Something was going on. Maybe they’d arrested Bayard or were about to. He headed up the stairs, trailed by Lornis and his guards. Should he speak first to Celeste or to the emperor? Celeste first, he decided. He headed for her apartment. Someone called his name. He turned, and a knot of Legaciatti opened to reveal Emperor Lucien. He dipped his head in acknowledgment. “Your Imperial Majesty.” “Your Highness,” said Lucien. “I’m glad you happened by. We need to talk, just the two of us.” Rayn’s eyes slid to Celeste’s door halfway down the hall. He’d rather speak first to her and see if she was still interested in the marriage. But one didn’t refuse a meeting with the emperor of Kjall. “Of course.” Lucien led him back to his imperial apartment, which was much like Rayn’s except decorated in red and gold rather than green and silver.
