A familiar blond head bent over a feminine frame, tucked into one of the many alcoves along the window-lined breezeway. Just what I wanted to see after dreaming all night about the one woman I could never have.
I was about to turn around until I saw a lock of black hair fall over the woman’s shoulder.
Had my brother lost his mind? What if someone else had stumbled upon him snogging a blasted courtier in the bloomin’ hallway? What if it had been Roisin? She’d never forgive him. Maybe she’d realize the mistake she made and—
I wiped the smile from my face.
That ship had long since sailed. I was on a new mission now. One that required my brother’s cooperation.
Bite your tongue.
Say nothing.
Move along.
Alrec glanced over his shoulder, visibly balking when he saw me. The woman had the decency to blush before she ran past in a swish of skirts and sickly-sweet perfume.
Alrec dabbed at the rouge stains on his lips with a golden handkerchief before stuffing it away in his waistcoat pocket and straightening his untucked shirt. “Fine weather we’re having, wouldn’t you say?”
“It is,” I clipped, managing to keep the extent of my disdain from showing on my face. No point in fighting when Alrec always won.
My teeth rattled when he clapped me on the shoulder. “There’s a good man.”
I shrugged him off, continuing on my way to the door down the hall, now most assuredly late. No one would judge my brother; he was to be king, after all. The same leniency did not extend to me.
As I had feared, by the time we reached the privy council chambers, the twelve members were already seated around the long mahogany table strewn with maps and missives, glaring at the clock over the mantle.
“It is kind of you to decide to join us, Prince Caiman,” Lord Devon said from the top of the table, two seats down from my father’s empty place at its head. Beside him, his son Kerrington smirked. The two shared the same red hair, but that’s where the similarities ended.
When the door opened behind me, everyone shot to their feet, chairs scraping as they bowed to their soon-to-be king. “Prince Alrec, it is a relief to see you looking so fit and healthy this day,” Lord Devon said, watching with wide eyes as my brother took our father’s throne.
A throne that should’ve been left vacant out of deference to the king.
“Thank you, Lord Devon.” Alrec gave everyone a dismissive wave. “You may be seated.”
The rest of the men took their seats. I slid into the chair to my brother’s left, where I’d sat since I was a boy.Alrec’s usual chair, to our father’s right, remained empty.
Alrec collected a stack of parchments from the table, shuffling through the pages without reading them. “What’s the first order of business today?”
Lord Devon cleared his throat. “Three more ships have been spotted in the southern bay. That makes seven in total, far too many to be considered a peaceful endeavor.”
The map spread wide outlined all our territories, including the neighboring island of Airren and the northern island of Alba. On the right side of the map, the continent jutted out, marking the beginning of King Tarren’s territory.
Alrec dropped the missives to tent his fingers beneath his chin. I’d always envied the beard he’d had since he’d turned sixteen.At nineteen, my face was still as smooth as a babe’s. I had precisely three chin hairs. Still, I shaved twice a week in the hopes of encouraging more.
“It sounds to me as though we need a show of force to let King Tarren know this sort of behavior will not be tolerated under my rule.”
The advisors exchanged glances, the weight of Alrec’s words leaving a bitter, acidic tang in the air.
Lord Devon was the only man to speak up. “With all due respect, your highness, such a show of force may provoke an attack. Wouldn’t it be more advisable to send an emissary to the continent to speak with the king first? Your brother, perhaps?”
My throat dried up at his words. As much as it warmed me to know Lord Devon believed I would be a good man for the position, it was far too early in this meeting to suggest such a thing. I hadn’t even made my case.
“My brother?” Alrec scoffed. “Surely you jest. Sending someone so weak would only make us appear weak in return.”
Every ounce of hope in my being died. My one and only chance to escape, squandered. What now? Was I to remain in this castle for the rest of my days, watching the woman I loved—
I shook my head, dispelling the traitorous thought. Was I to watch Alrec run this kingdom into the ground and start a bloomin’ war just so that he could have another accomplishment to gloat about in years to come?