Chapter Two

A hard knock on Gregor’s sitting room door pulled his attention from the book in his lap. The door swung open and Prince Stefan stalked into Gregor’s sitting room, a frown on his face, his usually neat hair stuck up in all directions. Picking up a broken quill pen, Gregor closed it in the book, marking his page, and then set the book aside. He wasn’t surprised his servants hadn’t announced the prince. Stefan spent most of his free time here with Gregor away from the two-faced courtiers and their politics at the palace. Nodding curtly to Gregor, Stefan crossed to the side board and poured a drink.

Gregor lifted a brow. “You usually come back from your fishing trips in better spirits. Did your father suffer another headache?” Stefan shook his head, grabbed the bottle and his glass, and sank into the chair across from Gregor.

“Something worse?”

Stefan drained his glass and poured another. “My brother fell into the sea.”

Both of Gregor’s brows rose. “Is all well?”

“Reis is a…” Stefan swallowed, his ruddy face deepening into a darker red. “He changed into…” The prince lifted his glass and drained it again.

Gregor’s gut clenched as he waited for Stefan to spit out whatever was wrong with the boy he treated like his own younger brother. Stefan met Gregor’s gaze with bloodshot eyes. “While under the water Reis had a fish’s tail and greenish gray skin.” Gregor leaned forward. “He had gods-forsaken gills on the side of his neck.”

“Are you sure?” Gregor asked, his heart a rapid staccato in his chest.

“I said it, didn’t I?” Stefan growled, jumping back to his feet and beginning to pace, his finger jabbing into the air as he made his point. “Pulled him out of the water myself. Saw the webbing between his fingers and I’ll be damned if he didn’t change back human before my eyes.”

Gregor’s mind raced. “He’s Mer.” He glanced up at Stefan. “How is this possible?”

“Apparently, Father didn’t learn enough about Jasna before making her his mistress.”

And that oversight wouldn’t be changed now either. Reis’ mother had disappeared when her son was three. Dieuroi Mavros had given up looking for her long ago.

“But it doesn’t change the fact that it shouldn’t be possible,” Gregor insisted, his mind going over all the implications.

Stefan halted and turned to glare at Gregor. “Explain.”

Gregor stood and crossed over to the door of his study. He pulled a key from around his neck and unlocked the door, Stefan on his heels. After lighting a lantern, he searched the wall-to-wall shelves stuffed with glass-tube encased scrolls, leather-bound books, and small, cedar wood boxes which held those books too delicate to be crammed in with the rest. Crossing to the shelf which held everything he’d been able to collect on the Mer, he pulled a scroll from its tube on the top shelf and spread it on the long table standing in the middle of the room. Stefan, muttering to himself about scholars and their excitement over things that made normal men crazy, poured himself another drink.

Gregor pointed at the section he’d remembered. “According to this, he shouldn’t be able to live without the presence of A’mi. Before the gates closed, all non-humans on the Saimond side of the gate had to live in or near the gate cities. When the Gate Keepers decided to close the gates, all A’mi were forced back onto the Mondami side of the gate. Those who managed to evade them and stay on this side slowly wasted away and died.”

Stefan dropped the decanter of whiskey onto the table with a heavy thud. “Died? How long did this take?”

“It doesn’t say.”

Stefan growled, his fingers tugging at his hair. “First, my father and now this.” He paced from one side of the room to the other. “Father worsens daily. I fear I’ll lose him soon.” He scowled. “I won’t lose my brother, too. Especially to my father’s mad rambling.”

“Rambling?”

Stefan’s shoulders drooped. “He suffered a massive episode after what happened to Reis.” The prince turned toward Gregor, his faced lined with worry. “This one worse than any so far.” His brows lowered again. “He started ranting about Ashra punishing him. A bunch of Order hogwash, no doubt. Those damn priests and their nonsense are the first thing to go when I become king. Mark my words.”

“And Reis?”

The prince frowned. “He heard. Kept him away from Father and made sure my father went straight to his bed when we arrived back at the palace. Reis is keeping to his rooms today, my own guards at his door.”

“You really think your father would turn against a son he’s loved for the past thirteen years?”

Stefan pinched the bridge of his nose. “Before the headaches, absolutely not. But they’ve messed with his mind to such an extent that I’m just not sure anymore. He believes the drivel fed him by the Order. I’m worried he’ll tell them what happened, and they’ll turn the country against my brother.”

Gregor rolled the scroll back up and replaced it in its tube before returning it to its shelf. Picking up the whiskey bottle, Stefan stalked back into the sitting room. Gregor extinguished the lantern and then followed the prince out, locking the room behind him.

He went to the cabinet and poured himself a drink, then returned to his seat across from Stefan. The prince sat, eyes closed, his head resting against the chair’s cushioned back, deep lines grooved between his brows and bracketing his mouth.

“The representatives from Diomere arrived today with what I can only assume is good news,” Gregor said.

Stefan sighed. “Yes, a messenger waited for us when we arrived. Apparently, I’m now betrothed.”

“I’ve heard Princess Madelena is very beautiful.”

“Very beautiful and very cold. I got the impression she wasn’t happy with marrying a foreigner and leaving her home,” Stefan said with a shrug.

Gregor grinned. “Doubting your ability to thaw her out? Mayhap you need more practice?”

Stefan swung his hand up and gave Gregor the two fingered salute. “Says the man who hasn’t bedded a woman in months,” he replied with a smirk.

Gregor shrugged. “I haven’t seen anything that appeals to me.” He studied his best friend. “I’m surprised you’ve agreed to marry someone you’ve not really had a chance to know. The connection with the shipping mecca would be nice, but we don’t need it.”

Stefan shook his head. “I insisted that she be allowed to visit for six months so we could get to know each other. If we’re both in favor after that, we’ll plan a wedding. If not, then she’ll return to Diomere, and I’ll look elsewhere for a wife with no ill will between our countries.”

“Your father agreed?”

“Not at first, but he eventually acceded to my wishes so long as we could announce the engagement at a ball he’s planned for two nights from now. He seems to think that I’ll give in to the people’s expectations and marry her regardless of how we get along.” He scowled. “I want what he had with my mother. True friendship, affection, love.”

Gregor nodded. He too wanted a true partnership like that between Dieuroi Mavros and his queen. Rather than ignore her until he wished to use her body, Stefan’s father had listened to his queen, asking her advice on matters of state, having her give her opinion on disputes at court, and giving her a role in ruling the kingdom alongside him. Theirs had been a real partnership, full of respect. Neither had they shied away from showing their affection for each other in public. They’d often shared secret smiles, long looks, and soft touches.

“We can only hope a woman like your mother is in both our futures.”

Stefan smiled. “You can start searching for a wife at tomorrow’s ball. All of the nobility will be present. There are bound to be a few women there interested in snagging the future king’s advisor.”

Gregor scowled. “I don’t want a woman interested in me for my position. I want a family. A wife who looks at me and our children with love.”

Stefan nodded, his smile dimming. “Yes, Marla taught us both to be wary, no doubt.”

Gregor shoved memories of his dishonest ex aside. Was it too much to ask for an honest woman like their late queen? Surely, not all women were like his mother and ex-betrothed.