The prince stopped a few feet away and bowed to Caliza—barely. “Your Majesty.” His low voice had a slight rasp to it.

Caliza inclined her head. “Welcome to Rhodaire, Prince Ericen. May I introduce my sister, Anthia Cerralté.”

I dipped into a small curtsy that he met with a half bow, his gaze sweeping over me until we were eye to eye. He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. They peered unrelentingly into mine, cold and sharp as daggers carved from ice. I held his gaze without blinking, straightening my back and tilting my chin up.

Caliza’s voice broke our silent battle. “Please come inside, Prince Ericen. We’ve prepared dinner.”

Ericen’s gaze held mine a moment longer before finding Caliza. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The crowd slowly dispersed as people returned to their work, and we led Ericen through the castle to the back patio. Two of his guards stayed with him, as large on foot as they’d looked on horseback. Their presence felt tangible behind me, but I kept my eyes forward until we arrived at the patio table.

Caliza and I sat at one end with Kiva and her guards behind us. Ericen took the other end with his. The table laden with fruit, cheese, and bread made my stomach churn. It looked like a simple dinner, but it felt like a war negotiation.

“How was your trip, Prince Ericen?” Caliza asked while filling her plate.

Ericen did the same. He kept shifting his shoulders, like trying to adjust for a new weight. Or a missing one. He was Illucian; where was his weapon?

“Smooth as a trip across kingdoms can be,” he said. “Though I wasn’t prepared for the weather. Is it always this horribly hot and humid?”

Caliza gave a tight smile, inclining her head. “The climate here is very different from yours. If you haven’t brought anything that suits it, I can have my seamstress provide you with new clothes.”

The prince bowed his head in thanks, and suddenly, I realized I was glaring at him. I looked quickly at my empty plate but could only think about chucking it at him.

Ericen was the embodiment of everything I hated. Even the way he blinked set me on edge, slow and self-satisfied like a lion cleaning its claws after a kill. He might not have been dressed like a soldier, but I could see his training in his movements and rigid posture, in the way he sat with his back toward the castle so he could see everyone and how his eyes flitted from spot to spot.

A servant stepped onto the patio, whispering something in Caliza’s ear before returning inside. Caliza stood. “My apologies, but I have a quick matter to attend to. I’ll return shortly.” She gave me a short look before following the servant, her guards at her back.