Page 30 of The Serpent Prince

Magnus waved Saevel forward and murmured words in his ear. The king nodded then turned to Kiran. “My son, I hear you’ve brought me something special back.”

Imani should have guessed she would be first, but it still raised her hackles.

All the shifters parted for them, and everyone’s eyes were on her. Even the brothers stared at her, but their gazes were much more penetrating, not ogling like the others.

Magnus motioned for her and Luvon to come forward.

Picking up her dress, Imani strode forward with her chin lifted. She stepped up to the dais, right before the barrier. The spell buzzed across her skin, and her shadows swam just below the surface of her skin. Imani tried to keep herself relaxed, but the shadows were fevered—they sensed an incoming threat, though she tried to dismiss it as an overreaction.

Luvon followed protectively behind her, and while she saw no outward anxiety from him, his signature was tense.

In front of the dais, Imani wasn’t sure what to do. Luvon nudged her into a curtsey, and he bowed.

The king and his brothers merely kept staring.

Imani, practically trembling at the tension in the room, averted her eyes and darted a glance at Kiran. By chance, Imani caught a rather malevolent look that clouded his brow like a heavy storm cloud. The crowd around them faded like dying embers while his all-encompassing awareness of her lit her on fire.

But like so many of his moods, it passed in an instant, leaving only a pained tightening of the lips behind.

The king leaned back, steepling his fingers, and studied them. After a moment of silence, he shifted on the throne and fixed his piercing gaze on Imani. “You’re a true High-Norn female, no?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Imani bowed her head in response; she could hardly stare at Magnus for more than a few seconds. The beast behind his eyes was like Kiran’s, except far more present. If she looked close enough, she could see it stalking … hunting.

“Hmm. So rare to find one outside the Draswood. Why have you glamoured your soul draw, elf? I’m sure you were told I don’t like useless magic in my throne room.”

Her brow furrowed. It was out in full force, just as Kiran had told her to do, which meant monarchs could sense the echo shield. It was the only glamour she had besides the flesh magic, but that wasn’t hiding her soul draw.

Or maybe it was a guess on Magnus’s part?

Swallowing hard, Imani debated her next words. Admitting the truth seemed like the best option, but he appeared to be displeased.

Before she could respond, though, a cool voice replied, “I told her to do it, Father.”

Kiran managed to tell the lie with a blank face. Even Imani had to admit it was impressive. That he was impressive. He was a good liar, nearly as good as her. But why was he lying for her?

Magnus shot Kiran a hard look. “That was deeply unwise. You of all people know how I feel about illusion magic here.”

Imani didn’t know how either of them could stand the hypocrisy of that statement after waltzing around a heavily glamoured elf—Kiran’s common-breed mate—like a doll.

“This is different.”

Magnus offered no rebuttal to this statement. All he did was stare at his son, his expression stony.

“It would be unwise for her to let it out in this room, Father; trust me,” Kiran added.

“Do you think I am a fool, my son? I may not need magic, but I understand it.”

Kiran paused. “No, I don’t think you’re a fool,” he said slowly, clearly trying to predict where the situation was going.

“Then why are you giving me advice? I am the king. I did not ask you.” Magnus still hadn’t stopped staring at Kiran, and the tone in his voice chilled her as he continued. “I’ve felt the power of a High-Norn female before, and this girl is hiding something with magic, sneaking around here undetected. I have ordered this room to be free of glamour, and it will be done. Don’t question me.” His father’s voice was like a whip, cutting through the air and drawing everyone’s attention.

Magnus sent a final dark look in his son’s direction then turned to Imani. “Are you here to put up a fight like my son?”

“No, Your Majesty. I’ll remove any glamour you sense over me.” She had no idea if the echo shield was still at work and wasn’t quite sure how to remove it, but magic was all about intention, and she would put every ounce she could into this spell.

“Good,” he said with a malicious smile.

Imani had to bite her lip to keep her mouth closed in response. At that exact moment, Magnus had looked and sounded so much like Kiran that it was difficult not to stare. The father and son were more alike than she could have imagined, and it unsettled her.