two generations. Amala was here, an oxeye daisy in her hair.
A shimmer of light slid along a blade, catching Niko’s eye.
A man who had been standing to the right of the group sprang forward. Niko freed his shortsword and parried the man’s dagger off its trajectory toward Vasili.
Shouts went up. The man locked gazes with Niko and took a barefisted swing that would have knocked Niko out cold if he hadn’t signaled the swing in the heave of his shoulder first. Niko ducked and refrained from plowing headfirst into the fight, rooting himself between Vasili and the threat.
Someone wisely grabbed the Yazdan fool and dragged him backward.
“It was him,” the man yelled and tore himself free of the hands holding him. “That Caville coward killed the shah!”
“Alissand,” Roksana snapped. Although younger than him, her voice held more authority. “Stop it, brother.”
Niko freed his second blade in warning.
“And you!” Alissand pointed a rough-skinned finger at Niko. “Protecting a Caville. Who is this man?” he asked Roksana, disgusted at the idea that someone might defend a Caville.
“Nikolas Yazdan, Leila’s son,” she announced.
Another hush fell over the Yazdans, but this time Niko sensed more nervous trepidation in their glances than curiosity.
This was not how he’d planned to officially out himself and Vasili.
Vasili’s touch on his arm gently guided Niko aside. “We came here amicably, and this is how you greet us?” Vasili’s voice had gained its dangerous Caville edge.
“Amicably?” Alissand spat. “It is no coincidence you’re here and our father is killed.”
Niko lowered his blades. “We didn’t come for blood. We came for peace.” He glanced at Vasili, and the prince’s stance softened again, as much as it ever could.
Vasili nodded. “My advisor, Nikolas, is right. I have no wish to disrupt your mourning. We have much to discuss, but this is not the place nor time. We came out of respect. An alliance can be—”
“Yazdans allying with Cavilles?! I see the insanity has filtered through Talos’s balls to his pathetic offspring.” Alissand laughed and then gestured with flair. “Escort them off the grounds.”
“Excuse me a moment.” Roksana grabbed the man’s arm and hastily pulled him away from the scene. They continued to bicker, but the chatter and the breeze drowned them out, and as no guards came to march Vasili away, it seemed Alissand was more bluster than bite.
“I see now where you get your bullishness from,” Vasili muttered so only Niko could hear.
Amala stepped forward, took the flower from her hair, and handed it to Vasili.
“Welcome to Seran, Prince Caville.”
The look of alarm on Vasili’s face quickly vanished, replaced by warmth as he took the daisy. One of his rare, soft smiles made it to his lips. “Thank you.”
Amala gave Niko a raised eyebrow and a look that told him she didn’t appreciate being lied to but she’d let it go. “Leila was your mother?”
“She was.”
“She was my great aunt, I think. I’d have liked to meet her.” She handed Niko a daisy too.
“I’m sure she’d have liked that.”
Amala drifted off, leaving Niko staring after her until he realized the crowd had swelled as other guests tried to see the prince.
Vasili politely dismissed himself and drew up alongside Niko. “Well, that could have gone worse.” He twirled the daisy between his fingers.
“We’re alive—it’s a win.”
“The evening isn’t over yet.”
Word was spreading that a prince was among the crowd, escorted by a new Yazdan. Niko heard his and Vasili’s names whispered on the lips of those around them. “We’re being watched.”
“Princes generally are.”
He sounded thoughtful. Niko glanced over. He’d tucked the daisy behind his ear, and behind his sly hint of a smile, the hidden prince looked back at him. The daisy complimented all his white and gold. The sudden desire to pull him behind a palm tree and taste his lips again, to feel him pressed close, had Niko tripping over his own feet.
He hastily stared ahead and willed his eager cock to promptly forget the fuckable prince beside him before it got him in more trouble.
“No sign of my brother.”
“No.” If Amir were here, he’d be the center of attention. But if he wasn’t, then what did that mean? Had the dark flame used Vasili to murder the shah and others? If so, then surely being among them again would spur the flame into action once more. Niko looked more closely as Vasili meandered ahead, through the crowd parting for him, their gazes pinned to the prince.
A sudden urge to bundle Vasili up and whisk him away almost had Niko