about such things here,” Raen said generously, then reached out to shake my hand. “I'm Raen.”
I blinked in surprise as I shook his offered hand. The twins were as different as night and day. “Nice to meet you. Call me Tryst.”
“Thank you. I will,” Raen said warmly.
As soon as we were seated, two servants stepped forward to fill our plates. I leaned to the side so the guy serving me could get to things easier.
“You get used to it,” Raen whispered to me since I was leaning toward him. “And to my brother. He's really not evil incarnate.”
I laughed so hard, I nearly smacked into the servant.
“Less than a minute and you two are thick as thieves,” Queen Murena declared as she smiled at us affectionately.
“Raen has always been drawn to base behavior,” Storme muttered.
Everyone went still and stared at Storme in shock.
Storme noticed and cleared his throat. “I only mean that he enjoys a more simple personality.”
“Oh, you just keep digging yourself deeper, Brother,” Raen noted. “You must really be jealous.”
Storme's eyes flashed, and Raen's water glass fell over, drenching him and me both.
“Storme!” King Valen shouted.
Raen only laughed as he took the towel a servant handed him and wiped off his lap.
“I'm good, man, thanks.” I waved away the towel another servant offered me. “It was kind of refreshing.”
Raen laughed harder and pounded me on the shoulder. “I like you, Tryst. You're a good sort.”
“Thanks.” I grinned at him. “Right back atcha, Your Highness.”
Meanwhile, King Valen ordered Storme to, “Apologize this instant!”
“He verbally attacked me!” Storme pointed at his brother.
“He teased you about your verbal attack,” Queen Murena chided Storme. “And you do seem especially bristly tonight, sweetheart. Perhaps it's time for you to start looking for a consort as well. You're bisexual, aren't you? You should consider a woman so you can give me grandchildren.”
“Mother!” Storme exclaimed in horror as his brother laughed.
“You're obviously a passionate man, Storme,” Queen Murena said. “And that passion needs an appropriate outlet. There will be no more of those scandalous parties. We've turned a blind eye long enough.”
“Oh, this is fantastic,” I whispered to Raen, then started eating as my stare went back and forth between Storme and his parents.
“I'll bet you didn't expect to have entertainment with your dinner,” Raen shot back.
“I actually expected to be the entertainment. This is much better.”
“What are you two whispering about?” Storme demanded of Raen and me.
“Your rudeness,” Raen declared.
“I'm going to—” Storme lurched to his feet.
“You're going to sit the fuck down and shut the fuck up!” King Valen cut him off.
Storme sat the fuck down and shut the fuck up.
“You brought esteemed guests to our table, Son,” King Valen softened his tone. “You may outrank them, but only by the scantest amount. And even if they were the most common farmers from a country village, they would still deserve your respect as your subjects and your guests. A true prince does not treat people as if they are beneath him; he lifts them up, and inspires them to be their best. That is your duty. That is the price demanded of you for the privilege of being royalty. Common courtesy is not merely for commoners.”
“Yes, Father,” Storme said, his head hanging.
I almost felt sorry for him.
Kardri sure did; he laid a comforting hand on Storme's shoulder. “You have it in you to be a great prince. I know you do.”
Storme lifted his gaze and looked at Kardri with such longing and admiration that everyone else had to look away, even me. King Valen gave up on his lecture and sat back in his chair, sharing a worried look with his wife.
“Told you,” Raen whispered to me. “He's not completely rotten, just enough to stink.”
I would have laughed if the moment hadn't been so heavy, or if Kardri didn't still have his hand on Storme's shoulder. He was holding Storme's stare as well, and there was more than sympathy in his eyes.
Of course. It made perfect sense that Kar would validate my worries right after I'd been pressured into being his consort. Yep, that was about right for the way my luck went.
Chapter Forty-One
I had intended to talk to Kardri about Ry'zaran after we got home that night, but as soon as we were in the royal carriage, rolling toward Kar's palace, he started apologizing about the consort thing.
“Kar,” I held up a hand wearily. “I don't want to get in a fight with you.”
“And my apology will lead to a fight?” Kardri