Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 51094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 255(@200wpm)___ 204(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 255(@200wpm)___ 204(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
Domenico, however, was far from bothered. From what his own spies told him, the Fae prince had long stopped carrying a torch for Misty. It had been his only issue with Lysander, and as long as Estrella stayed happy married to him, then he hadn't any cause for complaint.
Besides, Domenico's greater concern at the moment was learning what he could of their unexpected visitor. This close, the three Lyccan princes were finally able to see the woman underneath the hood, and Domenico's own face became expressionless. Something about her rubbed him the wrong way, but damn if he could figure out why that was.
"Your Highness." The woman's voice was so unremarkably neutral its sound could easily dissolve under the guise of anonymity, and her features - what little they could see - were just as bland. Average height, average build. Hair that was dark but not too dark. Contact lenses to conceal the real shade of her eyes. Skin that was not quite fair, not quite tan.
And yet...
Alejandro was the first one to recognize her. Josefina. Back when he was involved in underground fights, he had come across her several times, always lurking in the dark but never staying long enough to cause him any concern.
Domenico had finally recognized the woman as well, and what he knew of Josefina made him temporarily withhold judgment of the situation. Josefina was about his age, and her reputation as a spymaster was well-known in their world. None of this, however, explained why Estrella seemed to know her well.
"Fina has been working undercover for years," Aluin was saying.
"Does your return mean you've succeeded in your mission?" Alessandro asked with a grin.
"A spy never tells," was the demure answer, and everyone laughed.
Afterwards, Fina requested to have a private moment to confer with her prince, and Domenico graciously offered one of his studies for their use. But Fina just as graciously refused the offer, saying, "Please forgive my rudeness. Old spy habits die hard."
"Of course."
Lysander turned to the twins. "Stay with my wife—-" He stopped for a moment, and both men smirked when they saw their prince. Internal squealing, definitely.
"Inside joke?" Alejandro couldn't help asking when he saw his sister suddenly start blushing for no reason and looking like her husband had gotten his hands on her teenage diary.
'Something like that' was all Alain's honor allowed himself to say.
As Lysander and his spymaster left the compound, Domenico also asked for a moment with his sister, and the twins walked away far enough to give them privacy but still close enough to respond in case there was danger.
Estrella gulped when she saw her big brother's arms crossed over his chest. Uh oh. She might be a grown woman now and even a ruler of her own kingdom, but when Domenico looked like that...
It was just as Fina said. Old habits die hard, and in this case, she was talking about old "sister" habits that involved feeling nervous and scared while wondering what she might have done wrong.
"Estrella..."
Here it comes.
"Do you trust that woman?"
She blinked in confusion. That was it? And when Domenico only continued to look at her, apparently waiting for an answer, she finally recovered her wits, saying quickly, "Yes, I do."
"Her request to speak with your husband privately bordered on rudeness and insubordination."
But Estrella only shook her head at this. "I've never told anyone about this, but do you remember the battle at the Miller Mines?"
"The battle which you not only instigated but also personally joined without letting any of us know?" Domenico's silky tone had Estrella wincing. "How can I forget such a thing?"
And because she could see that the memories weren't exactly making his mood better, she said quickly, "I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry, and I promised you, remember? I'll never do it again, and anyway—-" She quickly changed subjects to prevent Domenico from any more unnecessary walks down memory lane. "About that battle...I've never told anyone about this, but she was a huge help to me during that time. She was always very encouraging, and if not for her, I would never have found the courage—-"
Or the idiocy, Domenico thought.
"To go there on your own."
Which he had taught her was the one fucking thing she was NOT to do, Domenico brooded. Defying him on his wishes about her personal life was one thing. Going against his lessons and training on warfare, however, was another. It wasn't that military tacticians weren't skilled in actual combat, but it was that such actions were best saved as a last resort. And no matter how one looked at it, the Miller Mine battle hadn't been important enough to make her involvement necessary.
"I have read numerous reports of firsthand accounts on that battle, little sister. And unless there's something I'm not seeing, what took place was practically a blueprint of one of your signature tactics. So what is it that she specifically helped you with?"