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“Didn’t get a chance to.” She stepped into the closet but spoke louder so I could hear her. “Kind of came into the same thing you saw.”
I sat on the edge of her bed. “And you stayed?”
“I wasn’t gonna, but…”
“I think I get it.”
If I’d stumbled into the bathroom and caught him jerking off, and he hadn’t seen me, I didn’t think I’d have had the will to leave either. I’d heard him before on mornings when he took a shower before I got out of bed, but I didn’t say anything or get up until he finished, and then I had to go take care of myself. I always thought he’d be angry if he knew I listened to him.
She came out of the closet, tugging down her long sleeves. “If he doesn’t bring it up, I’m not saying anything. I shouldn’t have been in there to begin with.”
“Ready?”
“I don’t know why they couldn’t tell me this when I was there before.”
I learned early not to question Cornaith’s decisions.
Ezra led us into the throne room where Cornaith and Amra waited on their thrones above the steps rising from the central pit. Mom and Dad had told me what they wanted to discuss, so I’d had the chance to mentally prepare.
“Let’s get this bit of business finished, Amra,” Cornaith said, leaning back in his seat. “I’m ready for a stiff drink and a long rest.”
Amra inclined her head before looking at each of us standing in the pit below them.
“As I’m sure you boys know, the annual Divine Fortune Ball is approaching. And this one will be very different from the last now that you’ve found your Nyrith.”
Cyn shifted his stance. “Do we even have to go anymore?”
“You’re royalty. You’re expected at every event we host,” Cornaith said, narrowing his eyes. “Your duty as a prince remains.”
Amra’s soft voice contrasted with Cornaith’s harsh tone. “Your presence is a blessing for those who may discover their Nyrith.”
“Ashryn, you will escort Raelynn to the ball. The rest of you shall stay with her through the night unless we direct you to other tasks, but she is to remain closest to Ezra.”
Ash lowered his head in acknowledgment but said nothing.
On the walk over, Ezra had explained to Rae what the Divine Fortune Ball entailed, giving her a heads-up about what his parents wanted to discuss.
Every year, the council hosted a grand ball where influential families gathered in hopes their children would discover their Nyrith.
Amra studied Rae before asking, “Have you ever attended a ball or dance before?”
“No, ma’am. Nothing bigger than a school dance. Can’t say that’s anything like a royal ball.”
Cornaith shook his head and rested his chin in his palm, looking to the side as if bored.
“There’s nothing to worry about there. I will have one of my assistants meet with you soon to fit you for a dress and get everything you need for the ball, so you needn’t worry about that.”
Amra rarely spoke around Cornaith unless it involved events for the royal family. He wanted no part of it other than playing the gracious host, lapping up the praise that belonged to Amra.
Cornaith sat up and narrowed his eyes. “I want to let you all know right now: there will not be a repeat of last year’s ball. You have a Nyrith now, but I expect you to entertain our guests rather than one another, or there will be consequences.”
“We have always taken care of the guests as requested of us, Father.”
Cornaith’s gaze cut to Ezra before settling on me and Cyn. “Not these two.”
Cyn stiffened beside me.
“Did you tell your Nyrith what you did last year?”
