"But enough of that for now. I heard you have brought a guest?" she asks as she turns to me. Her eyes widen and she goes pale for a moment.

"You..." She opens and closes her mouth as she sways from side to side.

Her husband places a hand at her back, steadying her.

"This is my friend, Luce," Thea quickly introduces me. "These are my parents, Maros and Rhea, the Duke and Duchess of Sigmore."

"Pleased to meet you, Your Graces," I murmur, attempting a curtsy.

"Luce..." Rhea swallows. "For a moment, I thought you were someone else. She looks identical, does she not, Maros?"

"The resemblance is, indeed, uncanny," he grunts.

I frown, not understanding what they're talking about, but Rhea quickly recovers and gives me a smile.

"Do not mind me. You just reminded me of an old friend who has passed on. It has been many years since I last thought of her," she adds fondly.

"She's human, Mother," Thea whispers.

"She is?" Rhea's eyes widen. "Well, that is a surprise. We have never had a human over. Please be seated. It is our pleasure to host Erithea's friends."

"You mean her first friend," Wyn adds mischievously.

"Young lady." Rhea does a good job of appearing scandalized even as her lips curl around the corners.

Thea straightens her back as she threads her arm through mine, pulling me closer. "She is a dear friend, and she will stay with us for a time. I trust that is all right with you, Mother, Father?"

"Of course, of course." Rhea smiles, though Maros is still staring at me skeptically. "Why don't we start eating, and your friend can tell us more about herself."

We all sit down, and the servants bring the first course in. But just as they settle the plates in front of us, a sudden noise erupts from the back of the house, followed by a flurry of movement.

A man in a blue uniform enters the dining hall, and we all turn to stare at him.

"All rise. Commander Azerius has arrived," he declares in a formal tone.

Rhea and Maros promptly get to their feet, and I note that Thea and Wyn do the same, so I follow along.

"Who is that?" I lean in to whisper to Thea when I note the sudden change in her demeanor. Her lip is twitching in displeasure, her hands curled into fists by her side. Based on this grand entrance and the way her parents are reacting, it must be someone very important—at least someone with a higher rank.

Heavy steps echo in the hallway before the man in question, Commander Azerius, comes into view.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me," I mutter under my breath, my eyes widening with shock.

FORTY-FOUR

Commander Azerius. Ze. Just another thing he lied about.

He looks different.

That's my first thought as I'm coming down from the shock of seeing him here.