Reniya grinned, switching back to Thyabathi. “Well, now you know. I think we will have fun, you and I. I have a feeling things with you are about to get very interesting.”

Vera blinked, unsure how to take that.

“Get lost, Virnorin. She doesn’t need you.”

They both turned at the clipped words. Jaren had made his way through the crowd and was standing just behind them, glaring daggers at her companion. His arms were crossed over his chest, and the hostility vibrating from his entire body was visceral.

Reniya didn’t bat an eye, completely unaffected by the violent death he was all but promising her. She raised a brow, the curl of a smirk on her full lips.

“Good to see you again, Barilias. Thought maybe you’d decided to stay on Aleron this time around. It’s been a while.”

Jaren didn’t answer, but a hint of frustration trickled down their bond. She glanced between them. They knew each other? And apparently well enough for Reniya to have noticed his absence.

She frowned, a weird sensation coiling in her stomach. Jaren looked like he wanted to murder her, but given the fact that he hadn’t, even after she’d sliced Vera’s chest open, he clearly trusted her. More than his attitude was letting on.

She considered the beautiful female again. Technically, Reniya hadn’t done anything wrong besides best her in a fight. And since both King Vesstan and Jaren apparently trusted her not to murder her in her sleep, there was no reason Vera shouldn’t as well.

So, why did she suddenly feel like sinking her fingernails into Jaren’s skin and snarling in Reniya’s gods damn face?

Jaren cleared his throat, glancing sidelong at her. Amusement flickered in his eyes, dampening the fury that’d been swirling there just a moment before.

Stupid fucking bond.

Reniya huffed a laugh and waved a hand dismissively. “Last I checked, Barilias, you didn’t rank so high. Since when do you speak for the long-lost Daughter to the Throne?”

“Since now.”

Reniya’s nostrils flared as her eyes darted between them, pausing on Vera’s shoulder and then her chest, where yet another of Jaren’s fresh marks was visible below her cut.

“Ah. I see,” she said, a knowing grin creeping across her face. “But with you as her guardian, who will stand watch at her door while you’re mindlessly burying your tongue inside her, I wonder?”

Vera rolled her lips in; certain her face was going to be permanently stained red at that point. At least that answered her question about open discussions of sex. Apparently, it wasn’t just a Jaeros and Dedryn thing.

Jaren’s face didn’t change, but she felt his uncertainty flare at her words. Reniya had found the one weakness he had and twisted it, making him question whether he, alone, was enough to protect his mate.

Because he hadn’t been the last time.

Vera’s heart lurched, wishing she could wrap her arms around him and soothe the hatred creeping back into his heart, but knowing he wouldn’t want her to in front of everyone.