“Well, they thought wrong,” my mother butted in, adding a plate of eggplant tahdig to the table. My father and brothers had accompanied Kalen to the barracks and weren’t expected back for the rest of the day. “We already know that they’re bullying you for being a bone—a Dark asha. And we won’t let them.”

“Of course not!” Daisy chimed in cheerfully, following with some grilled jujeh. “Buck up and eat something to keep up your strength, Tea bunny. You’re skinny enough as it is.”

Mistress Parmina had been kind to house my family. She and Mykkie went to the association daily to argue my defense. I scowled at my sister, then transferred my grimace to the plate she had set down. Daisy was not known for her cooking talents, and I doubted that my years away from home had improved her skills. “I’m not skinny.”

“Yes, you are. All this magic takes energy.” She smiled brightly at Khalad, who sat beside me. “They say you’re the Heartforger. My sister’s told me stories, though I’ve never quite understood the intricacies of the work you do. It sounds rather noble.”

Khalad blinked, looking up from some complicated work involving vials. “Pardon, Lady Daisy?”

“Don’t bother the man, Daisy.” I was in no hurry to inform her about Khalad’s orientation—she’d learn it soon enough, and there were other things to worry about. Mykkie, Zoya, and Althy had been running themselves ragged investigating Sancha al-Sarim’s murder, and I still didn’t know who she was or why I had allegedly killed her.

“And Fox is with a princess now. Fox!” Mentions of royalty had always rendered my sister awestruck. “I wasn’t expecting—well, I assumed being technically dead would close some doors when it came to relationships, but sweet Anahita of Koshti, the princess of Kion herself—”

“You don’t understand the gravity of the situation, Daisy,” I interrupted. As I expected, the jujeh tasted horrible, but I chewed on valiantly.

“Of course I do.” Daisy refilled our bowls of tea. “I was there when you raised him from the dead, remember? I don’t claim to know anything about asha politics, but this isn’t all that hard to understand. You’re a powerful asha, more powerful than they are, and the Willows don’t want that. I’m happy for Fox, and I’m happy for you. Father has already given his blessing.”

I almost choked on the jujeh. “What?”

“Sir Kalen didn’t ask Father to the barracks just to show him around. Father already suspected he would ask permission to court you.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Though I figured that’s putting the cart before the horse at this point.”

I looked down, a warm glow spreading across my cheeks.

“Ah, I wish I had more of both your luck! My interests have dried up in Knightscross, so to speak.”