, but then the first wave of dizziness hit.

She was still smiling at me as I slid to the ground.

40: THE EMPEROR’S SON

Jorat Dominion, Quuros Empire. Three days since I was reminded of how glad I am Khaeriel’s on our side

“Virgins are ‘valuable’?” Kihrin’s expression darkened. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

Janel shrugged. “It’s not what you’re thinking.” She paused. “Assuming what you’re thinking is sexual.”

“Well … I…” Kihrin cleared his throat. “Glad to hear it.”

Ninavis winked at him.

“So you think Kaen’s right about Morios and the prophecy?” Kihrin asked, ignoring the previous conversation.

“I do, yes. And you and I are both twenty,” Janel said. “And since I’m the lion…”

“I’m the hawk. Because House D’Mon’s symbol is a hawk. Right.” Kihrin laughed. “And given that timing, the prophecies say Morios is about to wake up and go for a stroll.”

“I hate prophecies,” Janel said. “Have I mentioned how I truly hate prophecies?”

“Ah, and even worse when they come true,” Dorna said. “Dark times ahead for all.”

They all lapsed into a long, pregnant silence.

“I’ll just, uh…” Qown pointed down at his book.