Rua and Bri bowed to each other before Rua said, “Apologies, I would have made space for your parents at the head table . . .” She flashed a playful grin. “But that many place settings would have ruined the ornamentation.”

Bri held in her snicker as she scanned the room. She spotted her parents mingling in a corner and her stomach sank. Her mother looked like she hadn’t aged a day—the same dark brown hair, amber eyes, and thin lips. The numerous jewels upon her fingers glinted in the light as she regaled a story upon an unsuspecting gaggle of old ladies. Bri’s father stood behind her mother, a vacant glaze in his eyes. The Twin Eagles had their father’s tall stature and aquiline nose, a hint of his red hair in their own auburn locks. Two heads taller than the rest of the crowd, her father was as silent and brooding as ever, letting her mother take control of every conversation.

“That is quite all right, Your Majesty.” Bri chuckled as Rua gave her a conspiratorial glance. “I’m sure they’ll enjoy mingling more, anyway.”

“Excellent.” Rua gestured to the head table, following Bri back up onto the dais.

Bri walked to the seat between Talhan and Carys, her eyes searching for Lina in the crowd but not spotting her. Talhan wore a full crown of budding white flowers, his hooded eyes painted with gold and his limbs swaying. She wondered if he’d already drank the Northern castle dry.

“Having fun without me?” Bri asked as she dropped into the chair beside him.

“I had to greet our parents upon their arrival,” Talhan slurred with a smile. “I have been drinking ever since.”

“One of the few ways to survive them,” Bri jeered, eyeing their parents again. Their father’s eyes remained downcast while their mother did all the talking. He liked it that way—seemingly holding himself above their mother’s meddlesome ways. Bri had long wondered how different their lives could have been if her father had enough backbone to hamper her mother’s efforts.

She leaned forward and looked down the table, noticing Neelo had arrived. The Heir of Saxbridge had their eyes firmly glued to a large tome in their hands while their mother talked loudly to Hale. Queen Emberspear was as stunning as ever, with umber brown skin and long, flowing black hair. Her thick lashes were painted with kohl and her lips were a crimson red. She wore a gown with a plunging neckline, its forest-green hue an homage to the patron color of her Court as well as the green witch coven. She was vibrant and vulgar in equal measure as she unashamedly adjusted her chest in her revealing dress.