The Raven and the Dove (The Raven and the Dove #1) - Kaitlyn Davis Page 0,52

graced her lips. To the outside observer, it probably looked affectionate. “Need I remind you that you are representing my son right now? A true crown prince, who can evoke the respect and admiration that should go along with that title?”

“No, you don’t,” Rafe shot back with a grin to match hers. Xander had more charm in his pinky finger than Rafe had in his whole body, which was why Rafe had never wanted this job in the first place. But they couldn’t risk Xander’s handicap being discovered, not now that the ruse was set, so the queen was stuck with him, whether she liked it or not. Rafe rolled his shoulders, stretching neck muscles that had grown uncomfortably tight beneath her scrutiny. “I needed a quick break.”

“Playing the heir means you don’t have the privilege of a break,” she seethed. “When this dance is done, go ask the Princess of the House of Peace to dance. You’ve been ignoring her all evening for no reason that I can understand when she is the best catch of them all. Do what you came here to do—”

“She wouldn’t be a good mate for Xander,” Rafe cut in, scanning the room to make sure they weren’t receiving any unwarranted attention.

“I don’t care what you think. She’s the daughter of Aethios. Your opinion is irrelevant.”

“The owl princess is sweet and scholarly. She—”

“You think I don’t know that?” The queen reached out and took the drink from his hand, eyes harder than rocks as she glared at him. “I’ve studied all of my son’s potential matches. I know who would suit him and who wouldn’t. And I think as the queen of a loving people, I know better than you, a raven barely tolerated in his own house, how to play the game of politics. The doves will never pick us, their princess will never pick you, but if you can make the other houses believe it’s a possibility, you will become far more desirable. Right now, we are the forgotten house, and if there’s one crown prince left standing alone at the end of this, in their eyes that ought to be you. But we have to change that opinion, for Lysander. So be charming, for once in your godforsaken life. Be charming the way my son would have been if he weren't determined to use you like the crutch you are.”

Biting back a response, Rafe turned on his heels and left Queen Mariam, clutching his hands behind his back as he retreated to the other side of the room, for once not aware of the princess but of his queen, of needing to stand as far away from her as possible—because she was right, and the truth of her words made her blows even harder to take.

Xander should have been there. He would have charmed the crowd, would have had them so wrapped up in his words they would have never even noticed his hand, never cared that he couldn’t release an arrow from a bow or wield a sword well—not when he could make them laugh until they cried, when he could discuss theory until dawn, when he was intellectually and emotionally superior to every arrogant prince in this room.

Xander was using Rafe as a crutch.

And Rafe let him.

He didn’t know how to say no to his brother—not when his brother was the only reason Rafe was alive, the only reason he had a place to call home.

This is for Xander.

For Xander.

Rafe repeated the words over and over as he scanned the room, searching for the source of that musical laughter, finding her in the center of the dance floor, gown fluttering in some unknown source of wind that seemed to be following her around as the hummingbird prince with the grating smile twirled with her.

For Xander, he thought again, taking a deep breath.

Then he stepped onto the dance floor and cut his way through the crowd, marching straight to her.

22

Lyana

At first, she’d admit, she had been playing up the laughter and the smiles for the benefit of the grouch in the corner who had yet to formally introduce himself to her or make polite conversation. But as proud, boastful Prince Damien continued to spin her around the dance floor, Lyana realized she was enjoying herself. Enjoying the attention, yes, but mostly enjoying the stories. For once in her life, Lyana could ask as many questions as she wanted about all the lands she yearned to visit, and someone was there