Royal Airs by Sharon Shinn

Author:Sharon Shinn
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2013-09-30T23:00:00+00:00

SIXTEEN

Josetta felt a confused swirl of uncharitable emotions—surprise, embarrassment, irritation, and a desire to hide. It was obvious Corene and Zoe had showed up hoping to find her entertaining Rafe Adova, and it was only sheer coincidence that he happened to be present this day. The one clear thought in her head was I’m not ready for this. But ready or not, here she was, trying to preserve her tranquility as her two separate worlds intersected.

Callie, Sorbin, and Foley disappeared the instant they recognized the exalted visitors, which left the four of them to stare at each other. Josetta felt compelled to speak first.

“Well! Look who’s here!” she said, hoping her voice sounded friendly with just a note of inquiry. “Did Darien send you to check up on me?”

Zoe was trying to repress a grin, but Corene wasn’t even making that effort. “We came to see if Rafe was here and he is!” she said in delight. “Hello, Rafe, do you remember me?”

He seemed wholly amused and utterly relaxed. Clearly he didn’t mind that her sisters had come to call. “Of course I remember you, Princess Corene,” he said. “I hope you haven’t had any adventures lately.”

“Well, I wouldn’t mind a good adventure,” she said. “But, no, life has been very dull. Even dinners with the prince, which you’d think would be more fun.”

Josetta made introductions. “Zoe, this is Rafe Adova. The man who rescued Corene and is now planning to fly Kayle’s aeromotives. Rafe, my sister Zoe Lalindar, the coru prime.”

Rafe made a deep bow, as gracefully as he did everything else, and Zoe nodded back as befit her station. Royals and high-ranking members of the Five Families never indulged in casual contact with strangers, so no one extended a hand, but Josetta had to guess Zoe was dying for a chance to touch Rafe on the arm or shoulder.

“I’ve heard so much about you from Corene,” Zoe said in her usual friendly way. “Josetta has been more reserved in her stories, but that just made me more curious.”

Rafe slanted a quick look at Josetta. “I’m gratified to learn that the princess has spoken of me at all.”

“She didn’t,” Corene jumped in. “We had to keep asking her questions!”

“I hope I sounded more interesting than the prince.”

“A man with a kind heart, a gambler’s nerve, and three extraordinary blessings,” Zoe said. “Hard not to sound interesting.”

Josetta turned toward Rafe. “She seems relaxed and amiable, but she can be intimidating. Actually, a little frightening. When she wants to be.”

He looked even more amused, because anyone less frightening than Zoe at this moment would be hard to find. She was wearing her oldest and most unfashionable tunic, and she had barely bothered to style her dark hair. She looked like someone who might have sought help at the shelter a couple of years ago and returned now to show how she’d managed to pull herself out of poverty with some respectable job in the shop district.

“I’ll be on my guard,” he promised.

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