Family of Lies by Sam Argent

Author:Sam Argent [Argent, Sam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2015-03-08T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

SEBASTIAN’S EARLIER thoughts played in his head as he lay in bed, but he still whispered Turren’s name into the mirror and watched the man appear, standing next to his dressing table.

“Did you appreciate the free day I granted you?” Turren asked.

“Don’t pat yourself on the back too hard. I still got entangled with….” Sebastian stopped speaking because he didn’t know if he should tell the prince about having cake with Queen Anne. “Never mind.”

“Your father came by my room to check if you were here. I told him that even though I had not seen you, I was deeply flattered by the accusation.”

Sebastian smiled. “You should find other things to be proud of.” His view suddenly tilted as Turren carried the mirror with him to the bed and jumped onto it. Everything blurred until the prince’s face was back in the mirror, surrounded by lush pillows. “Stop that before you make me dizzy.”

“Dizzy with love?” Turren asked jokingly.

“Have fun prying that word out of my mouth,” Sebastian said.

“I think that could be fun.”

“Enjoy what little victories you can,” Sebastian advised. “You won’t be able to distract my father tomorrow.”

Turren sighed. “I wasn’t counting on it, and Captain Pembrost insisted that we only rest one day.”

“His job is your protection, and games delaying him probably won’t make him very happy.”

“Are you chastising me for not taking my safety seriously? Because I will take it as admission of your concern.”

“Fine, I’m worried about you but only because you’re a naïve man.”

“Hmmm,” Turren muttered. “I don’t know if I should go with a kettle joke or a gryphon joke.”

Sebastian yawned. “I am getting very sleepy. Perhaps I should go to sl—”

“Wait, I’m sorry!”

Sebastian smirked under his hood but only asked, “Why are you preparing for bed so late?”

“My mother abandoned my father for an imaginary errand, and I was tapped to stand in for her. Sometimes I think petitioners come because they’re bored. Barely any of their problems were extreme enough to warrant our help and could easily have been solved on their own.”

Sebastian laughed.

“I know I’m being insensitive and bratty. Go ahead and laugh.”

“I’m not laughing because your thoughts are in the wrong. I’m laughing because even though you’re a prince, you are required to deal with the most inane job as the rest of us: customer service.”

“How is that funny?”

“People dream of being royalty every day but never consider the ramifications of such a station. If you’re annoyed by how boring people can be but still listen to them, there’s hope for you yet.”

“I don’t understand why people think we can help them with all their problems.”

“Did they bring up more simple complaints than usual?” Sebastian asked.

“Yes, that’s why I’m so confused. Our people are self-reliant and take pride in their independence.”

“Think about your current situation,” Sebastian said. “And think about the queen’s actions. You, the royal heir who had been recently wounded, took the queen’s place all day. Only a healthy man could do that, and that is

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