On the one hand, Seri didn’t say no. Maybe that was a good sign. Brand walked down the stairs, raking his hand through his hair, trying not to sigh so loudly she’d hear him through her door. On the other hand, a girl getting physically ill over the question was never a good sign. What possessed him to ask.

Do you like me?

Of course, she didn’t.

She hated him, and he knew it, but apparently that didn’t stop him from taking stupid risks trying to change her mind. Why had he shown his face? Just to get a reaction out of her? Any reaction?

He’d gotten one. For one moment, that mask of haughty disdain had cracked. Seri looked shocked. Not just by his appearance, but the fact that he’d actually done it. Though she did like my appearance. He smiled. So maybe it was worth it.

Telling Seri he liked her had also gotten him a small reward. Brand put a hand to his arm, where she’d clung to him, leaned on him. It was the first time she touched him. Granted, it was because she was on the verge of fainting. Still, he’d take what he could get.

Is this really what your reduced to? Giving away secrets in the hopes of getting one lowly girl to look at you?

Brand rubbed his forehead. The voice in his thoughts sounded suspiciously like his grandfather. He pushed it aside. He could do whatever he pleased. What was the point of power if he always had to do what was expected? If he wanted to do stupid things to impress a girl, that’s what he’d do.

And the consequences?

He didn’t care.

Brand was already knee-deep in consequences. Kidnapping girls, robbing family vaults, declaring his lineage. The debt was growing. He was never going to pay it off. So why bother to worry about one more thing?

You will have to deal with this.

Then I’ll deal with it in the morning.

* * *

Morning hit like a hang-over.

Brand rose from his bed at the crack of dawn, a sudden sharp fear jolting up his spine. He’d told her his lineage. He’d told her his age. He’d told her his plans. She knew what he looked like. She knew he liked her. What the hell was he thinking? Why not undo the protection spells, hand her a knife, and turn around so she could plunge the blade into his back?

Brand went to the basin and splashed water on his face. There would be consequences. Fine. Once he released her, he wouldn’t be able to show his true face in public, not for a long time. But frankly, he shouldn’t be doing that anyway. Not until after his revenge was complete.

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No, the real consequences would come from inside the castle. How impossible would Seri be to live with now that she knew he was fond of her? Now that she knew she had power over him? And to top it off, Lotte was going to hear about it, and then he’d have two girls running all over him. Brand wanted to go back to bed and sleep the rest of the day. But waiting would only make it that much worse, so he got dressed, put on an illusion, and went to the dining room for breakfast.

The girls weren’t there. Breakfast wasn’t there. Brand sat at the table, drumming his fingers. He never met the girls for breakfast; he preferred to sleep in. How long would he have to wait? Would they come in together or separate? What would he say to them?

He found himself staring at a vase filled with wilting blooms. A single bee had flown in through the open window and was nosing for pollen. Brand stared at it. He created the illusion of a second bee. It was easy, with the model so close. He made a third bee, and a fourth. By the time the cook set the porridge in the center of the table, he was up to fifteen. Three dozen bees swarmed over breakfast by the time the dining room door creaked open.

“Oh,” Lotte said.

Brand dropped the illusions and stood up.

“Good morning, Lotte.” He saw a dark-haired form standing beside her. “Good morning, Seri.”

“Good morning, Brand,” Seri replied.

Her voice sounded… cautious. Like she wasn’t quite sure how to act around him. Seri was wearing her blue dress and her black hair was hanging loose around her shoulders. He’d never seen her hair down and realized it was thick and wavy. She eyed him as she stepped into the room.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“You were a bit sick last night. I hope you have—”

“I’m fine,” she said quickly. “Thank you.”

She seemed embarrassed. He relaxed. She had called him handsome and swooned into his arms. He could always tease her about that.

“Join me for breakfast,” he said.

Lotte stepped up to the table first and took a roll of bread. Brand stood by the plates, taking his time in pouring a glass of small ale. Eventually Seri came up and took a bowl for herself. She had to come quite close to him to reach it, close enough, he thought, that he could reach out and push a stray hair off her neck before she could do anything to stop him. He didn’t, of course. They weren’t there yet.

He took a bowl for himself. Seri stepped to the side and began ladling porridge into her bowl. He stepped near her, and she flinched. No, definitely not there. Her body was stiff, and her breathing was slow and deliberate.

“Seri, would it bother you terribly if…” He let his voice trail off.

“If?”

“If I borrowed Lotte for the morning?”

Lotte dropped her bread. “Me?”

“I feel I’ve been neglecting you.”

“I’m not being neglected,” she said.

“But I hardly know you, and it’s been months—”

“Is this about her grace period coming to an end?” Seri asked.

“Yes,” he said.

Seri bit her lip.

“Do you want to go home?” he asked Lotte.

“I do,” she said.

“Then we need to start talking about it.”

“Alone?” Seri asked.

“That’s how I always do things.” Brand tilted his head at her.

He waited. He hadn’t really intended to make this the issue, but it seemed to be one, and he was curious as to how she’d react. Would Seri insist upon coming? Go silent and sullen? Try to use her newly won knowledge against him? What would that look like?

Seri sighed and shut her eyes.

“Don’t hurt her,” she told him.

“You know I’d never.”

“You play mind games, Brand. Just be nice. Please.”

He stared at her. Was her new strategy to… talk to him like a regular person? And was it working? Something stirred in his chest. Guilt? He hadn’t done anything yet. He pried his eyes away from Seri and turned to Lotte.

“After breakfast,” he said. “If you don’t mind.”