Page 156 of Fate's Wicked Oath

“You tried to tell us,” Kate stated. “All that talk of tedium before the ceremony…”

“I should’ve tried harder,” Faren said, angry and ashamed and apologetic. “I should’ve broken my Oath to warn you, but…”

“That would’ve alerted the Lord,” Persephone finished for him.

Kate pursed her lips. “I imagine I would’ve done the same thing, if I were you.” It was as close to anI forgive youas Kate would get, and it assuaged at least some of his guilt.

“We were so worried about you, Faren,” Eva said, shaking her head as if to rid it of the frightening memories. “We’re just so grateful you’re alright.”

The lot of them nodded in agreement, surprisingly earnest for how ruthlessly they liked to tease him.

Then Persephone looked to Mariana. “Did you fight those…things, too?”

“Yes,” Mariana said.

“She’s the best fighter in the Kingdom,” Faren added with pride.

“Better than you?” Beatrice asked.

“Better than me,” he confirmed.

Persephone narrowed her eyes at Mariana. “Is she capable of speaking more than one syllable at a time?

“Yes,” Mariana replied with a smirk.

Kate couldn’t quite hide her charmed grin. Beatrice snorted.

“Prove it,” Persephone said.

Mariana’s spine was sword straight. “What would you like to know?”

Persephone rested her fists on her hips. “Why’d you save him?”

“Because I love him,” Mariana replied.

The first time Faren heard those words from her, he’d been delirious—only half-conscious. He’d been wondering over the past twenty-four hours if he’d imagined it. Now, his heart pounded in his throat. He had not expected such candidness in front of his sisters. He tipped his head, studying Mariana’s profile—aching to reciprocate, if only she’d meet his gaze. But she was staring at his sisters, her expression neutral and cool—save for a slight feathering around her eyes.

“Aww,” Eva cooed.

“How sweet,” Persephone said mildly.

Beatrice made a disgusted face—but then her eyebrows shot up, as if something had just occurred to her. “Wait a minute!” she exclaimed. “You look like the lady knight from the last Fen-Loth Unity Ceremony. Are you the one who yelled at Faren and then hit him with a squash pie?”

Mariana’s cheek puckered with a suppressed grin. “Perhaps.”

A long pause—then his sisters erupted into fits of laughter.

“I like her,” Kate decided.

“Me, too,” Beatrice agreed.

“She seems good for you, Faren,” Eva added.

“We approve,” Persephone said.

“Oh, good,” he deadpanned, “I was waiting for your approval.”

Just then, Phina poked her head through the curtain. “You have visitors,” she said—and at first Faren thought it was an observation, but then Warner, Shae, and Lee were wedging in beside his sisters.