Page 117 of This Shattered Star

It made sense now, what Kodhan had said to Henri before he left. Why he’d draped his arm across the back of my chair. That was exactly how he’d been painted.

I bit into the inside of my cheek.Hard.Tasted blood as I wished I could disappear into the floor. Wished I could let out the laugh that would mostdefinitelyhave sent my head rolling. My hand quickly lifted to cover my mouth.

“Exceptional quality that has gone to waste. It will be fed into a hearth by the end of the day.”

“I’m sure Henri would fall into an early grave if he heard his work was going to be destroyed.”

“Henriwill be too busy focusing on repairing his mistake.”

“What mistake?”

Do. Not. Laugh.

Maverick’s desk groaned under the weight of his feet. “I did not ask for both Starlight Champions to be painted.”

“I did.”

This time, I coughed into my palm.

Kodhan’s attention shifted my way for all but a moment before going back to Maverick. The curl of his lips was small, ahintof a beginning into existence. It was gone when I blinked.

The crackle of barely contained, gods-given magic sent my teeth vibrating. “And why, pray, would you do that?”

“Why have only one Starlight Champion painted when there are two? No one had come to my doorstep asking to paint me. I figured Henri had simply forgotten. He seemed quite eager when I suggested the correction.”

Maverick’s voice was a low warning. “I ask. And it is done. If my Second has failed to properly nail that fact into your head while he hid you in those mountains, then I willgladlydo it myself.”

“Understood.”

“Another painting will be made. Tomorrow.”

“I don’t think it will.”

Do you have a stars-damned death wish?I almost hissed at Kodhan.

He continued, “Henri is travelling. I admired his work, so I sent him to the Dreadmourne estate to paint a collection of pieces for my mother. Surely, my father has told you about her love for paint.”

Silence. The fire in the hearth guttered out, then sputtered back to life. I couldn’t tell who’d caused it.

“It’s just a painting,” I finally spit out. “Who cares? Ten others have been made already. I’m sure one of them will suffice.”

Then, Maverick exhaled. A crack formed where the sole of his shoe rested on his desk.Finally,his glare shifted away from Kodhan. When his eyes settled back onto me, his wrath faded into mild annoyance. But I knew that wouldn’t be the end of it. Far from it. “I’m sure you’re right. All this attention must be different than what you’re used to, isn’t it?”

Different,yes. But I hated it. It wasn’t because I was now a Starlight Champion that I wanted to mingle with the people who had whispered behind my back my entire life.

He shrugged, as though my silence was an answer in itself. “You would do well to check your funds. You’ve made me a lotof money by winning, you know. Your share has already been deposited.”

“You bet money on whether or not she’d live?” Disgust curled Kodhan’s face into a sneer.

“I wasn’t under the impression that your bets were monetary,” I cut in before Kodhan’s hot temper could get the best of him. “Not that it’s uncommon.” Bets werealwaysmade during the Starlight Trials. “I just didn’t expect you to contribute.”

“I bet money on hervictory,” he corrected, pointedly. Then said to me, “And you’ll be glad I did, when you see how much you’ve earned.” He dropped his feet and stood, casually striding around his desk towards the gargantuan hearth. It sputtered again. “I am the only person who placed a bet in your favor.” He slid his hands into his pockets. Over his shoulder, he added, “Except for my Second.” His eyes narrowed on Kodhan in a way that had me wishing I’d brought more than the one dagger strapped underneath my loosely fitted pants. I’d abandoned the dress, just in case. And it looked like I’d been right to do so. “Your own father bet on someone else’s victory. Would you not consider that insulting?”

Kodhan, to his credit, did not rise to the bait. He relaxed his own posture, clasping his arms behind his back as he forced both feet shoulder width apart. “My father’s judgement has always been well-placed.”

A careful yet loaded statement.

Maverick’s smile would have sent lesser men running. But Kodhan was not a lesser man.