She stood, but Ericen didn’t acknowledge her. His eyes were locked with mine, one corner of his lips twisted into a knowing smile I longed to pummel from his face. Riders and their crows had been servants of the crown, servants of Rhodaire. They’d been partners, the bond between them stronger than blood. Stronger than steel. It had been more than love and understanding; it’d been magic, a physical connection between two beings that transcended any other.

They were not pets.

The servants Caliza had called arrived. Only then did Ericen break his gaze from mine and stand. “I’d like a tour of the city tomorrow morning, Your Majesty.”

“I’ll arrange for someone to escort you.”

His eyes shifted to me. “The princess, perhaps?”

I stiffened, but Caliza didn’t so much as blink. “Unfortunately, Anthia is otherwise engaged.” A lie. Caliza just didn’t want me out of the castle.

“I’m sure she can find the time.” His tone dripped with implication. He knew he had power here, and he wanted to be sure we did too.

Caliza’s lips pressed into a line. “Very well.”

The prince inclined his head in the shallowest of bows before following the servants inside.

“Bastard,” I hissed.

Caliza’s head snapped toward me. “Maybe he wouldn’t have felt it necessary to prove his control if you weren’t so intent on making him angry. I thought you were going to give him a chance.”

“I did. He blew it quickly. Pretty sure he insulted everything from our food to our architecture.”

“Posturing and Illucian snobbery. Did you expect anything less?”

“No. That doesn’t mean I have to accept it. He likes getting a rise out of us.”

“Out of you,” Caliza corrected. “You make it easy for him.”

I scowled but bit back my retort. “Look, I’m not any happier about this than I was yesterday. Give me a chance to adjust before I sell my soul.”

Caliza’s stern expression relented. Barely. She rose without a word and strode into the castle. I stood too, Kiva moving to my side.

Grinding my teeth, I stepped toward the castle. Ericen’s smug smile lingered in my mind. He’d been here all of a couple of hours and was already throwing his weight around. No doubt he’d asked for the tour to scope out the state of the city. By this time tomorrow, he’d know exactly how little we’d recovered from Ronoch, and we had no choice but to let him.

Yet another thing I could do nothing about.

Scowling, I changed direction abruptly, heading toward the downstairs library. “Come on. Maybe we can find answers in the library.”