things to impose order. I knew I lacked such hardness.
“Yes, Aubrey has been all kindness and pleasantries.” I nodded at the girl sitting next to my brother.
She smiled over at me. “I look forward to the weeks we will spend at your winter palace, Baron.” She inclined her head at him.
The Baron cast a look at my brother sitting between Aubrey and me. Jacob leaned back in his chair with his arms thrown over the sides, defying protocol. He held a large glass of fire whiskey, and I knew he was on his way to getting drunk. He’d hardly spoken two words to her all night, despite her constant chattering to us both, and I’d been forced to pick up the slack. I knew why he did it, and my heart went out to him, but I felt bad for her. She seemed a bit dense and airheaded, but she was nice enough and beautiful. She stood five feet ten inches tall, towering over me, and her dark tendrils of curls fell to her butt. She was rail thin and the perfect arm piece for the younger son of the Baron, plus her father ruled over a planet currently in Jok control.
Angling to get it out from under the House of Jok’s thumb and into Akillie hands would mean more wealth and power. Their main export was liquid crystal. They had perfected a technique to make it into display screens on large space craft.
We might have had control over Ore, the most valuable element in the universe, but they had the tech for time-folding giving them better access to trade and exploration. The marriage would bind the planet to Akillie, thus gaining us substantial resources and of course, pissing off Jok.
“We look forward to the official visit from your father.” The Baron turned back to a conversation happening on the other side of the large table.
“So, Jacob, I’ve been told you play quite the game of Quad.”
He grunted.
I blew out a breath and wiped my fingers on my napkin, glancing over at the clock. We’d had six courses. Dessert was being served. Before long Jacob would excuse himself and then soon after, I could do the same, feigning exhaustion. But the key was him leaving.
“He is getting fat from all the whiskey, and I doubt he could hope to keep up anymore.” I shot him a look, getting my point across.
He set down his tumbler and straightened in his seat. “I still attend all the same training sessions you do.”
“You’ve been slacking.” I shrugged.
“A wager then?” he snapped.
“Are you challenging me?” I smiled at Aubrey and nearly squealed in delight at Jacob’s sudden turnaround.
“I am.” He made eyes at her then looked back at me. It was one of his biggest talents. He could make anyone fall at his feet with his charm. I’d never possessed the particular skill.
“Can I come?” Aubrey looked giddy.
Jacob shrugged one shoulder. “If you would like.”
“Then it’s settled, you two must compete when we are all at your winter palace.”
I was pretty sure she bounced in her chair.
Jacob shot me a look. I cracked a smile. Poor girl was way too simple to hold his attention even if she’d had the parts between her thighs he preferred. Servants came around carrying trays of dessert, which Jacob and I both waved off. He narrowed his eyes at me, refilling his glass of whiskey.
“New diet?”
“Whatever would I need a diet for, brother mine?”
He looked me over before pushing back from the table. “I must beg your leave, Aubrey, I think the fowl isn’t sitting right.”
She clambered to her feet in a ladylike manner which impressed me. “Are you ill?”
“Maybe.” He put on the most faux frown I think I’ve ever seen him wear before going on. “Maybe I should beg off our breakfast engagement.”
I scoffed, and he growled under his breath. Sick was code for he didn’t want to leave his bed for breakfast as there would be better company between his sheets.
She set her hand on his shoulder. “Let me bring breakfast to you. I would feel better if I could check on you in the morning.”
I could
“Yes, Aubrey has been all kindness and pleasantries.” I nodded at the girl sitting next to my brother.
She smiled over at me. “I look forward to the weeks we will spend at your winter palace, Baron.” She inclined her head at him.
The Baron cast a look at my brother sitting between Aubrey and me. Jacob leaned back in his chair with his arms thrown over the sides, defying protocol. He held a large glass of fire whiskey, and I knew he was on his way to getting drunk. He’d hardly spoken two words to her all night, despite her constant chattering to us both, and I’d been forced to pick up the slack. I knew why he did it, and my heart went out to him, but I felt bad for her. She seemed a bit dense and airheaded, but she was nice enough and beautiful. She stood five feet ten inches tall, towering over me, and her dark tendrils of curls fell to her butt. She was rail thin and the perfect arm piece for the younger son of the Baron, plus her father ruled over a planet currently in Jok control.
Angling to get it out from under the House of Jok’s thumb and into Akillie hands would mean more wealth and power. Their main export was liquid crystal. They had perfected a technique to make it into display screens on large space craft.
We might have had control over Ore, the most valuable element in the universe, but they had the tech for time-folding giving them better access to trade and exploration. The marriage would bind the planet to Akillie, thus gaining us substantial resources and of course, pissing off Jok.
“We look forward to the official visit from your father.” The Baron turned back to a conversation happening on the other side of the large table.
“So, Jacob, I’ve been told you play quite the game of Quad.”
He grunted.
I blew out a breath and wiped my fingers on my napkin, glancing over at the clock. We’d had six courses. Dessert was being served. Before long Jacob would excuse himself and then soon after, I could do the same, feigning exhaustion. But the key was him leaving.
“He is getting fat from all the whiskey, and I doubt he could hope to keep up anymore.” I shot him a look, getting my point across.
He set down his tumbler and straightened in his seat. “I still attend all the same training sessions you do.”
“You’ve been slacking.” I shrugged.
“A wager then?” he snapped.
“Are you challenging me?” I smiled at Aubrey and nearly squealed in delight at Jacob’s sudden turnaround.
“I am.” He made eyes at her then looked back at me. It was one of his biggest talents. He could make anyone fall at his feet with his charm. I’d never possessed the particular skill.
“Can I come?” Aubrey looked giddy.
Jacob shrugged one shoulder. “If you would like.”
“Then it’s settled, you two must compete when we are all at your winter palace.”
I was pretty sure she bounced in her chair.
Jacob shot me a look. I cracked a smile. Poor girl was way too simple to hold his attention even if she’d had the parts between her thighs he preferred. Servants came around carrying trays of dessert, which Jacob and I both waved off. He narrowed his eyes at me, refilling his glass of whiskey.
“New diet?”
“Whatever would I need a diet for, brother mine?”
He looked me over before pushing back from the table. “I must beg your leave, Aubrey, I think the fowl isn’t sitting right.”
She clambered to her feet in a ladylike manner which impressed me. “Are you ill?”
“Maybe.” He put on the most faux frown I think I’ve ever seen him wear before going on. “Maybe I should beg off our breakfast engagement.”
I scoffed, and he growled under his breath. Sick was code for he didn’t want to leave his bed for breakfast as there would be better company between his sheets.
She set her hand on his shoulder. “Let me bring breakfast to you. I would feel better if I could check on you in the morning.”
I could
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