"Return to the capital, Lady Seraphine. Tell House Thalor their griffin-rider may visit in a fortnight. Tell House Morvain the twins may come as well—I am curious what two mouths can accomplish when they speak as one. Tell House Quillan their merchant fleets interest me more than their daughter's virtue. And tell Lord Vexis of Draven that the next time he speaks my name in scorn, I will send Raani to collect his tongue… and perhaps more."
Seraphine rose, curtsying again, deeper this time, the velvet of her gown pooling like spilled ink. "And my own house, my lord?"
Jake's smile was all teeth, predatory and certain. "Tell your father that Lady Seraphine Auralis will remain here for seven days as my guest. Let him wonder whether his daughter returns to the capital as a bride… or as something else entirely. Something claimed. Something bound. Something that will make the other houses reconsider their disdain."
