He expelled a burst of cool laughter as he turned away. “Of course, it is.”

“Rorn,” I said when he raked a hand through his hair and began to mutter to himself beneath his breath. I rose from the chaise. I had to go back and explain, at the very least. I had to try. “Rorn, I’m not staying—”

He froze, all of him stilling. “In case you failed to notice who I came to collect you with, you are no longer permitted in King Dade’s territory, and that beast is most certainly not allowed in ours.”

My throat closed, rasping my words. “He didn’t say that.”

“Did he need to, Astrantia?” I tripped, backed against the wall as Rorn advanced and loomed over me to whisper scathingly, “Do you really need a knife poised at your throat before you fucking realize you’ve made a grave mistake?”

I swallowed, officially afraid and unwilling to show it.

Rorn blinked, as if realizing it—scenting it, and he backed away.

His chest rose and fell heavily as he eyed me with such intensity, it was as if he were searching for me beneath my skin. He cursed. “Go upstairs and get some proper rest. I won’t be sleeping in our rooms tonight, and I expect you awake with the birds to help Theenon with preparations.”

Dumbfounded by the brutal change in subject, I asked, “Preparations?”

“For the first jewel ball our people have had in years, of course.”

My eyes closed.

He could lie to himself all he needed, but he could not hold such an event while his queen was busy creating a new life with her mate. I opened my eyes, tempted to laugh at the absurdity. At the reason he’d ventured to Nodoya to whisk me home when he had.

Duty awaited, and he would not be humiliated by my absence.

At my silence, Rorn ceased adjusting and brushing his tunic sleeves. “Before you left me to agonize over the differing ways another male was fucking you, you said you wished to be involved in our affairs again. So why don’t you head upstairs and bathe?” His lip curled into a sneer as he turned and exited the parlor. “You reek of stray mutt.”

A light knock sounded a moment before the handle turned.

Carelda entered, already dressed in a stunning emerald gown with an apple-green bodice. “Someone wanted to see you.”

I smiled, tears smarting as Helvectus waddled into the paint parlor.

I’d returned last night after bathing as Rorn had requested, and my gown for this evening had been delivered by Dudley with lunch. It was only minutes before Carelda’s arrival that I’d finally removed my robe and donned the overflow of silk and chiffon.