“This is my sister,” I say, interceding in the conversation and refusing to let them have an intimate moment alone. “Callista de Silva.”
“Callista,” the Duke says slowly, turning the name around in his mouth as if tasting it. Then, he reaches for Calli’s hand and raises it as he bows low, pressing his lips against her knuckles and letting them linger for a moment longer than I’d like. “The Queen’s sister,” he says, his eyes flicking to me before returning to her as he stands. “One dark, one fair, but each…a remarkable beauty. What treasures your kingdom does have.”
I work hard – very hard – to avoid rolling my eyes at this overdone flattery. But I watch Calli for her response, hoping to hell that she doesn’t fall for it. But she just laughs and tugs her hand away from the foreigner, look
