swirling behind me, to where an enraged Gregori still stands with my flute glass clenched in his hand.
When the Ikaean jots something down on a piece of parchment, I clench my teeth tight so that I can keep my scowl inward, knowing at once he’s one of the reporters Shanty warned us about. And I’m giving him a great story.
Heart squeezing, I try to flag down a worker when I bump hard into someone’s chest. I stumble back, but the man catches my hand before I can fall, steadying me.
“Careful,” he says, voice deep and husky. “I wouldn’t want to get into trouble for accidentally injuring the queen.”
I peer up to a face that’s surprisingly familiar—Lord Elias, the younger brother of Lady Ilia and the man she’d sent to stand in for her during Arida’s advisory meeting.
He’s got a hard, square jaw and wide shoulders. Focused on the meeting, I didn’t pay him as much attention the last time I saw him. This close though, his face is handsome enough to make my mouth dry. I press my lips together, trying to collect myself as I stare into deep, sea foam eyes that are beautiful against his suntanned skin. He towers over me, flashing a smirk that makes me notice day-old stubble I’m surprised to find myself wanting to touch.
“You’d be thrown into the prisons for that,” I find myself saying, forcing the words out. My stomach flips when he laughs, low and deep. I want to ignore it, but I can’t help feeling the familiarity that strikes me hard. He reminds me of a blond Bastian, strong and broad, with a deep laugh and a husky voice.
“Surely you’d come and bail me out?” he teases. “I know my queen is far too benevolent to allow me to rot away underground.”
I pretend to consider this, squinting at him. “It sounds like you don’t know your queen at all. But, I’ll tell you what. I can help you with that problem, should you help me find another glass of—”
“Bubbly?” Nelly stands behind Elias, beaming as brightly as the moon as she presses flutes of bubbling pink wine into our hands. “I’m so glad to see the two of you chatting. That dance floor sure is looking a bit empty, though…”
Elias’s chuckle is low and tinged with awkwardness. “Apologies about my sister-in-law.” He flashes her a look, eyebrows knitting. “She’s been trying to pawn me off all year.”
“I’m just trying to help,” she says innocently between sips of wine. “You need a good girl in your life, Elias.”
“And I am quite capable of finding one on my own, I assure you.” He sighs, thoroughly charming me with the way his cheeks flush a light pink. He’s swift to extend his flute toward me. “Regardless, Your Majesty, I hope this settles our grievance?”
“It’s a start.” I tap my flute against his, my own skin warming as Nelly slowly backs away.
“I’ll leave you two alone, then.” She starts to retreat into the crowd, where Ilia is quick to grab her hand. There’s a stern, serious expression on the adviser’s face as her focus shifts to me for little more than a few seconds.
Nelly’s lips press together. She gently peels her arm away, muttering something under her breath that I can’t make out. It’s clear they’re arguing, though they do it in low voices so as to not draw attention to themselves as they disappear into the crowd.
Though my curiosity spikes, there’s nothing I can do about it as I catch sight of the Ikaean reporter lingering in the edge of my vision. I consider Elias. He’s everything Mother and Visidia’s people would eat up—charismatic, handsome, and of noble blood. And with the reporter watching, I know my chance to find out what the two were arguing about has already passed. There’s no room for politics tonight, and with Ornell nowhere to be found, I may as well give Visidia a show.
“I must admit, I didn’t expect you would be here tonight, Lord Elias.” I make my voice softer. My eyes gentler. “You never struck me as someone interested in the crown.”
“I’d never given it any thought,” he says with an easy shrug, taking the bait and settling into a comfortable place beside me. “But after meeting you back on Arida, I decided I was interested in who wore the crown. I figured why not give tonight a shot and see if there was a connection?”
“Funny,” I say. “You didn’t seem very interested before.”
“Would you