With an unceremonious thwack, Neelo shut their book and stood, hastening out the side door. The crowd’s eyes tracked them as they moved, whispered chatter rising again. No one moved except Talhan, who raced after Neelo into the hall.

“We’ll let them celebrate in private,” Queen Emberspear tittered, and the throng erupted into brash laughter.

The rest of the table scowled at the unruly Queen. She sat and puffed on her cigarette, a crooked grin twisting her lips. The only one whose sharp features didn’t shift was Renwick, his stoic expression more practiced, but the rest of them glowered at her.

Queen Emberspear raised her eyebrows at Carys and shrugged. “What?”

Carys frowned but didn’t reply, grabbing her goblet and taking a deep swig. She was smart enough to know that displeasing the Southern Court Queen was a bad idea. She leaned in toward Bri and whispered, “Did Talhan just accidentally get engaged?”

Bri snorted. “I don’t know who I feel more sorry for, him or Neelo.”

“Neelo, definitely.” Carys chuckled. “Don’t worry. They’ll set him straight. Queen Emberspear will probably forget this whole thing happened by tomorrow morning anyway.”

Bri grinned, her eyes lingering on the doorway that Neelo had disappeared through. “We shall see.”

Chapter 38

Chapter Thirty-Eight

They dined on the finest of Northern Court fare—a sumptuous meal of fresh fish, quail eggs, and roasted vegetables. The wine kept flowing until the plates were carted away and desserts were passed around through the dancing crowds by servers.

Talhan and Neelo never returned.

Queen Emberspear didn’t seem to notice, going through an entire pouch of rolled cigarettes and a whole pitcher of wine by herself. Bri noted how Hale’s chair continued to inch away from the Queen’s over the course of the evening, until Remy granted him a reprieve by inviting him to dance.

Bri caught Lina watching her from down the table and smirked. “Dance?” she mouthed, tipping her head to the crowd.

With a nearly imperceptible shake of her head, Lina patted her lips with her napkin and rose, sauntering out the side doorway. Bri’s eyebrows lifted, watching that metallic fabric sway as Lina strolled away.

Following Bri’s line of sight, Carys groused, “Well, I guess I’m going to go dance.”

Bri gave her friend a wink and they both stood, Carys moving toward the dance floor and Bri heading toward the hallway.

The room beyond the great hall was silent, though Bri’s ears rang from the absence of the clamorous party. She spotted Lina halfway down the hall, leaning out the open window to smell the night-blooming roses.

“You look . . .” She smiled as the Princess turned, and she scanned Lina from her crisscrossing sandals to the bronze circlet on her head. Bri’s heart raced as she took in every inch of Lina. “The Moon herself would be jealous.”

Lina looked Bri up and down. “You’re not so bad yourself.”