willDashski laughed. “Quite the business.”
At that moment, Saffira walked in, followed by the veiled maidens. Though my back was to them, I reflexively turned around. Seeing me before him, the prince stopped at the threshold. I watched all the color drain from his face as he stood frozen for a moment. After that brief second, he turned and bolted from the room, shoving past the women. To my credit, I did an incredible job of stifling my laughter. The maidens glanced at each other, and one by one slowly left the room. When I turned back, Dashski was looking curiously at me.
“Saffira and I have met previously,” I explained.
“The prince is a guest of mine,” Dashski said seriously. “If you have some quarrel with him…” He let his words trail off suggestively.
I understood entirely. “We have
